Welcome to Reception class

Welcome to Reception!

We have two classes in Reception who work closely together, Sky class and Sunshine class. Staff provide an enabling and exciting environment to aid the children in their first steps in school, and develop their skills, knowledge and confidence.

Our Reception Team

• Mrs Thomas – Sky Class Teacher
• Mrs Hill – Sky Class Teacher
• Mr Thompson – Sunshine Class Teacher
• Mrs E Curtis – Teaching Assistant
• Mrs Rogers – Teaching Assistant
• Miss Davies – Teaching Assistant

Routines

• Children enter the classroom at 8.40a.m via our garden gate on the circular playground. We line up at the gate after break and lunch play.
• The children leave at 3. 15p.m via this gate at the end of the day and are handed over to a recognised adult. Please inform us of any changes.
• Once school has started the children are independent in putting away their belongings (water bottle, book bag, hanging up their coat).
• Register and phonics follow. In Reception class we have child initiated, adult initiated and adult led activities throughout the day. 
• The children will attend a library session, ICT session, outdoor PE and a woodland outdoor learning session once a week. 
• Maths sessions and phonics groups are daily. Your child is heard read at least once a week.

Our Curriculum

In Reception the children follow the Early Years Framework which focusses on 7 areas of learning:

The Prime Areas:

Communication and language
Physical development
Personal, social and emotional development.
The Specific Areas:

Literacy
Mathematics
Understanding the world
Expressive arts and design

We follow the non – statutory guidance for Reception age children in Development Matters 2021. The team teaching and supporting your child will make sure that the activities and experiences planned are suited to your child’s unique needs. Our curriculum is flexible so that staff can follow the children’s needs and interests. Children in the EYFS learn by playing and exploring, being active, and through creative and critical thinking which takes place both indoors and outside.

The characteristics of effective learning are viewed as an integral part of all areas of learning and are reflected in our observations and assessments of children. In Reception we use Little Wandle planning and resources for teaching phonics. We use Mastering Number 2021/2022 from NCETM for planning and resources to teach Maths. We use Little Wandle planning and Big Cat books to teach reading.

Our Curriculum overview shows what our children learn each half term.

Teaching of phonics, maths and reading:

Reading is at the heart of our curriculum. The children are read to for at least 20 minutes daily. Our cosy reading corner invites children in to share books with each other and adults. Children are taught reading through daily phonics and twice weekly guided reading sessions. Our Reception reading spine is a combination of high quality fiction texts and non-fiction texts. The Reception class have a timetabled library slot to visit, browse and change their books. We have extensive selections of books, including library books, within our classrooms to ensure our classrooms are rich in language and books.

Mathematical skills are taught in daily whole class adult led sessions and through activities in our continuous provision. We ensure that skills are embedded in lessons through revisiting and reviewing prior learning.

Learning Environment :

The Reception classroom has carefully planned continuous provision indoors and outdoors. The classroom and outddor areas have clearly defined spaces. In each defined space children have easily accessible resources that they can select from and access independently. We ensure that the resources are organised so that the children can see what is available to them and can independently select to express their own ideas. The Reception children have freeflow access to the indoor and outdoor learning environments. Our children also benefit from a large woodland area and lots of open outdoor spaces.

Reception Baseline Assessment

All Reception children take part in the Reception Baseline Assesment. This takes place on a 1-1 during the first six weeks of the Autumn Term. Please see parent leaflet below for more information.

Communication with Parents:

Teachers work hard to establish relationships with parents before children start school. Staff greet children and parents at the door at the beginning of the day and are always available to talk at the beginning and end of day. Communication with parents occurs also on Class Dojo.  Examples of good work, rewards and outdoor learning are shared on the children’s individual portfolios as well as wider celebration on class story. Our curricus are shared on the school website. We have two parents evenings each year and an interim and end of year report.

Uniform and Equipment

• All children are required to wear our school uniform; this must all be clearly named.
• On their outdoor learning day the children should wear outdoor clothes suitable for the woodland.
• On PE day the children should wear PE uniform.
• As we are outside a lot of the day, welly boots, raincoats, warm winter coats, winter and summer hats, gloves and scarves are a must – all named clearly.
• A named water bottle (sports cap) is required to be bought in every day. It can be thirsty work in Foundation Stage.
• The children do not need to bring in a backpack – we do not have the space for them. A book bag is sufficient. 
• We have high behavioural expectations of your children so we have age appropriate rewards and sanctions in place.

PE

• The children have one session of PE each week, and this will be indoors.
• Sky class have PE on Tuesdays.
• Sunshine class have PE on Thursdays
• Children should wear their PE uniform to school on their PE day each week.
• Navy blue t-shirt/ school PE shirt
• Navy shorts;
• Navy joggers/leggings and sweatshirt;
• Trainers – preferably with velcro fastenings

Outdoor Learning Days

Each week Reception children have a woodland afternoon. Sky Class have Welly Wednesday and Sunshine class have Forest Friday. On woodland days it is important that children wear trousers that cover their legs, so that there is less chance of them becoming scratched. You may chose for your child to wear black/dark blue tracksuit bottoms or leggings. They should wear a dark coloured, plain sweatshirt or jumper on their top half. The children will then wear their welly boots with a waterproof or wetsuit depending on the weather.

Work to do to support your child with learning at home.

Phonics Resources

How parents can help

• Please read with your child every day. Let your child read their school book to you or read a story to your child. Talk about the story, what is happening? What is their favourite part? How do you think the characters are feeling?
• Help your child practice the letter sounds, key words and numbers we send home.
• Sing songs, nursery rhymes and counting songs.
• Encourage your child to be as independent as possible, for example, with dressing and undressing, eating and putting on their coat.
• Talk with your child, have conversations that last 10 or 15 minutes. Give your child ‘thinking time’ in response to questions.
• Play games which encourage turn taking and sharing. 
• Give them time to run, jump, climb and play outdoors. Encourage activities such as building, drawing, threading beads and playdough.
• Point out numbers and shapes you can see in the environment.
• Counting, adding and subtracting anything and everything – socks, cars, shopping, cutlery, food and drink.
• Talk with your child about the places they go and things they see in the world around them.
• Let your child help you with everyday activities – washing up, cooking, shopping, and helping in the garden.