Acorn Class - Reception 

Teacher: Miss F Winder 

Teaching Assistant: Mrs J Johnson 

Daily requirements 

• Coats for wet / cold weather 

• Wellies (kept at school) 

Packed in a bag: 

• Water bottle 

• Sun hats for warm weather 

• Change of clothes 

Homework 

Please bring in book bags on Wednesday or Thursday with their reading book and reading record book inside.  

• Daily reading - please listen to your child read and initial their reading record each night. 

• Please look at the phonemes we have learnt each week and practice at home with your child. 

Recommended Reading List 

Year R reading list 1 - click here.

Year R reading list 2 - click here.

Year R reading list 3 - click here.

PE 

Wednesday 

The children are to bring their PE kit to school to change into. 

Early Years Curriculum 

In Reception the children develop key characteristics of effective learning. These include playing and exploring, active learning and creating and thinking critically. Every child is unique and we encourage them to follow their interests and develop their own ideas. 

There are 7 areas of learning which are divided into the Prime (Personal, Social and Emotional Development, Communication and Language and Physical Development) and Specific areas (Literacy, Maths, Understanding the World and Expressive Arts and Design). All the areas of learning are delivered through a balance of teacher-led activities and child-initiated play. 

Teacher-led carpet sessions include phonics, maths and story-telling. Teacher-led focus group activities include guided reading, writing and maths. During play sessions adults will observe and then co-play with the children to develop their thinking, extend their language and model skills. 

The EYFS 'Development Matters' document shows the Early Learning Goals across all areas of learning including all the steps to get there from birth to 5. This is the document we use at school to assess and plan the next steps for the children's learning. Children are working towards meeting the Early Learning Goals by the end of Reception. 

https://www.basicknowledge101.com/pdf/Development-Matters-FINAL-PRINT-AMENDED.pdf 

 Little Wandle Phonics 

We use the Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised Phonics scheme to plan and provide daily engaging phonics lessons. In phonics, we teach children that the letters of the alphabet represent a different sound, that these can be used in a variety of combinations and are put together to make words. The children learn to recognise all of the different sounds and combinations that they might see when they are reading or writing.   

If you would like more information about how to support your child with phonics at home, please follow this link to find the Reception and Year 1 overview as well as videos of the sound pronunciations, letter formation sheets and other helpful resources: https://www.littlewandlelettersandsounds.org.uk/resources/for-parents/ 

Play 

Our Reception Classroom and outside area are set up in a way that encourages open ended play, opportunities where the children can be imaginative, solve problems and challenge themselves. They can free-flow between indoor and outdoor play. The resources are continuous with access to ‘loose parts’ such as collections of natural materials and block play. 

‘When children interact with loose parts, they enter a world of ‘what if’ that promotes the type of thinking that leads to problem solving and theoretical reasoning. Loose parts enhance children’s ability to think imaginatively and see solutions, and they bring a sense of adventure and excitement to children’s play.’ (Daly and Beloglovsky, 2015) 

Forest School 

We are very excited to offer a weekly forest school session to all Reception pupils. The forest school ethos links very well with early years as they both have a child-centred approach and a strong emphasis on play. 

'Forest School is an inspirational process that offers ALL learners regular opportunities to achieve and develop confidence and self-esteem, through hands-on learning experiences in a woodland or natural environment with trees. Forest School is a specialised learning approach that sits within and compliments the wider context of outdoor and woodland education.' (Forest School Association).