The Pilgrims family have been delighted to welcome back a familiar face after a former pupil returned as a volunteer to support the next generation of children through our wraparound care.

James Wheeler may have flown the nest after graduating from Pilgrims in 2018, but he hasn’t gone far as he is now working towards his GCSES at fellow Harpur Trust school, Bedford Modern School.

The 13-year-old is volunteering with us until July as part of his Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award, and has been a wonderful addition to our Owls wraparound care team, entertaining the children and supporting staff members who he remembers from his own time in Owls and Pilgrims holiday clubs.

James said: “I really like coming to Pilgrims – it reminds me of all the fun times I’ve had here.

“I enjoy playing with the children, especially Top Trumps as that’s my favourite game.” 

The walk down memory lane has also reminded James of the ways that Pilgrims has aided his own personal development.

That includes preparing him well for his assessments at the other Harpur Trust schools, particularly in writing. 

He said: “The Pilgrims teachers really helped build my confidence, as did the extracurricular activities after school, and the good discipline I learned here really helps me stay focused and not get distracted easily.

“The atmosphere was always lively and fun, and I really liked that the school was colourful and bright.

“My fondest memory is the Hindleap trip in Year 2 – it was my first time away from home. It was a bit scary at first, but I got used to it and then had lots of fun with my friends who I still keep in touch with – and I really enjoyed going through the muddy tunnels on the obstacle course.”

Mrs Pinnock, our Wraparound Care Manager, said it has been brilliant welcoming James back to the school. 

She said: “He is an absolute delight and a shining example of the amazing community of Pilgrims’ alumni. 

“It’s been a pleasure catching up with him, and I feel so proud to see how grown up and confident he is.

“Both the children, teachers and staff have really enjoyed his company and we all wish him well as he looks to achieve his Duke of Edinburgh Award.” 

Parents and carers who would like to learn about our wraparound care services can find more information here.

In March, the government announced targets to ensure 75% of children are ‘School Ready’ by 2028. But what do the Prime Minister’s plans mean – and how are we ensuring children at Pilgrims are equipped with the skills they need to thrive in education?

Here, Miss Goodwin, our Head of Early Years, explains how at Pilgrims we already have our own enhanced set of skills, that we encourage and support our children to develop, ensuring all pupils are School Ready by the time they finish Pre School.

What does it mean to be School Ready?

The new school readiness standard, Starting Reception, is an agreed list of suggested skills and activities for parents to practise with their children ahead of the start of their Reception year.

It comes after teachers said just one in three children were ready to start Reception, despite a survey finding nine in 10 parents believing their child was.

The standard sets out key areas for parents to focus on, helping their children develop both the abilities and confidence to thrive as they start their school journey.

How Pilgrims supports Early Years children to be School Ready

School Readiness is woven into our skill-based curriculum and delivered through the activities the children are already engaged in. By developing skills and learning behaviours, we enable our children to become more independent and ready for the next stage in their educational journey.

This starts from when they join Little Pilgrims in the baby room from 3 months old, right through to Pre School before they make their next steps into Reception.

Skills incorporated into our curriculum to ensure the children are School Ready include:

• Listening to instructions and following them, including remembering two and three-part instructions.
• Sharing and taking turns through play, allowing others to join in with them.
• Removing shoes and socks for PE and undressing and dressing before and after swimming lessons, with help from staff where needed.
• Using the toilet independently with staff being close by to assist if required.
• Transitioning from one activity, environment or staff member to another with ease and minimal intervention from staff.
• Allowing children to develop independence by collecting their own lunch and expressing their choices and preferences while using good manners.

Depending on development levels and requirements, children have a weekly focus to ensure all areas are covered. In Pre School, for example, this could be using manners, learning what manners are or how and when to use them – such as when to say please and thank you. We reinforce behaviours through group time discussions and positive reinforcement.

How Pilgrims supports parents to help encourage their children to be School Ready

All of our parents with children in Pre School have access to our School Ready indicators so they also know what we are working towards. We keep parents regularly informed about their child’s development throughout the week and offer suggestions for home activities to support areas where children might need extra encouragement. We also share the specific actions   we take in school to reinforce these skills and encourage parents to mirror our actions at home, creating a consistent and supportive environment for their child’s growth.

In addition, we use our own School Ready indicators during parent evenings to provide a clear and personal update on each child’s development.  Where additional support is needed, we will introduce individualised interventions to ensure every child is on track to be School Ready. Parents also receive a summary of their progress at the end of each term.

How do School Ready skills in Early Years help the pupils’ learning?

Preparing our Pre School children to be School Ready lays a foundation for success as they transition into Main School. By the time they reach Reception, they are already equipped with essential skills such as listening, understanding and following instructions, enabling them to learn quickly and confidently.

Through the foundations built in Little Pilgrims and Pre School, our children are able to communicate clearly and ask questions which enhances their learning.

At Pilgrims, we offer a more structured Pre School curriculum than many other settings, using specialist teaching to ensure our children are better prepared for going into Reception. In Pre School, we provide sessions in Literacy (including phonics and handwriting), Maths, IT, PE, Music, Forest School and Swimming – areas often not covered in the same depth elsewhere. Our Pre School children thrive on the stimulation offered through well-planned, fun and interactive lessons, balancing more structured lessons with periods of meaningful and child-initiated play to reinforce their skills.

Being School Ready not only supports a smooth transition into Reception, but also enhances children’s ability to access learning and allows them to embrace new opportunities and experiences as they continue their educational journey.

For further information about our school readiness policy and indicators, please call 01234 329555 or email admissions@pilgrims-school.org.uk.