Reception 2026 - 2027

Welcome to Reception!  

We have two classes and each class is supported by one of our brilliant EYFS Teaching Assistants every day. 

We are so lucky to have two inspiring classrooms, a great outdoor area, a large playground, a huge field and our fabulous forest area.

Our Reception children are such enthusiastic learners, and we are so proud of them.  

               Reception AC/KM                                                     Reception DM/LR      

      Mrs Marchant and Mrs Chesworth                        Mrs McLintock and Mrs Rowlands

           Class Saint: St Columba                                            Class Saint: St Werburgh

Reception

Welcome to Reception

Our Reception class is the final stage of the Early Years Foundation Stage journey, building on the experiences and learning that children begin in nursery and pre-school settings. We provide a nurturing, stimulating and highly engaging environment where every child feels valued, confident and ready to learn.

At St Werburgh’s & St Columba’s, we follow a play-based curriculum that reflects children’s interests and prior learning. We work closely with our feeder settings to ensure a smooth progression from pre-school into Reception, carefully building on what children already know and can do. As the year progresses, learning is thoughtfully planned and adapted to challenge every child to achieve their full potential and work towards the Early Learning Goals by the end of Reception.

A Positive Start to School Life

Our experienced EYFS team understands how important a successful transition to school is for both children and their families. We are committed to ensuring that every child settles happily and confidently into school life.

During the Summer Term, we liaise closely with nurseries and pre-school providers to gather information about each child. Before children begin school, we also visit them and their families at home, helping to build positive relationships and ensure that everyone feels supported as they start their school journey.

A Typical Day in Reception

Morning Missions
Each morning, children are welcomed into the classroom where they independently self-register and organise their belongings. They then begin their day with a Morning Mission. These engaging activities are designed to develop key skills such as fine motor control, letter formation, early mathematical thinking, problem-solving and investigation skills.

Phonics
Phonics is taught every day using the Essential Letters and Sounds programme. Children learn new sounds and tricky words, develop their skills in blending sounds to read words, and segmenting sounds to spell words. Through fun, interactive lessons, children quickly build confidence as early readers and writers.

Whole-Class Learning
Alongside daily phonics sessions, children take part in whole-class teaching every morning linked to our current learning theme. Each afternoon, they enjoy a dedicated mathematics session where they develop their understanding of number, shape, pattern and problem-solving through practical and engaging activities.

Busy Time
Children learn best when they are actively involved in their own learning. During Busy Time, children explore both the indoor and outdoor learning environments through a balance of adult-led activities and child-initiated play.

Adults carefully support and extend children’s learning through meaningful interactions, questioning and play. Children are also encouraged to complete independent challenge activities that build on their individual next steps and deepen their understanding across all areas of learning.

Physical Development
Physical development is woven throughout our Reception curriculum. Children have daily opportunities to develop their fine and gross motor skills both indoors and outdoors.

They particularly enjoy our daily outdoor sessions, which may take place in our forest area, on the playground or on the school field. These experiences encourage children to become confident, active learners as they dig, climb, balance, ride, throw, catch and explore the world around them.

How Do Children Learn in Reception?

Children learn in both our indoor and outdoor environments, where carefully planned opportunities inspire curiosity, creativity and independence. We recognise that every child learns differently, so our approach combines high-quality teacher-led learning with practical, play-based experiences.

Through exploration, investigation and purposeful play, children develop important knowledge, skills and understanding across all areas of the EYFS curriculum. This balanced approach helps children become confident, independent learners who are well prepared for the next stage of their education.

By the end of Reception, our children have developed  the skills, resilience and love of learning needed to make a successful transition into Year 1 and beyond.

Phonics and Reading:

We follow the ELS scheme to teach phonics every day in Reception.  New reading books will be sent home on Fridays, and will need to be returned to shool on Thursdays, ready to be changed. As the reading books are matched to the children's teaching and learning in phonics, your child should be able to read them without too much challenge.  We ask that children read each sentence 3 times: First time - decoding (sounding out) and recognising tricky words. Second time - reading a little bit quicker. Third time - read it in your storytelling voice (with expression and fluency). This will enable children to read fluently as soon as possible. Research has shown that if children are relying on sounding out words, this hinders their ability to understand what they have read, meaning they will find reading difficult and ultimately won't enjoy it.

Children also have the opportunity to choose a quality picture book from our library each week that they can enjoy with an adult at home.

Each Friday on Class Dojo, we send information about the week's learning in phonics - thank you for supporting your child to practise what we have learned at home. On each 5th week of teaching, the children are assessed to find out what they know. Parents/carers will be informed of any sounds their child doesn't know.

The powerpoint from the Autumn Reading and Phonics meeting is available to download at the bottom of this page, along with our sound and tricky word mats.

Follow this link to our phonics page for more information about our phonics teaching:

https://www.lovelearnlaugh.org.uk/page/our-approach-to-phonics/130744

These videos will support with the pure pronunciation of the sounds we teach in school:

Phase 2 Pronunciation

Phase 3 Pronunciation

Communication with Parents and Carers:

Parents and Carers can log into Class Dojo for updates about children's learning in school twice per week. This includes photos and videos of activities, updates about learning in phonics and details about supporting learning at home. We post some of our activities on X to share the children's awe and wonder with members of the public. The teaching team are here to support parents and carers and are always available during drop off and pick ups should you wish to speak to us about anything.

This half term:

Follow this link to our EYFS Curriculum page for more information:

https://www.lovelearnlaugh.org.uk/page/eyfs-curriculum/78680