Reception

Reception Class Newsletter

November 22, 2019

After a busy and enjoyable first half term in school we hope you and the children are refreshed and ready for the excitement that the lead up to Christmas brings! Our stimulus topic this term will be ‘Celebrations’ and a copy of our topic plan is attached so you can see what we will be […]

Site Safety presentation with Buddy!

November 19, 2019

Buddy, the Borras Construction Safety Mascot, and his colleague Carol joined us for an assembly last week to speak to the children about staying safe around construction and building sites. We think Buddy made quite a few new friends!

EYFS Curriculum Overview

October 10, 2019

EYFS Curriculum Overview 2019

Reception Class Newsletter – Autumn Term 2019

October 10, 2019

Reception Class Newsletter Autumn 2019

Our teachers are Mrs Thomas and Mrs Underwood!

About me – Mrs Underwood

I enjoy spending time out and about walking with my family and our dog, Riley.

I have been a teacher at Shiplake Primary school for 10 years, working, for much of this time, in Key Stage 1 and Lower Key Stage 2. Last year I joined the Early Years team to cover maternity leave and enjoyed it so much I decided I would like stay! I have always had a special interest in the development of young children and am now working on further developing the teaching of literacy and mark making in the outdoor classroom.

I am the Special Educational Needs and Disability Coordinator (SENCO) and also oversee provision for vulnerable or dis-advantaged pupils. I work with pupils, parents and staff to develop effective, inclusive strategies to support pupils with their learning and social, emotional and behavioural development.

About me – Mrs Thomas

I used to be a pupil at Shiplake CE Primary school and have been teaching here for over seven years now. I have a keen interest in developing the outside classroom in Reception, enjoying all things creative and fun. I encourage independent, creative and inquisitive learning and particularly enjoy projects and topic based learning.

Our Classroom

Children in the Reception class follow the Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum. This curriculum is divided into seven areas of learning and development. There are three prime areas of learning and four specific areas of learning.

The three prime areas of learning are;

Personal, Social, Emotional Development
Communication and Language
Physical Development

The four specific areas of learning are;

Literacy
Mathematics
Understanding the World
Expressive art and design

In each of these areas the children’s learning is supported by well planned activities which enable the children to have first hand experiences where they are able to explore, consolidate and develop their learning. The children’s learning takes place in both the indoor and outdoor classrooms. In each classroom activities are adult led and child initiated.

The children’s progress is closely monitored by observing them undertaking their own activities and during adult led activities. This information is used to plan further experiences which are engaging, motivating and progressive. Each child’s progress is recorded in their own Early Years Foundation Stage Profile. This profile records their progress in each of the seven areas of learning and their characteristics of effective learning. Evidence is collected from several sources including long observations of the children at school and notes or photographs from home and school.

Phonics is taught throughout Reception and Key Stage 1 following letters and sounds. We do not have a preferred specific reading scheme but instead use a wide range of books from a variety of schemes differentiated through the Book-Banding system.

More information about the Foundation Stage can be found at the Foundation Years website.