Reception Rosen

At GPA we value the relationships that we have with parents and children.  

There will be many opportunities for you to come into school and spend some quality time with your child within their classroom.   

Once the children have settled in (usually we start after October half term) we will introduce our regular reading morning, where parents/carers can come in and share a book with their child in their classroom.   

This is a great opportunity to talk to the class teacher, ask for support with reading or to have a look around the classroom and take in what the children have been doing. 

Our School Day 

Our doors open at 8.45am for registration in the classroom. 

We have our very own entrance, away from the main entrance of the school. 

The children are encouraged to come into the classroom independently where they will be supported to put their belongings away.   

At GPA we believe breakfast is very important; so, we provide toast and milk each morning.  We sit together on the carpet to welcome each other and start our day the right way. 

Our Curriculum 

In Reception, our progressive curriculum is planned to build on previous experiences and develop all the skills, knowledge and vocabulary, your children will need in future year groups.   It provides no limits or barriers to the children’s achievements. 

The curriculum is broad and balanced, and we follow a core text approach to learning which covers all seven areas of learning.  The children are exposed to a variety of quality texts, opportunities, and trips – the children benefit from meaningful learning across the school.   

Our staff continually reflect and assess how the children are developing and adjust their practice appropriately. We want to see the three characteristics of effective teaching and learning, which are: 

• playing and exploring – children investigate and experience things, and ‘have a go’ 
• active learning – children concentrate and keep on trying if they encounter difficulties and enjoy achievements.  
• creating and thinking critically – children have and develop their own ideas, make links between ideas, and develop strategies for doing things. 

Development Matters sets the standards for the learning, development and care of your child. The things your child will learn in Reception have been organised into three prime areas of learning: 

• Communication and Language 
• Physical Development 
• Personal and Social Development 

and four specific areas of learning 

• Literacy 
• Mathematics 
• Understanding the World 
• Expressive Arts and Design 

In the EYFS, play is a very important part of your child’s development, and most learning will be introduced through a mixture of carefully planned opportunities for play and some purposeful planned adult-led focused activities.   

There will also be opportunities for your child to choose activities that appeal to them, following their own interests.  

Don’t be too concerned if your child says that they have been playing all day – it just means that they have been lucky enough to have experienced staff who have made their learning fun and enjoyable! 

We love reading at GPA – this is helped by our wonderful library! It really is something! 

We begin our phonics learning the very first moment your child walks through the door – it is fun, creative and you will see the magic happen the very first term. 

Early into the first term, your child will be sent home with a reading book, a reading record, and words to learn in a pencil case. We encourage the children to read as often as possible at home, preferably every evening.  This will help them to become fluent readers as they progress through our phonics programme.   We ask that you record in their reading diary when you read with them. 

We will have planned phonics mornings for you to come in and observe a phonics lesson, and gain some tips to help your child read. 

The children will be heard reading at least twice a week, and their phonics book will be changed as needed.  They will choose their own library book on a Wednesday to take home to share with their family. 

PE is a compulsory element within the curriculum.  We aim to make it exciting, fun, and achievable.  They have PE on a Monday and a Wednesday.   

Children are required to have a fully labelled PE kit.  We ask that they wear their PE kit to school.  In the colder months a school tracksuit is available to buy from our school supplier. 

Long hair must be tied back, and earrings removed by parents/carers prior to the school day. 

• A change of clothes if your child struggles with toileting– in case of any accidents.
• Book bag – please bring this daily so we can read with your child throughout the week and send home any important letters or pictures they create in school.
• Water bottle – please no fizzy drinks. 

Please label all items with child’s full name. 

We love being outside, and our outdoor area is very much an extension of our classroom.  We have a wonderful purpose-built area for our children, complete with a mud kitchen, stage, water area and climbing equipment. 

The children will be accessing the outdoor area every day.  

 Please could you ensure that your child has weather appropriate clothing each day. Sun cream should also be applied before school in the warmer weather. 

i.e - a warm/waterproof coat if it’s raining and/or a hat in the summer.  

In EYFS we use an on-line system called Tapestry to record your child’s achievements and to document their ‘wow’ moments in school 

It’s as easy as Facebook and a great way to stay connected with your child’s learning and achievements in school. 

We would also like parents to share with us the successes that their child has at home.  For example, helping mummy, getting dressed on their own, riding their bike without stabilisers, being a good friend etc.  

We will carry out a baseline assessment when your child starts school, to find out what they can do already. This is nothing to worry about – it isn’t a test and it’s unlikely your child will even know it’s happening.  If you would like more information regarding this please visit: 

Reception baseline assessment: collection page - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) 

During each term, the staff will complete formative and summative assessments, to keep track of how your child is learning; to inform their next steps and goals for each term.   

We will keep you informed and provide pupil passport meetings where we can discuss any concerns and celebrate their successes. 

 At the end of Reception, your child’s teacher will assess again, and they will complete an EYFS Profile. This assessment is carried out by the reception teacher and is based on what they, and other staff caring for your child, have observed over a period. of time. All the information collected is then used to assess where your child is currently in the seven areas of learning. The school will give you a report of your child’s progress, including information from their EYFS Profile.