AS PARENTS across Evesham come to terms with their little ones starting school for the first time, one town school has devised a unique idea to try and soften the heart-rending moment for many.
Parents and carers who arrived to drop off their four and five-year-old children at St Andrew’s CE School in Hampton were each given a goodie bag which contained a teabag, a chocolate biscuit, and that all-important packet of tissues.
The bag also had a poem attached, which read: “Thank you for leaving your child at St Andrew’s.
“Go home, put your feet up and have a cup of tea. Tissues are inside in case you shed a tear.
“But there’s no need to worry, we’ll look after them here.
“Learning to read, learning to write and counting up to twenty.
“Making new friends, singing in the rain and junk modelling aplenty!
“Before you blink they’ll be back at home with you. With tales of wonder, of excitement and of learning all things new.”
The idea was the brainchild of school communications officer Sharon Mathers.
“I saw the poem and decided to put together a goody bag for the parents as it is very important to us to show them that we have a nurturing and caring ethos, and that we are approachable,” she said.
“We want to work in unison with all our parents and carers to build a strong, long-lasting partnership and make them feel assured that their children are happy, safe and learning.”
Headteacher Andrea Bailey, said: “It is the first time we have done this and we thought we would try something different.
“It’s a big thing for parents and carers when they take their children to school for the first time. We have had an immensely positive reaction and hopefully helped parents to relax for a few hours!”
