Reception

Welcome to the Reception Class Page!

2019-2020

Teachers:

Mrs. Barker (R1 Monday-Thursday)

Mrs. Nadin (R1 Friday)

Mrs. Kemlo (R2)

Teaching Assistants:

Mrs. Griffiths (R1)

Mrs. Edwards (R2)

Our Early Years Foundation Stage is based on four themes:

* A Unique Child
* Enabling Environments
* Learning and Development

* Positive Relationships

A Unique Child

At Langdale we believe that every child is different, and this is reflected in our planning, provision and assessments. A Learning Journey is kept for each child, in which we keep examples of children's written work, along with any adult observations. Each Learning Journey contains information about the type of learner that the child is and what their interests are. We aim for these LJs to be a close reflection of the child. We always hand-write and hand-produce each child's learning journey to make them more personal to each individual (you will never see a computer generated learning journey for your child in our Early Years, as computers don't know your little person as well as we do!) We also give our children lots of opportunity to view, discuss and contribute to their learning journeys. We involve children in the planning of lessons, by asking them what they would like to see in the classroom each week, and by discussing what they would like to have more practise at. Children are also given time to reflect on their own learning, and self-evaluate where they are at, and where they would like to go next.

Enabling Environments

In Reception we have lots of fun, while we learn through play!

We want your child to enjoy school, because we feel that happy children are ready to learn. We do this by creating a stimulating, fun and educational environment where children can play, explore and investigate in real life situations. We are very keen to ensure your child develops the skills to become an independent learner.

We have a 'free-flow' system, in which we encourage children to choose whether they want to learn indoors or outdoors, and are free to move between the two areas throughout the day. 

Learning and Development

The Foundation Stage Framework is broken down into three prime areas:

• Personal, Social, Emotional Development

• Physical Development

• Communication and Language

As well as four specific areas;

• Maths

• Literacy

• Understanding the World

• Expressive Arts and Design

Characteristics of Effective Learning

Playing and exploring – engagement

• Finding out and exploring
• Playing with what they know
• Being willing to ‘have a go’

Active learning – motivation

• Being involved and concentrating
• Keeping trying
• Enjoying achieving what they set out to do

Creating and thinking critically – thinking

• Having their own ideas
• Making links
• Choosing ways to do things

Positive Relationships

As your child’s first educators the role of the parent is paramount to the successful implementation of the EYFS Curriculum. We want you to be involved at every stage of your child’s learning journey, therefore we have an 'open door' policy, where you can contact one of our Recepetion team members about ANYTHING at ANYTIME! We have a number of systems in place through which you can keep up to date with your child's learning and progress...please see below, or see your information packs for more information on this.

You can contact us via email on:

clare.barker@langdale.staffs.sch.uk

claire.nadin@langdale.staffs.sch.uk

nadia.kemlo@langdale.staffs.sch.uk

We have lots of ways in which you can stay in touch and continue to be involved in your child's learning, including:

- Fortnightly 'Stay and Share' Sessions (starting In the Spring Term)

- Weekly Drop-in Sessions (starting mid Autumn Term)

- 'Coffee and Catch Up' mornings in which your child can share their learning journeys with you

- Biannual Parents' Evening

- Annual Written Report, sent out at the end of the academic year

Listen Up!

During the Autumn Term we are working on developing our speaking and listening skills. The goal is for all of our children to be able to listen attentively and respond to 2-part instructions, ask questions, answer ‘how’ and ‘why’ questions, and to be able to speak in full sentences, whilst  including any relevant detail. 

You can help at home by encouraging your child to speak clearly using full sentences, encourage them to give detail, engage in dialogue with your children, e.g. by speaking to them about their school day. Please also see our ‘Vocabulary of the Week’ on our end -of-week review letters. 

Useful Information

Homework

We do not usually give out formal homework in Reception. Instead, we send home little activities that can be done at home, e.g. Look at house numbers on your way to school, collect some leaves and acorns at the weekend, or make a list of battery-operated equipment at home.

Reading

Children are given a reading book during their first week in Reception. Children progress through the reading scheme from pink - red-yellow-blue-green-orange-turquiose-purple-gold-white. Most children leave Reception reading books from the red, yellow or blue book band. We encourage children to read to an adult at home as often as possible, and at least three times a week. We aim to listen to children read in school twice a week.

Phonics

Following phonics assessments in September, children are placed into phonics groups, where learning can be pitched at the perfect level for each child. Children are taught phonics in these phonics groups three times a week. Outside of these more formal phonics sessions, children learn and develop their phonics knowledge through play.

Mathematics

Children will complete an adult-led maths activity each week, and again, children learn and develop their mathematical understanding through play, throughout the week.

Spellings

Mrs Barker's phonics group will begin to receive spellings during the summer term.

PE

PE takes place once a week, on a Friday morning. It is delivered this year by the fabulous Bee Active Team.  We also have hall time on a Wednesday in R1 and a Thursday in R2. Children need PE kits in school every day. PE kits will be sent home at the end of each half term for washing, and for a size-check. 

Our Topics!

Autumn 1

All About Me

Autumn 2

Celebrations

Spring 1

Amazing Animals

Spring 2

New Life

Summer 1

Space

Summer 2

Castles

   Parent Questionnaire comment

Please make sure you read the wonderful comments from our parents. We are so lucky to have such supportive parents.

”Thank you so much for nurturing, loving and teaching my little boy. You truly have engrained a love for learning into him.”

“She really enjoyed your classes and I believe that this was reflected in her achievements “.

”My son has loved you and the class!”

”You have given him such care and treated him as an individual. .. Educationally he has come on in leaps and bounds, and emotionally much more regulated!” 

"My child loves praise and thoroughly enjoys being given the responsibility of fruit monitor"

"I love the pictures on the website, seeing them in action"

"I am overwhelmed with the progress my child has made and couldn't have wished for anything better"

"The weekly newsletters are great and really help us to engage the children in what they have been doing; without this we wouldn't know half of what they have been up to...."

"The team are doing a fantastic job, I really value the level of communication we have and in such a variety of different ways..."

"My child loves school, she is so upset when she has to have a day off if she is poorly..."

"Receiving emails at 10pm at night just sums up the teacher's dedication to her class. She is always on hand and is ready to look after my little girl with cuddles or a listening ear"

"My child's teacher greets both parents and children with such warmth"

"My sons reading and writing has greatly improved since being in Reception"

"Year 1 will have a lot to live up to!!"

"It is very impressive to see the documentation of my child's learning progress. The teacher is very hard working and knows my child as well as I do"

"I know my child is getting outstanding teaching and support and we are thoroughly impressed with what she has achieved in such a short space of time in Reception"

"The work that goes into my child's learning journey is phenomenal, the teacher must spend so much of their own time ensuring that these are completed"

”I am delighted with the progress that my child has made in Reception!”

“My  child has had a fantastic year, and a great start to his schooling.”

Thank you so much for your ongoing support - as our school motto says

" We work together, to learn together, in order to grow together"