Reception Curriculum

In Reception, children commence full-time education and are expected to wear school uniform. School opens at 8.00 am and registration is at 8.45 am. The teaching day ends at 3.15 pm but pupils are supervised until 5pm if required. No additional charge is made for this service. The class size is set at a maximum of 20 children, taught by a fully qualified teacher and assistant.

Our partnership with parents is extremely important. At the end of the day, children are collected individually from the classroom. Details of the day's activities are posted on the classroom door at the end of each day. Early in the Autumn Term, parents are invited to a Welcome Evening where the teacher will explain the routines of the class and the school and how their child's education will develop throughout the year. The Spring Term offers a Parent Consultation Evening with the teacher to discuss your child's progress on an individual basis. Parents receive written reports at the end of the Autumn and Summer terms. Teachers are, of course, happy to see parents at any time by appointment to discuss any aspect of their child's progress.

Reception offers a structured learning environment, building on concepts developed in the Nursery. We use the Early Years Foundation Stage Guidance for planning an individualised learning journey for each child. French, Music and PE are taught by our specialist teachers in the Junior School and the IT suite is used for small group teaching. There is also the opportunity to join our after school Spanish Club. As in Nursery, the curriculum is based around the seven areas of learning and development.

Personal, Social and Emotional Development
In this area children develop confidence and self-esteem. They learn about relationships and how to express their feelings. Children learn about sharing, taking turns and negotiating with others. They begin to understand rules but also develop independence and responsibility. We have a particular focus of this area each week, whereby the children are able to work towards taking the class bear home for a weekend visit.

Communication and Language
In this area children talk about what they want and feel, likes and dislikes. They have opportunities to express themselves through role-play and they can enjoy stories, songs, poems and rhymes. Children use language to describe past and present experiences, and sequence events. Children will learn to speak in small and large groups and listen and follow instructions, also listening carefully to others and demonstrate asking interesting and appropriate questions.

Mathematics
In this area the children sort and group objects and materials, explaining why they have done something. They will compare height, weight, size and texture. Children will begin to use positional language to tell where things are and to put things in order. Children have opportunites to make models with shapes and talk about them and what they look like. They will then notice and make patterns with them. Children will recognise numbers around them, they will begin to count, add objects together and take them away. They will start to put events in order and investigate how to solve practical problems.

Understanding of the World
In this area the children have opportunities to explore and investigate the world around them, they will be able to look at and talk about objects, materials, living creatures and plant life, noticing details, similarities and differences. They will try things out and come to some conclusions and see reason. Children will have support to record findings by drawing, using the computer and camera. They will begin to know about different people and their cultures, traditions and places in the community.

Physical Development
This area sees children playing and learning inside and outside. They become good at moving, climbing, controlling, catching, throwing and co-ordinating with more and more skill. They will get opportunities to chase, race, jump, balance and play with a partner and in teams. Children will find out about keeping healthy as well as learning to dress and un-dress themselves. They will use different types of tools for drawing, painting, cutting and sticking to develop fine motor skills.

Literacy
In this area children handle and share books with others. Children will have chances to see letters and words written down, they will learn the sounds of the alphabet through phonic sessions and speaking and listening activities. They will start to hear the different sounds that make up a word and apply this knowledge when looking at words in books and begin to read and write captions and sentences. To support children's learning they will have access to multi-sensory story sacks, picture games, bingo games, matching words and plenty of use of the computer.

Expressive Arts and Design
In this area, children will express their own thoughts, ideas and feelings through drawing, painting and model making. They will have the chance to design and make their own creations using man-made and natural materials. They will expore colour, shape and texture using their senses. Children will be able to listen to and make their own music, dance, sing songs and take part in imaginative role play with others.

Our recent Ofsted inspection stated that:
"The partnership with parents and carers is very good. They receive good quality information about the school and regular newsletters . Parents are able to contribute to the assessment of their child and find out about their progress informally and by written reports."

An example of a day in Reception
A typical day begins with a greeting by the class teacher and an introduction to the first activity:

• School opens at 8.00am
• Registration is at 8.50 followed by Assembly or morning prayer
• Whole class maths session
• Maths activity and free flow time;
• Story, fruit and snack time
• Playtime
• Phonics session/`News' writing
• Free-flow activities and observations

12 noon - Lunch, followed by playtime

• Story time
• PE with specialist teacher/Music/ICT/French
• Playtime
• Story or educational programme
• Afternoon prayer
• 3.15 - school day ends, but supervision continues until
• 5.00pm when the school closes

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