Reception

The grown ups that help us to learn are Mrs Dawson, Mrs Humphrey and Mrs Ireland-Kimmer. Miss Blackie joins us on a Tuesday afternoon.

There are 22 children in our lively class and we love to have lots of fun as we learn!

In our class we have a daily phonics and maths sessions and story time at the end of the day. We follow Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised in phonics and Mastering Number for maths. We have a weekly 'Family Group Time', where we have focused learning and time to talk as a small group. 

Everyday we have two sessions in provision where we can choose our own learning. We can learn inside or outside and follow our own interests. ​

To help us enjoy the outdoor classroom, it is important that we bring:

• A pair of wellies

• A set of waterproofs

• A water bottle for the classroom (separate from a lunch drink)

• A full set of spare clothes in a small bag

(ALL with names on them!)

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Online Learning Journals

Tapestry is our online learning journey software. Each child can have their own individual learning journey that you can access at anytime by logging on with a secure username and password. As parents you are able to view all of your child’s observations, photographs and even videos from their time in Reception. You even receive an email telling you when a new observation or piece of work is available for you to view. This enables you to follow your child’s progress and give you the opportunity to reflect upon their achievements with them at home. You can add comments so that we are able to find out which activities your child really enjoyed as well as sharing the activities they carry out at home.  All of this information is stored on a highly secure server which is monitored closely. You can also add learning snapshots which is a great way to show us what your child is like at home and helps us to gain a clearer picture of their interests and abilities.

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In October each year we invite parents to an ‘Early Reading and Phonics’ event. At the session we:

• Introduce our reading programme, ‘Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised’.

• Discuss what phonics is, how and why we teach it.

• Give guidance on reading terminology and how to pronounce each sound correctly.

• Discuss how you can support your child with reading and writing at home.

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Links to useful games websites:

Crickweb:  This has an 'Early Years' section, but if you feel your child can play these confidently, have a look at the different areas on some of the Key Stage 1 section.

ICT Games: Numeracy and Literacy games

Top Marks: 

Phonics Play: There are some free phonics games on this website, We use some of these in class. The children have covered Phase 2 in class so far, so go to the 'Phase 2' section for the appropriate level.

Alphablocks game on CBeebies: Alphablocks is a fun programme on CBeebies with characters that are sounds. This link is to a short phonics game involving these characters, practising blending and segmenting words.

Why not play some of these games with your child?

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Routine and Timetable

Here is an outline of a day in Reception:

8.55am: The school day begins!

The children come into school and complete an independent handwriting activity during registration.

9.05am: Phonics

During the phonics session we learn new sounds and tricky words and follow the Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised Programme.  As the year progresses we learn to read and write independently by using these skills. 

9.40am- 10.50am: Provision Time

This is the time when the children begin their independent learning and can chose from indoor or outdoor provision throughout the year. The adults spend time working with the children to discuss and extend their learning.

10.50am - 11.00am: Tidy Up Time

Everyone helps to tidy all the areas of provision and this is a learning opportunity.

11.00am - 11.20am: Whole class carpet time,

'Adventure Through Stories' developing language and literacy skills.

11.20am - 11.30am: Toilet and wash hands before lunch

11.30am-11.40am Whole class session

This is an opportunity to share the weekly Picture News, learn a new rhyme or have a whole class input linked to our learning.

11.40am -12.45am: Lunch Time

 We are all very hungry and lots of us enjoy a school lunch and then the children go and play together with Miss Blackie. 

12.50pm – Registration

12.55 pm-  Maths

The afternoon begins with the register, followed by a short maths session. We follow the Mastering Number programme and the children get to learn new skills such as counting, subitising and learn about composition of number. Children then get the opportunity to practice new skills during their independent learning.

1.20pm: Provision Time

As in the morning, the children get another chance to continue their independent play. 

2.25pm:Tidy Up Time 

Everyone helps to tidy all the areas of provision and this is a learning opportunity.

Mon/Tue/Wed:

2.35 Reading Practice 

Children read in small groups and we follow the Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised Programme. Children read three times a week with an adult who is fully trained to deliver the session.

Thu/Fri:

During this time we may use the trim trail, enjoy a whole class music session or have family group time to share thoughts and feelings.

3.00pm:  At the end of the day we come back to the carpet to enjoy story time together.

3.20pm: Get ready for home time

3.30pm: Home Time

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Curriculum

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Children in Reception learn through the Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum, which has seven areas of learning:

• Physical Development

• Communication and Language

• Literacy

• Mathematics

• Expressive Art and Design

• Understanding the World

• Personal, Social and Emotional Development

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We also support children to develop characteristics of learning in:

• Playing and exploring

• Active learning

• Creating and thinking critically

 

During the school day, the majority of the children's learning takes place through their own, child led play. Additional resources are used to enhance the children's learning. 

To help develop the child as a learner we give the children opportunities to develop the skills of:

• being willing to have a go

• being involved and concentrating

• having their own ideas;

• choosing ways to do things;

• finding new ways;

• enjoying achieving what they set out to do.

Children are given rich opportunities to initiate ideas and activities and are encouraged to become independent learners.

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Phonics and Early Reading

At Sutton CP School, children in the Reception class take part in high quality phonics sessions every day. We follow the Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised Phonics Programme for our phonics teaching.Children learn to use their phonic knowledge for reading and writing activities which they can then use in their independent play. During the autumn term we hold a parents meetings to explain phonics and early reading. The attachments below give an overview of the learning throughout each half term.

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Maths

We use Mastering Number and White Rose Maths for the shape, space and measure element of the curriculum. 

We practise our counting skills and learn to subitise. We learn to read, write and order numbers to 10 and begin to add and subtract single digit numbers. During the maths sessions we learn about 2D and 3D shapes and solve problems using different measures such as height, length, capacity and time.

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The children also get lots of chance to practice maths skills during their independent learning. They have access to many maths resources in the classroom and in the outdoor area. Later in the year they are given opportunities to complete maths challenges to extend and consolidate their learning. We take part in the Natwest Money sense programme which helps children understand how money works in the real world and where money comes from. 

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You may like to look through this document called 'What to expect and When', which helps you as a parent/carer to find out more about how your child is learning and developing during their first five years, in relation to the EYFS. Children develop more rapidly during the first five years of their lives than at any other time. This booklet has been written to help you as a parent know what to expect during these vitally important years by focusing on the seven areas of learning and development which are covered in the EYFS.