1. St. Anthony’s Reception Thursday 15th September 2016 Information Evening for Parents

2. Reception Classes The Reception Team Flora Liz, Emma Jo, Rosa
Other Teachers
Music: Jonathan & Paul
French: Rachel
Learning Support: Kate
Reading: Mimi & Katalin
Head of Junior House: Dana

3. Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)
There are 7 areas of learning altogether;
3 Prime areas –
Communication and language development
Physical development
Personal, social and emotional development
4 Specific areas –
Literacy
Mathematics
Understanding of the world
Expressive arts and design

4. Early Learning Goals (ELGs)
Establish expectations for most children to reach by the end of Reception.
Provide a basis for planning with a balance of focus-activities and free-flow activities which children can go to independently.

5. Characteristics of Effective Learning
Creating and thinking critically – thinking:
Having their own ideas;
Making links;
Finding out and exploring.
Playing and Exploring – engagement:
Playing with what they know;
Being willing to ‘have a go’;
Working at length and in depth.
Active Learning – motivation:
Being involved and concentrating;
Keep trying;
Enjoying achieving what they set out to do;
Independent learners.
The focus is on how children learn, rather than what they are learning.
In the early years, children form attitudes about learning that will last a lifetime.
Children who receive the right sort of support and encouragement during these
years will be creative, and adventurous learners throughout their lives.

6. Timetable
LITERACY: 20 minutes of phonics everyday (2 sounds and some high frequency / tricky words introduced per week). Please practise them gently throughout the week. Creative writing is introduced when the boys are ready.
MATHS: 20 minutes every day (a number up to 20 is introduced each week). Please focus on the formation, and talk about this number with your child throughout the week.
MUSIC: 1 session a week.
FRENCH: 1 session a week.
P.E: 2 sessions a week – focusing on fine and gross motor skills.
R.E: 1 session a week.
ICT: weekly use of iPads, IWB, Digital Cameras and programmable toys.
FREE-FLOW: carefully selected activities that are chosen to encourage learning through play.

7. Observations
We observe the boys through out the week. Taking photos, writing notes and collecting work samples. We use these observations to assess their understanding and plan activities to extend their learning.
We put key observations into your son’s online profile. If you would like to look through it, please do make an appointment. It is best to do this towards the end of a half term as this is when it will have more work in it.

8. Key person
Your son will be allocated a ‘key person’. It will be a member of the Reception team. They will show a special interest in your son through close personal interaction day to day. They will help him to become familiar and confident with the classroom and school. We will let you know who your son’s key person is.
Your son’s ‘key person’ will take observations of your son’s learning and characteristics of learning and compile it in his online profile. However, it is responsibility of the class teacher and head of Reception to ensure your son is making progress.

9. Parent Observations
Every term, we will send home a form for you to complete about your son and his current interests at home. We will use this information to inform our planning. For example, if he is interested in trains, then we may set up a Maths activity that involves counting or adding train carriages together.
No one knows your son better than you! Please help us to get the full picture by taking your own observations of your son at home or out and about. We will be sending home ‘Wow Parent Slips’ for you to fill in when you see your son doing something new or just fantastic! These observations will be added to his online profile.

10. Wow Parent Slips

11. Communication and Language (CL) PRIME AREA
Listening and attention
Understanding
Speaking

12. Physical Development (PD) PRIME AREA
Moving and Handling
Health and self-care

13. Personal, Social and Emotional Development (PSED) PRIME AREA
Making relationships
Self-confidence and self-awareness
Managing feelings and behaviour

14. Literacy SPECIFIC AREA
Reading
Writing

15. Mathematics SPECIFIC AREA
Numbers
Shape, space and measure

16. Understanding of the World (UoW) SPECIFIC AREA
People and communities
The world
Technology

17. Expressive Arts and Design (EAD) SPECIFIC AREA
Exploring and using media and materials
Being imaginative

18. Settling In
A few tears and some tiredness are expected (parents and teachers as much as children!).
Settling in takes time so please don’t worry: the boys have all been fantastic.
From next Monday, please try leave the boys at the door and we will make sure they are settled. We will always call you if your son is particularly upset.
Reception boys should arrive between 08:30 and They
should be picked up at 15:15.
Boys with older brothers can be picked up at 15:30 from Big Brother.

19. Our Vision for Reception
Happy, engaged little boys who are excited to come to school.
A varied curriculum, delivered in a way that is personalised to your son.
A close relationship and understanding between ourselves and you: we need and want to work together to ensure your child receives the best possible start at St. Anthony’s.