* Welcome to Reception 2025-2026 *

A very warm welcome to our Reception class – where the adventure of learning begins with love, laughter and curiosity.

Starting school is such a special milestone, and at the heart of our Reception classroom is a nurturing environment where every child is cherished, valued, and supported as they take their first steps on their school journey. We understand that this can be both an exciting and emotional time for families, and we want to reassure you that your child will be greeted each day with warmth, kindness, and a smile.

Our Reception team is passionate about creating a homely space that feels like a second family – a place where little ones feel safe, build friendships, and grow in confidence. Through play-based learning, gentle routines and joyful discovery, we help children develop not just academically, but socially and emotionally too.

In Reception, we understand how important it is for every child to feel safe, valued, and heard. That’s why we take a firm but fair approach to behaviour, rooted in kindness and mutual respect. We encourage children to express their thoughts and ideas, and we value every voice in our classroom community.

Our classroom is full of curiosity, laughter and imagination. We follow a play-based, child-led curriculum that allows children to explore, investigate and learn in a fun, hands-on way. Whether they’re building, painting, storytelling or discovering nature, every moment in Reception is an opportunity for joyful learning.

We’re also proud to offer Forest School sessions one afternoon a week with Miss Wheeler and Miss McCloy, where children can embrace the outdoors, build resilience, and develop confidence through exploration and play.

On Thursday afternoons, we have PE lessons with Mrs Cowell. Please ensure your child has their full PE kit: a white t-shirt, navy shorts and pumps. In the colder months, children may also wear navy joggers and a zip-up hoody. We kindly ask that you support your child in practising getting dressed independently at home – it's a fantastic way to help build their confidence.

Reading at home plays a vital role in your child’s development. Sharing books together nurtures a love for reading, builds vocabulary, and strengthens comprehension. Just 10 minutes a day can make a world of difference, and by reading together, you're helping lay the foundation for lifelong learning.

As we move through the year, your child will begin their phonics journey with Phase 2 and Phase 3 of the Phonics Bug programme. These phases are all about learning the letter sounds and how to blend them into words for reading and writing. Phonics is a cornerstone of early literacy, and we’ll keep you informed on how you can support this important area at home.

Our main communication will be through ClassDojo. You should have had an email to help you to set up the app and create an account. This will be used to send reminders and celebrate children's achievements. We will also send homework activities and you can contact us through the messaging function. We encourage parents to share celebrations and achievements from home as well as homework tasks. 

Above all, we believe in working hand-in-hand with our families. Our EYFS team takes great pride in building kind, trusting, and open relationships with parents and carers. We recognise that you are your child’s first and most important teacher, and by working together, we can help your child become the very best they can be.

We can’t wait to embark on this journey with you and your little one. Here’s to a year full of wonder, growth and magic in Reception!

Warmest wishes,
 

Mrs Todd and Mrs Queen

Our Early Years Curriculum

As an Early Years team, we have developed a wonderful curriculum which caters for our children's needs and interests.  The overview below contains an outline of the topics we cover, but the content of the topics are adapted according to the needs and interests of our children. To find out more information about our EYFS curriculum please see the curriculum map below. Please note that our curriculum may be adapted and change throughout the school year to better suit the evolving needs of our children.

For more information on the new Early Years Curriculum 2021 please go to - Key Information- Curriculum - Early Years. 

Our School Behaviour Charter 

Our school Behaviour Policy is built upon the ‘5 pillars of Pivotal Practice’ (‘When Adults Change, Everything Changes’, Paul Dix):

• Consistent, calm adult behaviour,
• Relentless Routines,
• First attention to best conduct,
• Scripting difficult conversations,
• Restorative Follow-up.

We have three simple goals: Be safe, Be a Learner, Be Kind and Respectful.