Welcome to Reception at Growing together. Empowered to be more. Our EYFS vision Our children feel safe and happy in a stimulating and challenging environment, where they love to learn and become confident, enthusiastic and independent learners.

A Typical School Day… School begins: 8.55am 9.10- Phonics 9.30- Focused activity/ Continuous Provision 10.45- Milk and fruit time/Whole class learning 11.00- Focused activity/ Lunch: 12.00 - 1.30pm 1.30-Whole class learning 1.45-Outdoor Learning 3.00pm- Story time/singing End of school day: 3.30 p.m.

EYFS areas of learning and development. Prime areas- these develop through relationships and experiences and run through and support all areas. Personal social and Emotional Physical development Communication and Language Specific areas- include essential skills and knowledge- provide important contexts for learning. Literacy Mathematics Understanding the World Expressive Arts and Design

Prime areas Personal social and Emotional Making relationships, Self Confidence and Self Awareness, Managing Feelings and Behaviour. Physical development Moving and Handling, Health and Self-care. Communication and Language Listening and Attention, Understanding, Speaking.

Specific areas Literacy: Reading and Writing Mathematics: Numbers, Shape, Space and Measure Understanding the World: People and Communities, The world, Technology Expressive Arts and Design: Exploring and Using Media and Materials, Being Imaginative

Characteristics of effective learning

Reception Baseline Not formal testing, based on high quality adult interactions and observations of children’s learning through play. Teachers role is to ‘tease’ rather than teach until baseline is complete, after first 6 weeks. Focus on children’s well being and involvement, characteristics of effective learning and areas of learning and development.

Foundation Stage Profile The EYFS profile summarises and describes children’s attainment at the end of Reception. Each child has an electronic learning journey recorded on Early Essence. At the end of the year teachers must judge if a child is meeting the expected level, exceeding the level or is not quite yet meeting expectations (emerging) These will provide Year 1 teachers with important information about your child’s learning. Parents will receive information throughout the year on your child’s progress towards these goals.

Parental Engagement… You are your child’s first educators so we want you to be involved and fully aware of what your child is learning at school. ‘Weekly Learning Update’ on Fridays about your child’s learning in the week. Photos on the class pages of the school website www.urmstonprimary.com Parents’ evening in November. Phonics Evening on Thursday 3rd October. Wow moments- contributions to your child’s Learning Journey. Log in to Primary Essence where you will be able to send us photos and comments about your children. Share a selection of photos and observations at the end of every half term via Primary Essence. Half termly class visits.

Help your child to be independent. Independence with Clothing – practising zipping coats, buttons, shoes and socks. Toileting – routine of flushing and handwashing. Recognising their name, eventually their surname - name cards, book bags, pegs,

What you can do to help. Develop gross motor skills by throwing and catching, sweeping leaves, washing the car, etc. Develop hand strength by using play dough, squeezing sponges in the bath, jigsaws, finger rhymes. Encourage children to mark make. Encourage your child to write for a purpose, e.g. shopping lists, birthdays cards… Develop fine motor skills by cutting, lego play, dot-to-dots etc.

Pencil grip development

Learning Together Find learning in everyday opportunities. Talk with your child about their learning. (class web page) Be a role model. Your child will want to copy you. Bedtime stories, shared reading books, reading scheme books, re-tell stories. Phonics- sound bags/key words, Jolly Phonics(you tube clips) Look at printed language in the environment, signs, labels, food packets, leaflets. Talk about the world around you, seasonal changes, current affairs.

What you can do to help. Nursery rhymes, number rhymes and counting songs. Pointing out numbers in the environment on your way to school. Practise counting forwards and backwards together, e.g. when you climb the stairs. Play board games together, memory pairs, Compare quantities/objects, who has the most sweets, which shopping bag is heavier? Describe shapes around the house, roll/stack, curved/straight. Simple routines – setting the table, unpacking shopping, pairing socks, follow instructions. Baking- brilliant activity for maths and scientific!

Reception reward system Each child in the class has been given their own Dojo character. Throughout the day, we can award the children Dojo points for their good behaviour and at the end of each day, everyone will receive a Dojo for having a happy day.

Rainbow reward With every 10 Dojo points achieved, your child will receive a sticker and move one step up the rainbow. Once they reach the top of the rainbow, they will receive a certificate and a prize.

Behaviour steps The child will not receive a Dojo point at the end of the day. 5 minutes of timeout. Child speaks to Mr Parker, Mr Doherty or SLT. Parents are invited in for a meeting with their child to discuss their behaviour.

If you have any queries at any time, please come and speak to us. Please ask … If you have any queries at any time, please come and speak to us.