Welcome to Reception

If your child is starting St Michael's in Reception in September 2025, this page is for you!

Below are the documents and information that you will need to ensure a smooth transition into school. If you cannot find the information you need, please contact the School Office on 01202 290 497 or email office@stmichaelsprimary.org for more help.  

Hot School Meals

All children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 are entitled to a free school lunch, but these must be ordered.  Orders and payments are made on the Dorset Meal Selector at least 2 weeks in advance of the Monday morning (orders must be made by 12pm on the Sunday 2 weeks before). 

For example: for meals the week beginning 18th September 2023 meals need to be ordered by 12pm on Sunday 3rd September 2023. 

If this cut-off point is missed for ordering meals parents need to provide a packed lunch until meals orders can be made again. Meal orders can be made for the whole term in advance - changes can be made up until the cut-off point each week.

Are you in receipt of government benefits?

If you are, then you may be eligible for 'Free School Meals or FSM'. This is different to the section above which is 'Universal Infant Free School Meals or UIFSM'. Being eligible for FSM means that your child would continue receiving free meals throughout their time at school, in Years 3-6 as well as YrR-2. We also provide support with payments for uniform and school trips. 

Your child may be able to get free school meals if you get any of the following:

• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• The guaranteed element of Pension Credit
• Child Tax Credit (provided you’re not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190)
• Working Tax Credit run-on - paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit
• Universal Credit - if you apply on or after 1 April 2018 your household income must be less than £7,400 a year (after tax and not including any benefits you get)
• Children who get paid these benefits directly, instead of through a parent or guardian, can also get free school meals.

For more information and to see if you are eligible, please click on the links below. 

BCP Application Form

Uniform

You will be able to order uniform directly through our supplier using this link: MAPAC

In order for you to see the different sizes, we will be displaying sample uniform during our Parent Information Evenings in June. 

We then suggest you purchase the following items from our supplier:

• Blue jumper with school logo on
• Yellow PE shirt with school logo on
• Blue PE shorts
• A blue St Michael's 'book bag' for taking items to and from school such as reading books 

We then suggest you purchase the following items from supermarkets:

• White polo shirts
• Grey or black trousers
• Grey of black skirts
• A blue and white check patterned dress for the summer (optional)
• Black shoes

The St Michael's School Street

We are very proud to have an active School Street at St Michael's. This means that at ths start and end of the school day Somerville Road is closed to most traffic, allowing parents and children to walk to and from school safely. 

You will not be able to drive down Somerville Road between 8am - 9am each morning and 2:15pm - 3:30pm each afternoon. 

St Michael’s School have an arrangement with BCP Council where parents / caregivers / guardians who are not able to actively travel from home, are able to purchase a parking permit for the carpark at West Hill car park. This permit can be used at pick up and drop off times to support parking and striding to school. The cost of the permit is £18 for the whole year. It can be purchased here:

Purchase a parking permit for £18