Welcome to Reception
Now that our child has started school, we thought it might be useful to share the information below. If there are ever any questions, please just ask your class teacher or drop a note on Tapestry.
Routines
At the start of the day, we encourage the children to be as independent as possible, by carrying in their belongings and putting them away. The children experience whole group carpet sessions, story times and choosing time (indoors and outdoors). We will begin the year with learning about fairytales and have lots of activities linked to this.
Drinks
Please send your child in with a named water bottle as they are allowed to drink from these throughout the day. Bottles must only contain water. For those parents who have requested, milk is provided.
Reading
Following time to get to know the children, your child will choose a picture book to bring home (for you to read and share with your child). Later in the term, we will send home a reading book instead which will initially contain pictures only. This will provide the opportunity for your child to describe the characters and setting, discuss what might be happening and what might happen next. Please complete your child’s yellow reading record book and we will then be able to send a new book home. We encourage children to re-read their book daily before returning it, to develop fluency and confidence. Spending time reading at home is extremely valuable and will help your child to make progress faster. Please try and make reading with your child part of your daily routine.
Phonics
At Dunalley, we use the scheme Read Write Inc. to teach phonics and initially use magnetic letters to build words. When we begin our lessons, we will introduce a new sound each day and send home a phonics exercise book with the sound they have learnt. Your child will benefit from sharing these sounds with an adult at home and have a go at writing the letter sound too. They may also enjoy spotting objects around their home which begin with their new sound. When ready, your child will bring home sound blending word books instead of a picture book.
Maths
During Reception we aim to build the strong foundations required to excel in maths with a deep focus on the numbers 1-10, how they are made up and addition and subtraction facts within 10. We use Numicon as a resource to support our maths learning and you can purchase this from Amazon if you would like to have a set at home. We also watch Numberblocks episodes, which can be found on BBC iPlayer at home.
PE
Although children are not required to change for PE at school, they do have to put waterproofs on and wellies and being able to dress and undress independently is an important skill to develop. Please encourage your child to dress and undress themselves at home and learn to put on their shoes independently. Please avoid school shoes with laces until your child can do them up.
Activities
We strive to provide the children with opportunities to learn in both the indoor and outdoor environment. We like to go outside even though it is sometimes wet and muddy. Therefore, please send your child in with named waterproofs and a pair of named wellies.
Collecting your child
In order to ensure your child’s safety we only let the children out as we see the parent/carer who is collecting them. As we are still getting to know you, this may take a little time at the beginning of the term, so please bear with us. If your child is going home with someone other than yourself, you must always let us know who will be collecting them, as otherwise we will be unable to let them go (unless they have been named as an approved person to collect on your forms to the office). If it is an emergency situation, please phone the school office.
Inhalers
If your child is asthmatic, please ensure that you bring in a named inhaler to be kept at school.
Please name everything that your child wears or brings to school. It would be useful if you could also name their shoes, as many of the children have the same ones. Please also put some spare trousers, pants and socks in a labelled bag. Children do not need a rucksack – only a named school book bag.
We hope this helps you understand a little more about Reception and we look forward to getting to know you and your child. We use Tapestry as a key part of our communication, so please make sure you check this regularly and feel free to comment and like the posts we send, as well as adding some of your own as we love to see what the children get up to outside of school and celebrate this with their peers.
We would also like to invite you to 2 sessions this term:
Thank you for your support!
Mrs Hadad, Mrs Flood and Mr Price
Class Teachers
Mrs Thatcher, Mrs Errington and Mrs Hall
Teaching Partners