Starting Primary School

Dear Parents, Carers, and Students

We are delighted to welcome you to Hailsham Academy Primary Phase and look forward to supporting your child’s learning, development and wellbeing as they begin their school journey.

We understand that starting school for the first time is significant milestone for children and families. It is an exciting time, but one that can also bring questions. We want to assure you that we will work closely with you to ensure that every child feels safe, secure and confident as they transition into Reception, laying strong foundations for future learning and success.

At Hailsham Academy, we place high importance on supporting effective transition from nursery, childminders, pre-school or home. Our carefully planned transition programme is designed to support each child’s emotional wellbeing and readiness to learn, while enabling our staff to develop a strong understanding of every child’s individual strengths, interests and needs. This approach reflects our commitment to inclusive practice and early identification of support where required.

In May, parents and carers are invited to attend our New Intake Welcome Evening. This session provides a valuable opportunity to meet key members of the Early Years team, learn more about the EYFS curriculum, school routines and expectations, and discuss how we work together to support children’s learning both at home and at school.

Before the end of the summer term, we also invite our incoming Reception children to attend a Teddy Bear’s Picnic, accompanied by a parent or carer. This relaxed visit allows children to explore the school environment, meet their teachers and peers, and become familiar with daily routines and learning spaces. These positive early experiences help to build confidence, independence and a sense of belonging ahead of the start of the autumn term.

We hope the information on this page supports you as you prepare for this important transition.

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact our Early Years Lead, Mrs Miller, via email at .

We look forward to welcoming you and working together as part of our school community.

Key Dates

Friday 1 May 2026: Deadline to accept your place at Hailsham Academy
Wednesday 13 May 2026: New Intake Welcome Evening
Wednesday 15 July 2026: Teddy Bear’s Picnic
Thursday 3 – Tuesday 8 September 2026: Home visits from Teachers
Wednesday 9 September 2026: Staggered start to school begins

Click here to view our School Term and Holiday Dates

Click here to visit our Hailsham Academy Applicaa Admissions Portal

Useful Information

Full details about the school day and required equipment will be provided in our Starting School Handbook, which will be shared in the coming months. In the meantime, please find below some key information to help our new Reception students prepare for September.

Uniform update

In light of the proposed national changes to uniform guidance regarding branded items, MARK Education Trust has reviewed uniform expectations across our schools. As a result, updated uniform requirements will come into effect from September 2026.

To help families plan ahead, we want to make you aware that new Reception pupils starting in September 2026 will be required to wear the updated Hailsham Academy Primary Phase uniform items.

To support affordability, current pupils may continue wearing their existing uniform until items need replacing, although the updated styles will also be available for those who wish to transition early.

Please note: the new items are not yet listed on the Monkhouse website. As soon as the updated items are available to order, we will inform parents and carers straight away.

You can find full details on our Primary Phase Uniform page.

Arrival and the Start of the Day

Pupils should arrive at school between 8:30am and 8:40am and wait outside the blue gate.
The teacher will meet them at the door and when they enter they will put away their book bag, water bottle and lunchbox (if you have one).
Children then take a seat on the carpet to start their day and learning.

Structure of the Day

During ‘carpet time’ learning will be done as a group with your teacher. This may include a song, a story or a game.
There will be ‘choosing time’ in the mornings and afternoons where children will be able to explore the indoor and outdoor classrooms and play with the toys.
Before home time teachers will read a story with the children in their classes.
Parents/carers should collect their children from the blue gate between 3:10pm and 3:20pm.

Break and Lunchtime Arrangements

During the morning there will be time for a snack, which is provided for the children by the school. Milk is provided free of charge for children aged 4, but chargeable, if required, from the age of 5. You can register for milk for your child from the age of 5 through Coolmilk: Cool Milk – Little Sips, Big Adventures.
In line with Government guidelines all children in Key Stage 1 (Reception, Year 1, and Year 2) are entitled to a free, nutritious hot meal at school every day. Our partner caterers, Chartwells, run a balanced and nutritious 3-week rolling menu for children who opt to have a school meal. Children are also welcome to bring a packed lunch to school if they prefer, or have a mix of school lunches and packed lunches throughout the week.
Lunchtime is at 11:50am and we ask parents/carers to select their child’s lunch option (packed lunch or school meal; and their choice) via our parent app Arbor. This choice can be done for the whole week or daily, but by no later than 7am each day.