More than 1,000 children preparing to start school this September have been given a helping hand thanks to a new initiative from The White Horse Federation.
The Wiltshire-based multi-academy trust has presented every child joining Reception at its 32 primary schools with a specially assembled transition bag, packed with books and learning resources designed to build confidence ahead of their first day in the classroom.
Each bag contains a selection of activities that encourage children to learn through play, including a picture book, watercolour paints, Play-Doh, a wipe-clean handwriting book and dice for educational games. The featured books come from Mick Inkpen’s much-loved Kipper the Dog series and I Love You to the Moon and Back by Amelia Hepworth, illustrated by Tim Warnes.
Parents have also received practical guides produced by the trust, offering advice on supporting early learning at home, including activities to help develop basic maths and literacy skills before school begins.
The initiative aims to strengthen the link between home and school while helping children settle into Reception with confidence and enthusiasm.
The White Horse Federation has earned national recognition for its work in recent years. One of its schools, Zouch Academy, was named Early Years Setting of the Year at the Tes Awards, while the trust itself received the Inclusive Trust of the Year award.
Zouch Academy has also been selected by the Department for Education as one of just five schools in the South West to lead the Rise Best Start in Life programme, sharing expertise in Reception education with schools across the region.
Lisa Davies, Director of School Improvement at The White Horse Federation, 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.”
The transition bags have now been distributed to schools across the trust, giving children and their families the opportunity to enjoy the activities together throughout the summer before the new school year begins.
