Welcome!

Welcome to Old Basing Infant School! We hope you are looking forward to your child starting school with us in September 2025. As well as information we send you through the post please check this page periodically for new videos and information for children and parents.

Watch this space for videos from key members of staff that you will be getting to know over the next few weeks and months. We have also added some videos to show how to enter and leave the school site when you are dropping off and collecting your child from school.

Read below to discover the free health and wellbeing support available to families over the summer holidays:

ChatHealth - a confidential text support service for parents, carers, families and young people in Hampshire manned by health visitors and school nurses. Parents of 0-5-year-olds should text 07520 615 720.

Hampshire Healthier Together - clear information on common illnesses, including advice on what serious 'red-flag' signs to look out for, where to seek help if required, what you should do to keep comfortable and how long symptoms are likely to last.

Mental Wellbeing Hampshire - is a partnership of organisations working to support good mental health and wellbeing in our communities.

Hampshire Family Information and Services Hub (FISH) - Find information about what is going on in your area, details on how to access services, organisations and activities in Hampshire, and the advice and support that is available.

The Solihull Approach - These free online courses offer advice and practical tips to boost your confidence as a parent; help you navigate family life and strengthen your relationships. Developed by psychologists and professionals, they have been designed to help you understand your child’s feelings, development and behaviour, as well as focus on your own feelings as you grow as a family.

For children transitioning into early years, moving from an early years setting to school, or progressing to a new year group in school, the following books may be helpful in supporting their transition.

10 Top Tips for Parents to Support Reading at Home

1. Encourage your child to read

Reading helps your child’s wellbeing, develops imagination and has educational benefits too. Just a few minutes a day can have a big impact on children of all ages.

2. Read aloud regularly

Try to read to your child every day. It’s a special time to snuggle up and enjoy a story. Stories matter and children love re-reading them and poring over the pictures. Try adding funny voices to bring characters to life.

3. Encourage reading choice

Give children lots of opportunities to read different things in their own time - it doesn’t just have to be books. There’s fiction, non-fiction, poetry, comics, magazines, recipes and much more. Try leaving interesting reading material in different places around the home and see who picks it up.

4. Read together

Choose a favourite time to read together as a family and enjoy it. This might be everyone reading the same book together, reading different things at the same time, or getting your children to read to each other. This time spent reading together can be relaxing for all.

5. Create a comfortable environment

Make a calm, comfortable place for your family to relax and read independently - or together.

6. Make use of your local library

Libraries in England are able to open from 4 July, so visit them when you’re able to and explore all sorts of reading ideas. Local libraries also offer brilliant online materials, including audiobooks and ebooks to borrow. See Libraries Connected for more digital library services and resources.

7. Talk about books

This is a great way to make connections, develop understanding and make reading even more enjoyable. Start by discussing the front cover and talking about what it reveals and suggests the book could be about. Then talk about what you’ve been reading and share ideas. You could discuss something that happened that surprised you, or something new that you found out. You could talk about how the book makes you feel and whether it reminds you of anything.

8. Bring reading to life

You could try cooking a recipe you’ve read together. Would you recommend it to a friend? Alternatively, play a game where you pretend to be the characters in a book, or discuss an interesting article you’ve read.

9. Make reading active

Play games that involve making connections between pictures, objects and words, such as reading about an object and finding similar things in your home. You could organise treasure hunts related to what you’re reading. Try creating your child’s very own book by using photos from your day and adding captions.

10. Engage your child in reading in a way that suits them

You know your child best and you’ll know the best times for your child to read. If they have special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) then short, creative activities may be the way to get them most interested. If English is an additional language, encourage reading in a child’s first language, as well as in English. What matters most is that they enjoy it.