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Children enter the Reception class in the September following their fourth birthday. They are taught by a class teacher and a support assistant. The class is included in whole school activities and children are able to mix and form friendships with older children and prefects who help at different times throughout the day and are seen and valued as positive role models. The school day is from 8.35am to 3.35pm with after school care club and activities available until 5.30pm.
The Reception classroom 'provides a vibrant learning environment which engages children's interest and actively contributes to their learning', (Ofsted June 2008). Since September 2008, the Reception class has an additional Activity Area.
Children participate in a wide range of activities to enable them to achieve the Early Learning Goals as suggested in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), September 2008. The six areas of learning that are covered provide the basis for curriculum planning, and so lay secure ‘foundations’ for all future learning to build on. The six areas of learning are:
* Personal, Social and Emotional development
* Communication, Language and Literacy
* Mathematical development
* Knowledge and Understanding of the World
* Physical development
* Creative development
Through on going observations and assessments, individual progress is carefully monitored across these areas with additional support or extended challenges provided when needed. Additional subject teaching by specialists is given for music, ICT and swimming.
As most of the teaching and learning takes place in the reception areas, staff have an in depth knowledge of every pupil’s strengths and weaknesses and an understanding of each child’s pastoral needs. The school sees every child as unique and their individual needs as paramount.
With a strong emphasis on personal, social and emotional development, we aim to ensure that all the children in Reception will achieve their best. We hope that as their Reception year ends, they have all become confident, well-motivated, independent and above all, ‘happy learners!’ |
