Welcome to Reception Class 2016-17
A guide to your child starting school
We wish you a very warm welcome to our school.
There will be many questions you will want to know
about your child starting school and this booklet
aims to give you some information to prepare for the
exciting event ahead!
Contents
Our Core Values
3
What is the Early Years Foundation Stage?
4
Areas of Learning
5
A Day in Reception!
7
Sharing Learning
8
Dress for Mess
9
Snack and Lunch
10
Any Questions
11
More Information
12
Our Core Values
Our core values underpin everything we do in
school. We expect all our school community to
demonstrate these at all times.
What is the Early Years
Foundation Stage?
If your child has previously attended a Nursery before starting school, you
may have heard the phrase ‘Early Years’ or an ‘Early Years Setting’.
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) is the curriculum which is set for
children aged 0 to 5 years. In the Early Years we promote learning through
play and encourage children to develop their own interests so they are
able to become independent and skilled learners. The Early Years
Foundation Stage is based on four simple but very important principles:
The Unique
TheChild
Unique
Child
+
Positive
Positive
Relationships
Relationships
+
Enabling
Environments
=
Learning
and
Development
Children access the curriculum through 7 areas of learning:
Prime Areas
Personal Social and
Emotional Development
Physical Development
Communication and
Language
Specific Areas
Literacy
Mathematics
Understanding the World
Expressive Arts and
Design
Areas of
Learning
There are seven areas of learning which are all interlinked so that children
are learning lots of different things in different ways at the same time.
There are the prime areas:
Personal, Social and Emotional Development
Physical Development
This is how children get to know themselves
and others well. They will be forming good
relationships with adults and other children in
the setting as
well as
developing their
behaviour and
confidence.
As well as developing their fine
and gross motor skills, children
will also explore what keeps
them fit and healthy.
Communication and Language
Speaking and listening are very important
skills which your child will continue to develop
through a rich language environment and
encouragement to express themselves
honestly.
Control and co-ordination are
important in this area of
development.
There are also the specific areas:
Literacy
Mathematics
This is where children will build on the
skills they have learnt to begin to help
them read and write. Children will have
a daily phonics
lesson and will
be able to take
home reading
books which
will begin to
support them
to read and
write.
Not only are counting and number skills
important in Maths, but also developing
a knowledge of shape and space as
well an understanding size and
measure will be explored through this
area of development.
Understanding the World
Expressive Arts and Design
This area of development helps
children to make sense of their world
around them and the people in it.
Exploring the environment, technology
and the difference in families are all key
to helping children gain an
understanding of their world.
Creativity is the main theme in this area
of development. Children will express
themselves through role play, music,
dance and other artistic media.
A Day in
Reception
A day in Reception can vary greatly depending on the topic, the learning
intentions from the adults in the classroom and how the children have
decided to follow their own learning journeys.
There is a general routine of what happens every day.
8.50am - School Starts
The doors open and you can bring your child into the classroom and settle them into an
activity linked to the curriculum area of focus for the week (link provision). This is also a
good opportunity to speak to any adults in the room about any relevant information we
may need to be aware of.
Throughout the Morning
Children are offered a ‘FreeFlow’ Environment where the classroom doors are opened
and pupils will follow their own learning journeys, whether inside or in the outdoor area.
Snack is also offered throughout the morning. Children are encouraged to help
themselves independently.
12pm - Lunch
Children are taken down to the hall to have their lunch. They are then taken out with a
midday assistant, who is allocated to the class. Reception children play in their own
outdoor area.
1.05pm Throughout the Afternoon
Children return from lunch. The children take part in a whole class ‘maths meeting’,
completing activities linked to number or shape, space & measure and then into
‘FreeFlow’, so that children can continue to follow their own learning journeys.
3pm - School Finishes
Parents line up outside the classroom to collect your child directly. Any issues from the
day will be communicated by the class teacher.
Other adult led activities such as ‘assemblies, Letters and Sounds Sessions (Phonics),
Teacher Led groups, Fine and Gross motor activities: ‘Funky Fingers’ and ‘Dough
Disco’, PE, Narrative Therapy and more will happen at some point during the school
day, however these depend on the day of the week and the time of the academic year.
Sharing Learning
At Hazelmere, we use the Online
Learning Journey, Tapestry to record
and monitor the children’s learning.
This fantastic website enables the adults working in the classroom to
upload pictures, videos and observations, but also allows parents to log on
and view what your child is doing in school. An app is also available to
download onto a smart phone or tablet so that you can upload your own
comments, photos and videos.
We really value all uploads
from parents, as this helps to
inform our assessments about
your child e.g. riding their bike,
family outings, hobbies &
interests, pets, technology at
home and homework activities.
A registration and consent form will need to be completed so that we can
include your child. Your child’s Reception teacher will provide an induction
session to demonstrate how to use Tapestry.
Dress for Mess
Outdoor play is actively
encouraged in Reception.
We have a sand pit, water
play, digging area and a
grassy climbing area, which
promote different areas of
your child’s development
and this can mean that
sometimes your child...
will get messy!
We also play outside in all weathers so your child will need the following kit
in school at all times:
Wellies
Coat
For Hot Weather
Change of Clothes
For Cold Weather
Hat
Sun Cream
All these need to be named.
Woolly Hat
Scarf
Gloves
Snack and Lunch
Children are offered snack throughout the morning, which
is milk or water and a piece of fruit.
Every child is entitled to a free school meal everyday. Our
excellent kitchen team produce freshly cooked, locally
sourced meals in our well equipped kitchen. Examples of
the varied menu can be found on our website.
We would encourage you to take advantage of the free
school meal entitlement but, if you prefer, you can provide
a packed lunch for your child each day.
Any Questions?
Will my child need a PE kit?
Yes. A named t-shirt and shorts in a named bag to be left on your child’s
peg is required. Plain white t-shirt and black shorts are recommended.
Your child will also need a pair of plimsolls or trainers for outdoor PE in the
summer term.
Will my child have homework?

We will ask you to read with your child as often as possible
and for you to record it in the Home/School Diary.

Your child will also be sent home with a fun activity, which
is linked to the topic, once a week.
Please send in your child’s reading book and Home/School
Diary as well as their homework in their Book Bag daily.
Does my child need to bring snack or money for snack to school?
No. We supply the children will milk and a piece of fruit to be enjoyed when
your child chooses during the morning.
Can my child bring
toys to school?
We ask parents not to
allow children to bring
toys to school as they
tend to get lost or
damaged.
What can I do to prepare my child for
school?
Starting school can be an exciting and scary
time for both you and your child. To help
prepare your child, read books about
starting school and talk about any questions
or concerns they may have. Teaching your
child how to put their coat and wellies on
independently, as well as identifying their
clothing & getting changed into their PE kit
will also help to prepare them for reception.
More Information
Uniform
Most of our children wear our recommended school uniform.
School branded sweatshirts and cardigans are available to
purchase from the school office.
Boys
Girls
White shirt or
White shirt or
White or Red Polo Shirt
White or Red Polo Shirt
Grey Trousers or Shorts
Grey Trousers / Grey Skirt /
Grey Pinafore Dress
Red Sweatshirt or Red Jumper
Black School Shoes (suitable for
active play)
Red / Grey Tights
Red Sweatshirt / Red Jumper /
Red Cardigan
Red/White School Dress (for
Summer)
If your child is ill
Please contact the school if your
child is unable to attend school due
to illness.
Please make every effort to make
medical appointments out of school
time, but if you need to the school
office should be alerted and your
child should return to school
following the appointment
wherever possible.
Black School Shoes (suitable for
active play)
Earrings
For Health & Safety reasons
earrings must be removed for PE .
Unfortunately the adults in the
class cannot assist the child, so
please remove child’s earrings
before the start of the school day.
Thank you.
Holiday During Term Time
There has been a lot of news coverage about families taking their
children out of school for holidays during term time. This is a period of
legal uncertainty for schools around the country and we are awaiting
further legal advice from Essex County Council and the Government.
It is, however, the school’s belief that children should attend school
every day that they are fit and well enough to do so. We know that
missing time in school can have an adverse effect on children’s social
development and learning.
We would, therefore, discourage families from taking their children out
of school for holidays during term time
Getting Started
There will be two sessions to allow your child to get to know their new
teacher and the school. These will be:
Thursday 30th June 2016 - 9.30am to 11.00am
Friday 8th July 2016 - 9.30am to 11.00am
Please bring your child to the front entrance for these visits. Please
stay for a cup of tea or coffee, on either session, to meet with new
parents and meet some other school staff.
In September
Tuesday 6th September to Friday 9th September - 8.50am to 12pm
Monday 12th September - 8.50am to 12pm
Tuesday 13th September - 8.50am start - please join your child for a
delicious school lunch at 11.30am.
Wednesday 14th September onwards - 8.50am to 3pm full time school.
During the first few days of mornings only, there will be an opportunity
to meet with your child’s class teacher during the afternoon.
Appointments will be made available in September.
Don’t Worry!
We know that your child starting full time school can be a
worrying time. Please let us know if there is anything that
we can do to make sure that you and your child is well
supported when starting at our school.
You can call the school on 01206 861836 or email Bridget,
our Family Liaison Worker, if you have any concerns on:
[email protected]
Keep in touch with events at our school by accessing our website:
www.hazelmere-inf.essex.sch.uk
We also send home a weekly newsletter to keep you up to date with
everything that is happening at school