In reception we strive to make learning fun, varied, interesting and interactive and to provide a safe, secure and stimulating environment for each and every child in our class.
The children learn through play and enjoy challenging and investigative experiences are are encouraged to become confident and idependent learners.
Pupils have access to both indoor and outdoor classrooms and thanks to our 'free flow' policy, can chose their preferred area of work and play to suit their individual needs.
Every child's learning experience links directly to the assessment scales outlined on the Early Years Foundation Stage Profile (to which you can find a link below) and follows the Principles into Practice, underpinned by the four themes as follows.
http://www.ncma.org.uk/pdf/EYFS_parents_carers.pdf
A Unique Child
Every child is a competent learner from birth who can be resilient, capable, confident and self-assured.
Positive Relationships
Children learn to be strong and independent from a base of loving and secure relationships with parents and or a key person.
Enabling Environments
The environment plays a key role in supporting and extending children's development and learning.
Learning and Development
Children develop and learn in different rates and all areas of learning and development are equally important and inter-connected.
Above all we appreciate each and every child and do all we can to ensure their individual talents are extended and their needs are met.
We value our relationships with parents and we are always happy to chat.
Spring Term 2012
During the first two weeks of term Miss Megahey's (RM) will be settling in to every day school life and using the topic 'me and my family' top get to know each other. Meanwhile, RB will be using Peter Pan as a vehicle for learning. The children will be learning about apsects of stories such as characters and events. experiencing role play and engaging in creative activities linked to the story.
After the first couple of weeks both Reception classes will be following the same topics and similiar themes. Both classes will be working closely together sharing resources and working collaboratively for a large proportion of the school day. All Reception staff will be planning collaboratively as to ensure all of the children are given the best opportunities and potential to learn at their own individual level.
Our first joint topic will be focusing on the Chinese New Year, exploring celebrations, different cultures and beliefs. The children will be carrying out creative and practical activities linked to this celebration. There will also be specific mathematical activities ongoing throughout the week and there will be opportunities for children to engage in information texts about festivals and celebrations.
The following week our theme will be the story of the "Hungry Caterpillar". The story lends itself well to a mathematical focus on number and calculations. The children will learn how to use nature-bases information texts to find out more and record some of their findings. The story will be used as an exciting stimulus in P.E. this week.
Finally, for the children have a well-earned break, we will have a 'Food Around the World' week. We will be focusing on Italy, Ghana, France, Sri Lanka and New Zealand. The children will be given the opportunity to experience a variety of foods from these countries. We will also be finding out a little more about these countries!
After half-term we will spend two weeks focusing on traditional tales, and in particular, the story of "The Enormous Turnip". We will be using actions and role play to help learn the story in the right order. We will use use this story to promote the children's reading and writing.
Throughout the first half of term we will be encouraging the children to suggest ideas and themes for us to focus on until the end of the Spring Term, giving them greater ownership of their learning.
We will kep you updated with the themes the children to focus on!
Autumn Term 2011/12
In this first half term, we in Reception aim to ensure that all of the children feels happy, comfortable and excited about school. Ultimately, over the first few weeks, we in Reception will be striving to develop strong relationships with the children and also between the children, some of whom will be unfamiliar with many others. There will be plenty of opportunity for talk, play and collaboration through games and activities. Within Reception, we aim to broadly focus our learning through specific themes, some of which may last for one wee, others for three or four weeks. Our initial topic will be 'all out me!' During this topic we will be exploring lies, dislikes, hopes and fears, favourite things, famililies etc. If the children wish to bring in photos, scrap books, pictures etc to support this topic, they are more than welcome. Other themes we will be exploring this term will be the seasons and Beatrix Potter stories, light and dark and, not forgetting Christmas!! We will also be going on an Autumn walk on Tuesday 18th October in the morning (more information to follow).
The children will be developing a variety of skills across the Early Years Foundation Curriculum. Regarding social and emotional development we will be working with the children to develop their ability to play with care and imagination and also share sensibly and fairly with others. We will be encouraging them to consider others' thoughts and feelings throughout all of their everyday activities.
Regarding mathematical development we will be developing number recognition and counting skills as well as encouraging an interest in shape and their features. This development will occur through direct teacher led activities and the children's independent continuous, learning; this could be in the form of games, construction, puzzles or books.
We will be encouraging a keen interest in books through use of our reading corner, our reading Rockets scheme incorporating our children's reading at home and lists and labels around the class and school. We will be specifically focusing our children's reading development through our daily 'Letters and Sounds' sessions. We will offer a variety of mark making and writing activities within independent learning as well as following the Penpals scheme to develop pencil control and letter formation.
Through our themes of learning and carefully chosen learning activities we will be encouraging children to develop their questioning skills as well as an inquisitiveness about the World around us. Weekly Physical development sessions will support our everyday activities in developing the children's fine and gross motor skills.
We are really excited to be giving our children their first steps in their school lives and look forward to ensuring a positive start to their learning journey.
