EYFS Lead:
Mrs Sara Deakin
Teachers:
Mrs Stephanie Wagstaff (Nursery)
Mrs Sara Deakin (Reception)
Teaching Assistants:
Mrs. Mandy Clark
Miss Emma French
Mrs Ann Smith
(Mrs Clark and Mrs Smith hold a current paediatric first aid certificate)
Reception is the final phase of the Early Years Foundation stage. We focus on guiding children to become curious, confident, independent and resilient learners. In Reception, we believe that play is the foundation of development and learning for young children. We plan our topics throughout the year to ensure that children are provided with a wide range of high quality learning experiences. In the EYFS we follow children’s interests where possible and planned topics are regularly adapted to take these into account. Your child will take part in many adult-led and child-initiated indoor and outdoor play activities that will help them to learn and have fun as they work towards the Early Learning Goals.
Our morning session concentrates on building Literacy (mainly phonics based) and Numeracy skills whilst the afternoon sessions are dedicated to the remainder of the curriculum, which is generally delivered using a termly topic from our creative curriculum and continuous provision.
There are regular opportunities for parents to meet with the EYFS staff to discuss their child’s development.
Teaching and Learning in Reception:
Teaching and learning in the EYFS is informed by the ‘Early Years Framework’ published by the government. This framework is in the process of being revised to bring it up to date with recent changes in education. The new version of the framework will become statutory in September 2021 but schools are able to trial the new framework from September 2020. We are pleased to inform you that we are an ‘Early Adopter School’ and will be teaching from the revised framework this year.
Our aim throughout the Reception year is to support and to teach children to achieve the Early Learning Goals, in preparation for Year 1. There are 17 Early Learning Goals which are described in the link below:
A parent’s guide to the EYFS curriculum can be found by following the link below. Please note that this quide refers to the current Early Years framework as there is not yet a parent’s guide for the new framework. The overriding principals however, remain the same.
What To Expect When EYFS Parents Guide
Our Reception Curriculum Overviews
You can view or download our long term plan and EYFS curriculum overview by clicking the link below:
Curriculum Overview Long Term Plan – Reception
PE Kit
Our P.E. sessions will vary initially but all children receive a minimum of two hours of PE weekly and there may be additional sessions when external coaches are in school and children will do additional activities e.g. Judo Taster session.
Children are advised to bring in a P.E. kit and leave it in school for the half-term. The kit will then be returned home for cleaning. If you would prefer to wash it more regularly, then please inform staff, who will send the kit home as and when requested by parents.
Please note no jewellery is allowed to be worn during PE for safety reasons and will need to be removed during PE and sporting activities.
Reading
Our school uses a wonderful resource called Storytime Phonics to teach the Letters and Sounds Phonics scheme. Children are taught to hear and recognise letter sounds which they then learn to blend together to read words and then sentences. More information about our phonics program can be found in the links below:
Story Time Phonics Parents Guide
link to letters and sounds,
Homework
Once your child has settled in to Reception, Mrs Deakin will begin sending regular homework tasks home in children’s book bags. This homework will be linked to the learning your child is doing at school and will usually be a practical task.
Reading books are sent home and changed weekly. Initially children will receive phonics cards to allow them to practise the sounds they have learned each week as well as a reading book with words when they are able to read them. Your child will also bring home a weekly story time book for you to enjoy reading to them. We ask you to listen to your child read their phonics card and/or reading book at least 4 times per week so that they begin to familiarise themselves with frequently used words. Please send your child’s book to school every day as children read regularly with a member of staff.
Outdoor Learning
In the early years, we believe that ‘there is no bad weather, only bad clothing!’ Learning outdoors is not only fun but it is also proven to enhance children’s understanding of the world around them and their motivation to learn.
We hold weekly outdoor learning sessions in our school grounds and we will be outside in all weathers. Please make sure you send your child to school with clothing that is appropriate to the weather. For example, a warm coat, hat and gloves in the winter and a sun hat and sunscreen in the summer. We will provide waterproof clothing for wet weather but ask that you provide a pair of wellingtons that can stay in school.
