Reception

Overview

The Reception Year is an exciting time for children and also one of the most important. Children begin their Reception year in the September after they turn 4 years of age.

We have three Reception classes. Each class is led by a class teacher and has a Teaching Assistant. The children are also taught once a week by specialist Music, P.E. and Science teachers.

Throughout the day children have a mixture of adult-led teaching and independent learning time. Our Indoor Reception classroom area is divided into different areas of learning. These include:

Writing area
Numeracy area
Reading area
Investigation area
Small world area
Creative area
Fine motor area
Scissor skills area
Music area
Role-play area
ICT area
Block and construction area

The children are encouraged to independently visit all of these areas and access the resources that are provided for them. The children also take part in adult-led teaching sessions. They have four of each of the following sessions per week:

Literacy - Children learn to develop their communication and language skills and they learn skills for writing. By the end of Reception we aim for children to be independently writing simple sentences.
Numeracy - Children learn skills in Number, Shape, Space and Measure. By the end of Reception we expect children to be counting reliably with numbers 1-20 (forwards and backwards), talk about and solve simple additions and subtractions, count on and back, solve problems such as halving, doubling and sharing. We also expect them to talk about and solve problems involving weight, capacity, pattern and shape.
Read, Write Inc - This is the reading scheme that is used throughout the school. In these lessons children begin with learning letter sounds. By the end of Reception we expect children to be independently reading simple sentences and stories.
‘Other’ sessions - These lessons cover all of the other areas of learning (Personal, Social and Emotional Development); Understanding the World (People and Communities, The World and Technology); Physical Development (Moving and Handling and Health and Self-Care); Expressive Arts and Design (Exploring and Using Media and Materials and Being Imaginative).

We also have an outdoor Reception classroom that is accessible to the children for part of the school day. Please ensure your child always has a warm coat in school and wears sensible shoes.

Letters to parents

Letters that have been circulated to parents are available for you to view and download here.

Times of a school day

These are the times that apply to a reception pupil’s typical school day.

[gates open at? - doors open at? - school starts at?]

		08:50	Reception doors open (1)
		09:15	Read, Write Inc lesson
		09:45	learning time 1 (independent learning)
		10:20	literacy lesson
		10:40	learning time 2 (independent learning)
		11:45	lunch
		12:45	numeracy lesson
		13:10	learning time 3 (independent learning)
		14:00	break time
		14:15	other lesson
		14:30	learning time 4 (independent learning)
		15:00	story time
		15:25	end of school

(1) (please allow your child to enter Reception independently - this helps the children settle and encourages them to take responsibility for their own belongings)

On Thursday mornings the children are taught science, music and PE. They are permitted to come to school in a tracksuit with sensible footware for these sessions.

Punctuality

Please click here for our expectations of punctuality with arrival & collection of your child.

Teachers

2.[names of teachers and support staff]

Mrs Judy Woodall	Beta - class teacher
Mrs Mandeep Dhesi	Delta - class teacher
Mrs Caroline Edgson	Gamma - class teacher & Reception Leader

PE (Physical Education)

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Trips

Homework

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Curriculum information

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At our school we follow the ‘Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)’. It sets standards that ensure children learn and develop well and are kept healthy and safe. At the end of the year the children’s development is assessed against a set of early learning goals. We will complete a profile for your child to indicate whether children are meeting expected levels of development, or if they are exceeding expected levels, or not yet reaching expected levels (‘emerging’).

For more information about the EYFS you can visit the links below or download the Parents’ Guide to the Early Years Foundation Stage Framework.

Fruit and Drink

We have a snack area that is available all morning for the children to access independently. All children have a free drink of milk and one piece of fruit every day. We encourage the children to be independent when using the snack area by allowing them to pour their own milk and choose their own fruit. Water is also available throughout the school day.

Biscuit and Toy Fund

There is no charge for places in the foundation stage, however, we do ask parents to contribute £1 per week. With this money we buy biscuits for the children, which are given as a snack at morning break time, and additional resources that support the children’s learning e.g. cooking ingredients, creative resources or toys that follow the children’s interests at any particular time e.g. ‘Frozen’ resources.

Parents as Partners

You are your child’s first educator and we enjoy building partnerships with parents throughout the year. Parent’s meetings are planned throughout the school year but you are always welcome to arrange informal meetings with your child’s class teacher after school at any time.

Your child will be given homework once a week (either literacy or numeracy) and may also bring home a reading book. We ask that you support your child to complete any homework given and ensure that it is returned to school. We also encourage you to spend a few minutes every evening listening to your child read or sharing a book together.

Other Information

8.[what your year 6 child needs with them? reading books? daily? weekly? KS2: pens/pencils? etc]

9.[when to pay money? e.g. school dinners - our expectations? cheque? envelope? addressed to?]

10.[what to do if you have a problem? e.g. first thing in morning is not a good tome to catch us - let us know and we’ll arrange a time
- escalation - who do I go to next?]

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Please ensure all items of your children’s school uniform (especially jumpers, coats and hats) are named. This prevents them from getting lost when taken off. Please note that jewellery is not allowed to be worn in Reception.

If you have any queries please contact the school and staff will be happy to answer any questions that you may have. Reception teachers are available to meet with parents at the end of the school day.

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