Parents as Partners
At Grange Primary Academy 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. When the children have settled in, 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 for parents to see what their child has been learning about.
Tapestry
In Reception we use an on-line system called Tapestry to record your child’s achievements and to document their first year. We would appreciate parents/carers adding to this as well with achievements, photographs or to comment on what you can see on the journal. Parents/carers will be notified when an observation is added about your child, and you can comment on this. 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.
The Curriculum
In Reception, your child will follow the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum. This 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 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!
Assessment
Throughout your child’s time at school, they will be assessed regularly. This is to check their progress and identify the next steps in their learning. The school may carry out a baseline assessment when your child starts 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.
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.