Reception
Our school day
Our Reception day runs from 8:30am–3:00pm, Monday to Friday, in line with the rest of the school.
Regular attendance and arriving on time are important in helping children to settle into school routines, build friendships and make the most of their learning opportunities each day.
Our routine
Our Reception day combines adult-led teaching, adult-initiated learning and child-initiated play. This gives children opportunities to develop new knowledge and skills with adults, before applying and extending their learning independently through play.
As children progress through Reception, we support them to become increasingly independent, confident and resilient learners, developing the skills and knowledge they need for the next stage of their education.
Carpet sessions
Throughout the week, children take part in a range of engaging carpet sessions, including:
- Phonics – using Little Wandle. Children learn to hear and say phonemes and recognise the graphemes that represent them. They develop their skills in segmenting and blending to read words, progressing through Phases 2, 3 and 4 during Reception.
- Literacy – using Drawing Club. Children develop their drawing, storytelling, vocabulary and early writing skills through engaging stories and imaginative experiences. They use ‘secret codes’ to bring their drawings and ideas to life, progressing from initial sounds to words and eventually full sentences. Their writing develops alongside their phonics knowledge, helping them to write words and sentences that are phonetically plausible.
- Mathematics – using NCETM approaches. Children develop their understanding of number through counting, subitising, ordering and problem-solving. They explore patterns and relationships within the number system using a range of practical resources and manipulatives, alongside Numberblocks to support key mathematical concepts.
- Topic – using PKC. Each half term, children explore a new topic, including All About Me, Transport, Space, Growing and Changing, Kings and Queens and Stories from the Past. These topics help children develop their knowledge and understanding of the world, while also providing opportunities to develop their communication and language and expressive arts and design skills.
- RE and PSHE – using Jigsaw. Children explore a range of important concepts, including what makes us unique, different religious beliefs and practices, how to stay healthy and how to build positive friendships. These experiences support children's personal, social and emotional development and help them to understand and respect the people and world around them.
Challenge Time
Each day, children have Challenge Time, where they explore and apply their learning through play. Children can choose from a range of challenges within our continuous provision, both indoors and outdoors.
Our provision is carefully designed to encourage children to practise, apply and extend their learning, while developing their independence, creativity, communication, problem-solving and collaboration skills.
Physical development
Physical development is an important part of our Reception provision. Throughout the week, children have opportunities to develop both their gross and fine motor skills through:
- A weekly PE session
- A Daily Mile session
- Handwriting sessions
- A range of physical development opportunities within our indoor and outdoor provision
Snack and lunchtime
Each day, children enjoy a healthy snack of free fruit.
At lunchtime, Reception children are also entitled to a free school meal. There is a new menu each term, with a choice of sandwiches, hot main meals, vegetarian meals, pasta and jacket potatoes, alongside a range of sides and desserts.
School lunches should be ordered at home via the Aspens website.
Supporting your child at home
Before your child starts Reception, you will be invited to visit our setting, meet the Reception team and find out more about your child's experiences. This also gives us the opportunity to learn about your child's needs, interests and experiences, helping us to provide the best possible start.
During the first few weeks of school, we also offer home visits as part of our staggered start. These visits provide a valuable opportunity for us to get to know your child and family further, helping us to understand how best to support your child's transition into school.
Before starting Reception, we encourage families to support their child in developing their independence. This includes recognising their own name, putting on their coat and shoes, using the toilet independently and washing their hands. The Starting Reception national guidance also provides helpful advice for families on supporting children to develop the confidence, independence, social skills, emotional security and routines they need for a positive start to school.
One of the most valuable things you can do at home is share books, stories, songs and rhymes with your child. These simple experiences support communication and language, build vocabulary, develop listening skills and help children develop a lifelong love of reading.
We also use Tapestry to share children's learning and experiences with families and provide learning challenges to support learning at home. These might include going on a walk and discussing road safety, practising phonics skills to support reading, or helping to cook dinner and developing skills in using tools safely and effectively.
We share our weekly challenges every Thursday and love seeing what children have been doing at home too. Please share your child's achievements, interests and experiences with us on Tapestry so that we can celebrate and talk about their learning together.