Once you have accepted your place at Cleves we are able to start our in depth Induction Programme. This is designed to take the worries and concerns out of the move to "Big School" for both parent and child.
We do this by ensuring that families have met with their teacher several times before starting in September; pupils and parents have attended several functions at school meeting other members of staff before September and your child has been visited by their teacher at their Infant School.
This is how it works!
March - You will receive a letter from us detailing the programme with lots of important dates for your diary. In addition the Year 3 children design a little booklet for your child called "Life at Cleves" talking about their Year 3 experience.
March - Our SENCO team will be meeting with the Infant Schools to discuss any children with Special Needs - Statements, School Action Plus and School Action.
April/May - You and your child will be invited to meet with a member of our Leadership Team for an informal discussion and a chance to tour the school again with our Mentors who are eager and delighted to "show off" their school. Parents are invited to complete a form to bring to the meeting to discuss any concerns or aspirations they may have for their child.
April/May - Your child will be asked by their Infant teachers to list a group of friends they would like to transfer to Cleves with. if you would like input to this please contact your Infant School. This information, along with teacher input, is given to Cleves and is used alongside academic information, and the teachers professional judgment to makeup classes. You will then receive a letter advising you who your class teacher will be and what day your child should attend Induction.
May - Cleves teachers meet their new pupils at their Infant Schools. If your child is absent on this date we can rearrange a visit to Cleves for you - unfortunately schools in the private sector do not allow us to do this and so a separate appointment will be made for these pupils.
July - Induction Days! Children spend the day at Cleves in half class groups. Once they have gone to class there is a chance for you to purchase uniform. Your child should then bring home a raft of information on school clubs, plus two booklets one for you - Welcome Pack for Parents and one for them - Welcome Pack for Children explaining basic school routines (click the links on the left to download a copy). Also in July they will be invited to attend the end of term disco with Year 3. For parents a Coffee Afternoon is organised in order for you to meet the teacher and your fellow parents. Your children can be supervised by the mentors allowing you some quality time!
September - the big day arrives - hopefully by this time your child is excited and feeling confident about joining us. There may be some last minute nerves but these are soon overcome. Early in September we hold a Welcome Service for all new parents and pupils at St. Mary's Church - opposite the school.
Induction outside of main intake.
Obviously children join us at different times of the year in different year groups. Once we have offered you a place and agreed a start date - we invite children to come and join us for a day to meet their teacher and classmates. A buddy will be organised to look after your child on their first day. These often go on to be long lasting friendships. If you are joining us at the beginning of an academic year we will normally invite your child to spend 'moving day' with us. At Cleves all classes are mixed up at the end of each year thus allowing the children to mix with and make friends within the whole year group. Your child will be placed in the appropriate year group with children who will move to the 'new' class. Normal activities take place in the morning and after lunch everyone 'moves on' to meet their new teacher and classmates.
