Robertson National School
Welcome to our
Open Afternoon
The purpose of this visit
 To help you and your child become familiar with the:
 classroom
 staff
 other children.
 To answer any questions you might have about
school
 To talk about things you can do with your child
to prepare for starting school in September
Information
• Junior Infant Leaflet
• School Information Booklet
• Uniform List
• ‘I’m me and who’s like me’ book
• Policies
School Information
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School hours – 9.20 a.m. – 3.00 p.m.
Morning break – 11.00 a.m. -11.15 a.m.
Lunchtime – 12.30 p.m. – 1.00 p.m.
Supervision is not provided for children
before 9.00 a.m. or after 3.20 p.m.
Talking to your child
Your child may be anxious about what to expect on the first
day at school. If so, one way of helping them is to talk:
• explain where they'll be going, what they'll be doing, and
for how long;
• answer questions, and iron out any fears by asking what
they think the school might be like;
• emphasise the things they may enjoy doing;
• Don't dismiss your child's fears - things that seem
obvious or silly to an adult can seem like
terrible obstacles to a four year old.
Building on practical skills
• If children have a good idea of what school is
going to be like and have already experienced
learning activities at home and in other settings,
they're less likely to find the experience
stressful.
• Games, role-plays and reading at home can
help your child get into the right frame of mind
and boost their confidence.
Activities for your child could include:
• playing games that involve taking turns or speaking in
front of a group playing with children of a similar age to
develop social skills
• reading books about starting school
• using your child's favourite toys to role-play going to
school
• painting and drawing, which involve sitting down for short
periods of time
In the weeks before school starts
In the run-up to the first day of term you could:
• involve your child in choosing things they need
for school such as school bags or uniforms
• visit the school with your child so they become
familiar with the building and the local area
• establish a routine and discuss what might be
happening at school at different times of the day
Learning with your child
• You are your child's first teacher, and
understand them better than anyone else.
By talking to them, playing with them, and
introducing simple skills you can help set
the scene for their future development.
Read together
• Everywhere you go with your child you
have a chance to read together. Whether
it's on the bus, in shops or at the post
office, you can point out the words around
you and that's the beginning of reading.
Reading stories with your child, even if for
just 10 minutes a day, will help to build
important skills, as well as capture your
child's interest in books.
Learning about numbers and
shapes
• Counting things and noticing shapes come
naturally to children, so you can use your child's
interest in these activities to help with maths.
Maths skills can be developed through stories,
songs, games and imaginative play. Even
helping in everyday tasks like telling time or
measuring ingredients for cooking, gives
children the chance to learn new
maths skills.
Spending quality time together
• Turning off the television or computer and spending time
with your child creates valuable opportunities for
learning. Here are a few ideas about activities that your
child can learn from:
• pottering around the garden together teaches children
about plant life, insects and animals
• simple kitchen tasks, like letting your child spread the
jam on sandwiches, can give an early lesson in cooking
and improve motor skills
• playing games together teaches fair play and
cooperative behaviour
• family and holiday photos can give
lessons in family history and
geography
The first few weeks
• We will find out what the children already know &
can do & use this information to help us plan our
teaching.
• We would value any contributions you would like
to make in helping us get to know your child’s
needs.
• You will be invited to discuss your child’s
progress & adjustment to school within
the first term.
Keep up to date….
• Please feel free to ring or email us if you
have any questions
• You are always welcome. Call in!
• For the latest news, look on the website
www.robertson.ie
Our curriculum is organised into six main
areas of learning :
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Personal, Social and Emotional
Development (S.P.H.E.)
Communication, Language & Literacy
Mathematical Development
Knowledge & Understanding of the
World (S.E.S.E.)
Physical Development
Creative Development (Arts)
Personal, Social and Emotional
Development
The children will learn to:
• be self-confident;
• take an interest in things;
• know what their own needs are;
• tell the difference between right and
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wrong;
share and play with others.
Communication, Language and
Literacy
The children will learn to:
talk confidently and clearly;
enjoy listening to stories, songs and
poems;
hear and say sounds, and link them to
the alphabet;
read and write familiar words;
learn to use a pencil.
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Mathematical Development
The children will:
• develop an understanding of maths
through stories, songs, games and
imaginative play;
• become comfortable with numbers and
with ideas such as 'heavier than' or
'bigger’;
• be aware of shapes and space.
Knowledge and Understanding
of the World
The children will:
explore and find out about the world
around them, asking questions about it;
build with different materials, know
about everyday technology and learn
what it is used for;
find out about past events in their lives
and the lives of people in their family.
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Creative Development
The children will explore:
• colours and shapes;
• making things;
• movement;
• making music.
Physical Development
The children will learn to
move confidently;
control their body;
handle equipment.
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