Welcome to Reception!

New Reception Starters September 2021 – please see below your Welcome to Reception booklet and a copy of the presentation from the live Teams session in June 2021

Below is a brief summary of some of the key points of information for the parents of Reception pupils.

Early Years Foundation Stage

The Reception year provides the culmination of the Early Years Foundation Stage. The Early Years Foundation Stage charts the development of children from birth until the end of the year in which they are five. It is built on the principle that all children are unique and that their learning and development is brought about by forming positive relationships with others, both adults and peers and by exploring concepts and the world in which they live, in an enabling environment- that is one which offers a wide range of stimulating opportunities to help them to make sense of their world.

At Elmlea we believe we offer an exciting, inspiring curriculum to engage our pupils and give them an introduction to the experiences and skills that they need to develop for life-long learning. We work towards achieving learning outcomes in seven areas of learning and development:

• Personal, Social and Emotional Development
• Communication and Language
• Physical Development
• Literacy
• Mathematics
• Understanding the World
• Expressive Arts and Design

We deliver this curriculum through purposeful play inside and out and a variety of enjoyable, challenging activities, both adult-led and child initiated.

Further information on how the Early Years Foundation Stage is taught at Elmlea and how you can help as a parent/carer at home will be shared throughout the year in the form of a curriculum information evening, parent-teacher meetings and through online platforms. As part of our practice, each child will have their own electronic ‘learning diary’ that can be contributed to by both home and school and will build a wonderful evidence base for their learning journey throughout the Foundation Stage.

Our Reception Classes
Within our year group, there are 3 classes:

Maple, Willow and Oak

A Typical Daily Timetable–
8:50 – 09:00am Registration and settling time
09:00 – 09:15am Choosing time
09:15 – 10:15am Teaching begins including a carpet session led by your child’s class teacher and then small group work with an English or Maths focus
10:15 – 10:30am Whole school assembly
10:30 – 10:50am Outside snack (please provide fruit in a named container) and break time
10:55 – 11:45am Teaching time and activities
11:45 – 01:00pm Reception Lunch and play time
01:05 – 03:00pm Teaching time and activities, stopping for afternoon milk and fruit
03:15pm End of the school day

PE Day: Friday

Things To Remember Each Week:
All Reception pupils need to remember to:
• To bring in a named water bottle and fruit snack each day
• Bring in their reading book and reading record book each day
• Ensure they have appropriate clothes for all weathers e.g. a coat, a sun hat, wellington boots to be left in school

Ways To Support Learning At Home-
More information on this will be shared at our Curriculum evening later in the year, however please do speak to your class teacher if you would like specific ways to support learning at home.
• Read with your child as often as possible (please write a short positive comment in their reading diary once you have done so)
• Talk with your child about what they have done in school and read our weekly newsletter to find out how you can help with that week’s learning.