Reception: Miss Donoghue and Miss Dowson
Welcome to Reception
We are really looking forward to working with your children. Here are the staff who will be working with your child this year...
Reception Times
Please arrive promptly.
| Day Begins | Day Ends |
Reception | 8:45-8:55am | 3:10pm |
Our Reception children have their own dedicated exit and entrance. This is by the gate onto their outdoor learning space next to the main school car park.
Arriving on Your Child’s First Day
In September the following transition arrangements are in place to help settle your child into the routines of Reception:
- Thursday 2nd September and Friday 3rd September.
- 9.00-9.10am until 12:00pm (No lunch on this day)
- Monday 6th September, Tuesday 7th September and Wednesday 8th September
- 9.00-9.10am until 1:15pm (Children will have lunch at school on these days)
- From Thursday 9th September
- Children will be in school full time – 9.00-9.10am until 3.10pm.
After this, normal school times will apply.
We appreciate that it may be difficult for you to leave your child initially and perhaps for your child to leave you. All children are different and will settle in different ways. A quick definite goodbye is often best but you know your child and can settle them best in your own way. If you need help, please ask.
All children do settle happily, but some can take longer than others. Children who settle initially, may become unsettled after a week or two. Usually there is a simple explanation, but if you know of reasons for this, you may wish to talk to staff to enable us to resolve any problems quickly.
If your child is upset it is important to reassure your child that you will be back soon to see what they have been doing and explain what you will be doing while they are at school.
Beginning of the Session
At the beginning of the session, you and your child will be greeted at the Reception playground gates. Staff will bring children into setting. The children hang their coats on their peg and find either their photograph or their name card when they are ready - this is an important learning opportunity. Staff will help and encourage your child to complete these routines on their own, to improve their independence skills.
All staff will do their best to ensure all coats and belongings are kept safe on pegs. Please help us by clearly naming all of your child’s belongings in an obvious place with a permanent marker that can be seen by ourselves and your child.
Staffs’ first priority is to ensure the safety and well-being of all children.
End of the Session
It is really important to collect your children on time. It would help if you could arrive 5 minutes before the session ends.
At the end of the session the staff will make sure that all children are handed over safely to their parent or carer to go home. Children should always be collected by a responsible adult over the age of 18 who is known to Reception staff and to the child. The Reception staff must always know who is expected to collect your child. Please contact the school office in plenty of time if there are any changes to collection arrangements.
If it is necessary for another adult to collect your child, please let staff know as soon as possible. You are always able to contact the school office to inform them of any changes. We would appreciate it if this could be done in plenty of time, not at the last minute. We have a duty of care to keep all children safe, therefore children may not be collected by any other adult without the knowledge and permission of the parent/carer.
Daily Routines
Group Activity Times
9:15am Phonics teaching
11:00am Maths teaching
12:45pm Children learning
2:30pm Storytime
3:10pm Home time
In addition to group times, children have different opportunities on a morning and an afternoon to choose where they wish to learn through play and apply their learning. This may be indoors or outdoors.
The children also have the opportunity to take part in woodland sessions. You will get a letter so that you know when your child will be having these sessions.
Milk is provided free of charge until your child is 5 years of age. Once your child is 5 years old, you have the choice to purchase milk. This is arranged through Cool Milk. Please speak to the school office if you need help to arrange this. Alternatively, water is available. Children should not bring juice into school.
Children in Reception receive a piece of fruit or vegetable each day. We also provide breakfast bagels for our children each morning.
School Meals and Lunchtime Arrangements
Taylor Shaw provides our school meals service. Children have lunch in the main dining hall.
Reception children all qualify for a free school meal as part of Government funding. This is known as Universal Free School Meals. We would strongly encourage all of our Reception children to have a free school meal, particularly when there is such a wide choice of hot and cold meals including sandwiches.
Menus are sent out each term. We also have LunchHound which allows you and your child to choose what your child eats from a selection of menus. This system means that every child can have a meal of their choice.
Packed Lunches
For the safety of pupils who have nut allergies, this school is a nut-free zone. Please do not include any nuts, nut products or chocolate spread in your child’s packed lunch.
We do not allow fizzy or isotonic drinks as they are high in sugar.
School Uniform
Reception children are expected to wear school uniform.
Please click here for further information: here
Wrap Around Care
Information on Breakfast Club can be fund here
Information on After School Childcare can be fund here
Additional Information
Mrs Henson is our SENCo please contact her if you have any questions with regards to your child in terms of special educational needs.
Please contact the school office before 8:50am if your child is absent. Once a child is five years old parents and carers have a legal responsibility to ensure their child attends school regularly.
Holidays forms must be completed for term time holidays.
Please inform us of any change of address or telephone numbers
Welcome Letter
The Early Years Curriculum
For more information on our curriculum, please click here
Home Learning