Reception Transition
We can’t wait to welcome all the new pupils to Reception in September 2023!
When your child starts school, there is so much information to take on board and remember. We hope that within this section of our website, we will be able to answer most of your questions and reassure you at this time.
This section contains the following information:
- Welcome videos
- Early Years Curriculum.
As a parent, you may want to watch the videos by yourself first and then watch parts with your child that show them more about their classroom or elements that you think they may be anxious about.
Don’t forget to look at our home learning page, as there are many home and fun-friendly activities for you to do over the summer in the nursery and reception sections. There are also some universal links to ideas to support children starting school from the BBC.
If you have any questions about your child starting school, however big or small, please do not hesitate to contact us through the tab on the right. A member of the school staff will endeavour to respond within 72 hours.
EYFS Curriculum:
Learning Through Play
In the Early Years, learning takes place through carefully planned, play-based learning opportunities, both inside the classroom and also in our specially designated outdoor area. The EYFS curriculum has been designed with seven areas of learning and development in mind. These seven areas of learning are grouped into two strands, 'prime' and 'specific'.
The Three Prime Areas of Learning and Development:
These lay down the foundation for all children's learning, ensuring that children are able to relate to others, communicate effectively, and engage with their environment. The prime areas depend on each other and are universal in that they occur within all cultures and social backgrounds.
- Personal, social, and emotional development
- Physical development
- Communication and language
The Four Specific Areas of Learning and Development:
These can be introduced flexibly but cannot be developed alone; they build on the development gained through the prime areas. The specific areas reflect individual children's life experiences, including their cultural and social backgrounds. Practitioners will be able to plan for children's next steps in specific areas through their observations and knowledge of children's likes, dislikes, and through regular feedback and communication from families.
- Literacy
- Mathematics
- Understanding the world
- Expressive arts and design
Alongside these seven areas of learning and development, the EYFS curriculum focuses on how children learn. This is called The Characteristics of Effective Learning. Roughly speaking, they tell us that children learn when they are:
- Playing and Exploring: How engaged they are in an activity.
- Active Learning: How motivated they are.
- Creating and Thinking Critically: How they develop their thinking.
Play activities are used as a critical tool at this time to allow children to settle into school life, make friends and establish trusting relationships with the new adults in their life.
EY staff will be warm, responsive, and sensitive to what they observe in play and respond with appropriate talk and questioning. Of course, school is a different environment from your home. EY staff will skilfully help children readjust by gradually introducing routine and structure to the day as the term progresses.
We will provide a transition programme to enable your child to look forward to starting school. This typically involves teachers visiting their current preschool or nursery to see your child at play and speak to practitioners that know them well, a home visit to get to know the family, and a stay-and-play activity at school so that your child can get to know the classroom environment and staff.
As parents, you will be provided with a handbook of useful information and an opportunity to come to school to meet the staff, ask questions and meet other families too. We hope to make the transition to school a happy and exciting step in your child's education journey.
If you have any questions please communicate with the school through the links on the website.