Starting at The Brent
KingfishersOur School - Reception
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We are delighted to be welcoming you and your family to our school community in September 2025. We appreciate that starting school can be both an exciting and slightly daunting time for both children and their parents/carers. Therefore, we would like to work with you to ensure the transition into school is as smooth as possible.
Whilst you get used to navigating our website, this page will provide links to the information that will be useful as you and your child get ready for September. Please take the time to read and, if you then have any questions, email admissions@brent.kent.sch.uk or contact the school office.
Healthy Eating
School Meals
Free School Meals
Allergies
Packed Lunches
Cool Milk
Eligibility for Free School Meals entitles you to Pupil Premium Funding.
Our website page School Uniform has information regarding uniform and PE kits. Please note that Reception children will not start PE until after the October half term break and parents will be notified of their child's house at a later date.
Our website page Communication with Parents explains Arbor, our school's Management Information System, and gives links to helpsheets.
Every child will be given a Brent Book Bag in September.
Please note that if you would like your child to receive free milk, until their fifth birthday, when they start school in September, you must be register them with Cool Milk.
parent information leaflet 2021 a4 version august 2022.pdf
Further information
Growing independence
Growing independence
- Check out Parentkind’s online advice hub and magazine for parents ‘Be School Ready’
- Enjoy Family Corner’s 5 tips to help your child get ready for Reception
- Guidance for parents and practitioners - PACEY
- Download the free EasyPeasy mobile app for tips and activities to support everyday parenting moments
Taking care of themselves
- How can you make separating easier? - Family Corner
- Getting dressed and ready for the day - backward chaining information sheet - NHS
- Getting ready for the Day - BBC
Toilet training
- The Institute of Health Visiting has advice and tips on toilet training
- Simple and supportive toilet training advice - ERIC
- Potty training and bedwetting - NHS
- Pants4School - Down Syndrome UK
Playing, creativity and curiosity
- 5 steps for brain building through serve and return - Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University
- How to follow a child’s interest in play - National Literacy Trust
- How to role play with your child - Pretend role play - BBC
- How to role play with your child - Playing pretend animals - BBC
- Fire up their imagination with drawing - BBC
- What is mark-making and why is it important for learning? - PACEY
- Sharing story books on World Book Day - BBC
- Nature activities for children - BBC
- Learning and having fun on the bus - BBC
- Play a game of 'What's that sound?' - BBC
Building relationships and communicating
- The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood’s Shaping Us Framework outlines how these skills develop in early childhood
- Top tips for enjoying stories together and book recommendations for starting school - BookTrust
Being with others
- Learn how to support your child to make friends - Family Corner
- Understand your child's social development - Words for Life
- Practice sharing with toys - BBC
Communication and language
- You are your child’s first teacher – help them learn how to write their name - Words for Life
- Explore a range of approaches to language learning and development from NHS Start for Life
- Build your child’s imagination and language by making up stories together - BBC
Listening and engaging
Healthy routines
Understand what 'healthy' levels of screen time are, by age
Get insights on internet safety, how screen use impacts young children and recommended screen time
And for those with younger children, the NCT covers advice for babies and toddlers too:
Help children build a strong relationship with food and make the right choices from the start
- Nutrition guidance - Department for Education
- Healthier families - NHS
- Five tips for helping your kids to eat healthily all year round - BBC
- Eating Well - First Steps Nutrition Trust
- Factsheet for healthy children's diets - Association of UK Dieticians
Brushing teeth
Sleep guidance
