Trust gives children given transition bags before starting school

Wiltshire-based multi-academy trust The White Horse Federation has given educational transition bags to more than 1,000 children preparing to start primary school in September, Swindon 24 has reported.

Every child due to join Reception at the trust’s 32 primary schools has received the bag, which contains learning resources including a picture book, a watercolour painting set, Play-Doh, a wipe-clean handwriting book and dice for educational games.

Children also received copies of books from Mick Inkpen’s Kipper the Dog series and I Love You to the Moon and Back by Amelia Hepworth, illustrated by Tim Warnes.

The trust has also produced guidance booklets for parents, offering advice on encouraging early learning at home, including early maths skills.

The White Horse Federation Director of School Improvement Lisa Davies said: “We are absolutely delighted that, across the trust, we are able to provide all of our new Reception starters with a transition bag as they prepare for this exciting next step in their educational journey.

“We see these bags as an important part of our commitment to giving every child the very best start in life. Lovingly assembled by our central team and distributed to schools across the trust, they reflect our investment in our youngest learners and our belief that strong partnerships between home and school are key to children thriving from day one.”

Simon Cowley, director of education at The White Horse Federation, added: “A child’s introduction to school is highly formative and we want every child to begin school feeling excited, confident and ready to learn.

“These gift bags are helping to ensure that this is the reality. We are really pleased to be able to support families before their children start school with us next academic year.”