Welcome to Reception!

Thank you for taking the time to come and look at the exciting learning that takes place in Reception. Please have a read of this blog to find some interesting information about life in Reception. We will keep this page updated regularly with blogs, pictures and information but please also regularly check Tapestry to see the exciting learning we have been doing in school!

The Team

Our Reception Team consists of Miss Davies and Mrs Johnson in RW and Miss Miskowicz and Miss Taylor in RB.

Learning in Reception

As you know, children in Reception are on the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum (EYFS).  This curriculum is predominantly play-based and celebrates the whole child’s learning and development in a holistic approach.  Our planning comes from the children - through careful observations and assessments of their play, noting the gaps in their knowledge and primarily from their interests in an overarching ‘topic’.  

In school, we typically have a daily 20 minute phonics lesson, 20 minute maths lesson and a short topic taught session. In addition to this, we have 10 minutes reading a day. We support the children’s writing development with weekly small group guided writing sessions.  This is where the children can apply their skills and knowledge of letters and sounds from their daily phonics lessons. The rest of the day is child-initiated play in the learning environments inside and outside.  We call this COOL time (Choosing Our Own Learning)!  This allows children the time for totally uninterrupted play; they can apply their learning from the taught sessions in a range of different activities and contexts.  This ensures the learning is meaningful to them and that it becomes embedded.  We try to ensure that the children have a minimum of 1.5 hours in the morning and the same again in the afternoon. 

In line with our school values, we promote the Characteristics of Effectively learning through our learning characters; use of the following learning skills; ideas iguana (creativity), have a go hippo (enthusiasm) and keep going koala (determination).

Morning Routines

Each morning, we ask that the children are dropped off at the green gate as last year between 8:25 and 8:35am. The children will then independently enter their classroom to organise their belongings and get ready for an exciting day of learning. This time of day is a busy time for teachers so we ask that any messages are passed on via the teacher on duty who will then pass the information on to the class teacher. If you have any further concerns or questions then an appointment can be made via the office. Unfortunately, due to the current situation, parents are not allowed past the green gate.

End of day routines

At the end of the day, please come to the same green gate between 2:25 and 2:35, so that we can dismiss your child to you and pass over any messages about the day. If you are ever unable to collect your child, please either phone the office or pass it on to the teacher on the gate in the morning. We will not send any child home with anyone different unless we have had a message to do so and the adult has your collection password. Please remember that on a Friday, children should be picked up between 12:25 and 12:35.

Things to bring to school

Full school uniform, a waterproof coat, book bag with reading record and book, water bottle. In the summer months, please bring a hat and sun-cream. Please ensure that every item is clearly named.

PE Kit

As independent changing for PE is part of the Health and Self-care area of the Early Years curriculum, we will be supporting and encouraging children to get changed for PE at school. Our PE day is currently Monday but please leave your child’s PE kit on their peg. We will send home the kits for regular washing.

Snacks

Free fruit will be provided for all of the children in Reception. However, if your child would like to bring their own fruit then they are more than welcome to. In order to promote healthy eating, we do ask that children only bring fruit to school.

Lunchtimes

The children will continue to receive a free school lunch each day. The menu will continue to be on the school website so please have a conversation with your child each morning about what they would like to have. Alternatively, your child is welcome to bring their own packed lunch. As part of transition, Reception will be the only year group eating their lunch in the hall. 

We know that the children often get up to some amazing things out of school too. If you have visited somewhere interesting or achieved an award (swimming, karate etc.) then please let us know and upload onto Tapestry! We love to celebrate all types of learning and achievements.

We look forward to letting you know more about Reception soon and sharing pictures and learning with you.

As you know, children in Reception are on an early years foundation stage curriculum (EYFS).  This curriculum is predominantly play based and celebrates the whole child’s learning and development in a holistic approach.  Our planning comes from the children - through careful observations and assessments of their play, noting the gaps in their knowledge and primarily from their interests in an overarching ‘topic’.   

In school, we typically have a daily 20 minute phonics lesson, three 20 minute maths lessons and a short daily topic session.  In addition to this, we have 10 minutes reading a day and weekly writing groups. The rest of the day is child-initiated play in the learning environments inside and outside.  We call this COOL time (Choosing Our Own Learning)!  This allows children the time for totally uninterrupted play; they can apply their learning from the taught sessions in a range of different activities and contexts.  This ensures the learning is meaningful to them and that it becomes embedded.  We try to ensure that the children have a minimum of 1.5 hours in the morning and the same again in the afternoon. 

Please follow the weekly phonics and maths learning which we upload.  These are designed to be short bursts of learning and you can fit them in at whatever time suits you and your child.  Our topic learning for the rest of this week is based upon ‘Winter Wonderland’ and we are exploring the question of ‘Does everywhere in the world have a Winter Wonderland?’  Please feel free to browse the suggested activities (on our topic grid) linked to our learning.  Above all, it’s important that the children get the time to play freely.  As Albert Einstein says, “Play is the highest form of research”. 

Feel free to upload your child’s learning on to Tapestry so that we can help to celebrate all of their wonderful learning.  However, please do not feel pressured into trying to upload all their activities.  We know lots of you are also working from home and we are not expecting you to do extra work on top!

Happy learning! 

As you know, we are currently working within Phase 2 for phonics under the Letters and Sounds programme.  On the link below, it will have more information about Phase 2 learning and what it consists of.  You can also find information about Phase 3, in preparation for us starting this next phase when we return after Christmas.

https://www.wadebridgeprimary.co.uk/Downloads?string=Learning/Our_Curriculum\English\Phonics&parent=Learning/Our_Curriculum\English#English


On the next link below, you will find helpful guides on phonics as a whole in Reception and how it supports your child's reading and writing.  

https://www.bridgeschools.net/Files/Shared/Schools/wadebridge/Public/Learning/Our_Curriculum//English//Phonics/Phonics%20in%20Reception.pdf 

Below there is a link to a fabulous website which would be useful for you to look at. It explains what phonics is and why we use it to teach reading and writing. The video clips on there are also a great way to know how to help your child with saying the sounds and blending sounds to read words.

https://home.oxfordowl.co.uk/reading/learn-to-read-phonics/ 

The three main videos to watch on the link are: 
Video: What is phonics? 
Video: How to say the sounds 
Video: How to blend sounds to read words

We hope you find this helpful with your home learning.

Please note: The phonics scheme we follow is Letters and Sounds.