In Early Years we aim to:

• Plan fun and challenging activities across the curriculum;
• Develop good relationships with parent/carers to support children’s learning;
• Develop independence skills to their full potential;
• Plan topics that engage the children's interests;
• Create an exciting and stimulating environment for learning.

and above all:

• Ensure all children settle happily into school and have a positive start to their school career.

We embed Physical Development into our continuous provision within the outdoor classroom therefore children need warm coats and appropriate winter clothing e.g. wellington boots, hats and gloves.

Children will need to come to school dressed in their PE kit on Wednesdays. Please ensure all kit is clearly named. 

In line with the new Home Learning Policy your child will receive a half termly Learning Passport.

This includes a range of activities, including some Expressive Arts and Design, Understanding the World and Communication and Language.  They are set at the beginning of each half term. The teachers will set an expectation as to the number of activities to complete but it is pupil choice as to which activities are accomplished.

The activities can be completed at any time during the half term (there is no weekly expectation for the activities within the learning passport).  The children can bring these activities in (or photographs) whenever they are completed, and they will be shared and celebrated in class.

Children are expected to complete a minimum of four signed reads per week (this does not have to be of the same book) in their reading diary and to practice our weekly sounds from Phonics using the sound mats provided. Regular reading at home really supports children’s progress but most importantly builds their confidence as a reader.

To allow the children to settle into our school routines, Reception will begin using the Learning Passport after October half term.

Your child will receive a sound mat which matches the sounds taught as part of our school's Phonics scheme, ELS (Essential Letters and Sounds). Each week in our weekly news, we will communicate the sounds we have taught. It is helpful for your child to practice recognising these at home. 

We follow the 'Essential Letters and Sounds' programme for our daily phonics lessons. Please see the videos below to support your child with pronouncing their phase 2 and phase 3 sounds. 

We use the Essential Letters and Sounds phonics scheme to teach phonics and reading in Reception. The reading books the children bring home are carefully matched to their phonic knowledge based on what is being taught and teacher assessment of their reading. Reading books are changed on a Friday. 

Children also have the opportunity to choose a book to borrow from the Library. You can take part at home by reading these together and fostering a love of reading!