Hello everybody.
On this page, we have included some key information for parents, and a video to share with your child showing the Reception classrooms, playground and corridor area. We hope this page will make starting school easier for you and your child.
We understand that starting school is a big step and will do all we can to make you and your child feel safe and happy in school. If you have any queries, please scroll down to the bottom of the page for our contact information and we will reply as promptly as we can.
We look forward to welcoming you all to Reception in September. It will be a fantastic year.
We can't wait for children to have lots of fun, whilst we support and encourage as your child grows in confidence and independence.
Miss Dodgson, Miss Brennan & The Reception Team.
Information for Parents
There are two classes in Reception.
The class teachers are Miss Dodgson (RD) and Miss Brennan (RB).
Our learning support assistants are Mrs Szelast, Miss Eaton and Miss Stead.
You should have now received a letter in the post inviting you and your child into school, in September, to meet the Reception staff and have a look around the Reception classrooms. At this time, we will give you your child's start date, and the class your child will be in. You will be able to have a chat with your child's teacher, and talk through any questions you might have.
School Uniform: Yellow, short sleeved polo t-shirt, royal blue school jumper, royal blue jogging pants and sensible school schools without laces.
PE Kit: School PE t-shirt, navy shorts, pumps, and a pump bag.
Book Bags: We encourage children to bring book bags into school everyday. These can be purchased from school, in September.
School Times: The school day starts at 8:55am, and finishes at 3:10pm. In the morning we will meet you at the gate and your child will be accompanied inside by a member of staff. Once inside, staff will help children to find a friend and activity.
Lunch Time: Initially children will have a packed lunch in school and when settled they will be offered the choice of a hot dinner, school sandwich or their own packed lunch. In the first few weeks they may change from a hot meal to a packed lunch or vice-versa. After that children may only change at the beginning of a half-term as the school meals have to be ordered. Lunch boxes/bags from home need to have your child’s name and class on it.
Preparing Children for School
The best way to prepare children for a positive start at school is simply to talk to them about what will happen. When children know what to expect, they can be prepared and also excited to start school.
In a similar way that you might count the days until a celebration or holiday, start to count the weeks/ days with your child so that they will know when this will happen.
Also, over the coming weeks, take time to walk past the Reception yard (on Callow Road).
Look and talk about the play equipment (slide, climbing frame, house, boat,) and point out the doors where your child will enter school ie. the three blue doors facing the gate.
Encouraging confidence and independence
Lots of children will be starting to do things independently as they start school. Initially, this can be quite simple things like collecting a toy, a book or their coat for themselves. Later, they might try to help with getting dressed or fastening clothes independently. As children's independence grows they become increasing confident in their own abilities. When children are confident about trying to put on their coat by themselves, this later transfers to children being confident to try a maths problem or some writing by themselves. Equally, if children continue to wait for adults to help, then it is likely they will wait for help when completing tasks in school.
Children will need help doing lots of things but it is important that we slowly wean children from adult support in doing simple things and we give children time/ the opportunity to try to do things independently.
The Importance of Talk
For children to become good readers and writers, they must first be a good talker. A good reader can talk about pictures in the story and can listen for sounds in words to read. A good writer is able to think an idea and compose a sentence, as well as listen for sounds in words to spell.
When adults talk with children, they are developing the child's understanding and building their vocabulary.
When adults listen to children and show they have understood them, they are developing the child's self-esteem and confidence to share ideas. When adults struggle to understand a child, it is important to follow the child’s clues- actions/ gestures and/or facial expressions to develop some understanding.
When talking with children, adults help children become fluent talkers, which is vital in developing knowledge and understanding and also developing relationships and social skills.
Physical Development
From birth, children are developing their physical skills. Children need to have lots of experience of movement (crawling, walking, running, jumping, climbing, dancing, wriggling, slithering) before they develop skills to control small objects including pens and pencils.
Playdough, putty/ slime, sand play, lego and other small toys all help develop finger strength. It is important to let children explore crayon and pencils and make large marks on paper. ‘Scribble’ is an important stage of writing and developing pencil control.
When children’s skills are developed and they are ready to write their name we initially encourage children to over-write, ie write on top where an adult has already written the child's name.
Maths
You will be surprised at how much maths we use every day in our homes.
Good examples of opportunities for maths are:
Reception is the final part of your child's Foundation Stage, where teachers plan and assess around 7 areas of development to support children's learning. The 7 areas of learning are:
Click on the Nursery Star (on the previous page) and the 'Home Learning' Pencil to find more activities to entertain children and help them to remember the things they have learned in Nursery.
Contact Information
If you have any questions or require anymore information, before September, please don't hesitate to contact us. Please use the email addresses below:
Miss Dodgson (RD) - rd@lawrence-primary.co.uk
Miss Brennan (RB) - rb@lawrence-primary.co.uk
It would be lovely to hear from you!