Reception Class Induction 2026
Welcome to Cottam Primary School
We are delighted to welcome you and your child as they begin their Reception journey with us. Starting school is a special milestone, and we are excited to share it with you.
At Cottam Primary, our values of compassion, curiosity, ambition, challenge, respect, and courage are at the heart of everything we do. We strive to create a nurturing and inspiring environment where every child feels safe, valued, and excited to learn.
Our Reception team supports each child to grow in confidence and independence through play, exploration, and meaningful experiences, building a strong foundation for their future learning.
We are excited to work in partnership with you and warmly welcome you into our school community.
Welcome to your Classroom and your Teachers
Documentation and Forms to Complete
To help us get to know your child and ensure we are fully prepared, we would appreciate you sharing some information with us. This will support the smoothest possible transition into Reception.
Please see below links for the documents that we require to be returned by 13th May.
If you have any problems accessing these or need to request a paper copy please contact the school office on 01772 727053
Please complete the following information form about your child - all forms should be completed and return to bursar@cottam.lancs.sch.uk as soon as possible. Thank you for your support.
Please complete the following general consent form
https://forms.gle/zMooADD2cwhQQ2rc7
Please complete the following photograph consent form
https://forms.gle/qSrMWVPqh1eQTzGPA
The following form only needs to be completed if your child has an allergy/food intolerance
We need information about you and your child so that we can provide them with the best education and support, by making sure that their school receives all the government funding to which it is entitled. Please complete all sections of the form and return this to the school - paper copies will be available at the office or at the induction meeting evening if you are unable to complete this electronically.
School Readiness
Starting school is an exciting milestone, and we’re here to support you every step of the way. Encouraging your child to become more independent with simple tasks, like putting on their coat or using the toilet, can really boost their confidence. Reading stories together and speaking positively about school can also help them feel happy, secure, and ready for this new adventure.
See below for helpful tips and information to support your child’s smooth start in September.
Parent Power Videos – to support you with getting your child ready for school and learning at home.
What being ‘school ready’ means
Walk and Talk Top Tips
Walk and Talk is about inspiring families to go outside and communicate with each other.
Talking to young children during everyday activities can help them learn communication skills such as:
listening
attention
turn taking in a conversation
learning new words
Being outside is good for their wellbeing as well as your own and in Lancashire we have lots of beautiful places to walk and talk.
You might talk about:
listening and describing the traffic as you drop children off to school - what sound do they make?
looking at the ducks in the pond at your local park - what do their feet look like?