Welcome to Reception!
Your teacher will very soon be filling this page with exciting class news, pictures of things we’ve done and more.
Do you have any ideas for this page? Why not let your Teacher know!
Class Teacher - Mrs G O'Neill
Teaching Assistants - Ms J Dickinson, Miss G Ince and Miss L Shepherd.
Click here for our 2017 Early Years Information Booklet
Click here to view 'What to expect when' - a parent guide about the Early Years
Information for parents
At St Sebastian’s RC Primary School we believe that a caring and stimulating environment is essential to the development of our children. Every child should be happy, secure and confident. We value every child as a unique individual. We provide a supportive and secure environment in which every child can flourish and learn at their own pace to achieve their potential.
The education of your child is something we aim to do in partnership with you and as such parents are always welcome to discuss their child with staff.
Children in our Reception class follow the Early Years Foundation Stage Framework. This lays a secure foundation for future learning that is planned around the individual needs and interests of the child. They learn by playing, exploring, being active, and through creative thinking which takes place both indoors and outdoors. There is a mixture of child initiated and teacher led learning opportunities.
Children are taught the social skills of sharing and caring, following instructions and are encouraged to develop their speaking and listening skills.
There are three Prime Areas of learning and development:
These help to develop skills in four specific areas:
EYFS outdoor learning environment
The children enjoy exploring and learning in our newly developed outdoor area.
How you can help your child
Please encourage your child in these ways.
To hold a pencil correctly
To do jigsaws
To use scissors
To use a knife and fork
To go to the toilet independently
To dress/undress him or herself
To fasten and unfasten their shoes and coat
To look after their own belongings
To mix with other children
To recognise and name colours, shapes, numbers.
To sort everyday objects into groups
To count sets of objects
To help in cooking activities
To share books in a relaxed atmosphere
To be given time to talk
Post Office Trip
At the beginning of December, the children in Reception wrote some very lengthy letter to Father Christmas asking for just a few, reasonably priced toys! As part of our Knowledge and Understanding of the World work, we decided to take a trip to our local post office to post our very important letters. We loved exploring our local environment and discussing what we could see around us as we walked. Below is a short video about our trip.
The Sleepy Shepherd
Last week, pupils and parents alike were treated to an excellent re-telling of The Christmas Story through our nativity play, The Sleepy Shepherd. Children from our Nursery and Reception classes led superb performances which included many wonderful songs, clear confident speaking and of course lots of sleeping and snoring! The first performance was so good that a lot of the parents came back to watch it again. The children were delighted to see so many happy, familiar faces in the audience, thank you for your support. The Early Years staff would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Below are photos from the performance and a short video. See if you can watch the highlights below without feeling sleepy!
Christmas craft Afternoon
On Wednesday afternoon, we had some very excited mums and dads who couldn't wait to come into our Reception class and participate in Christmas craft activities. The children loved having their mums and dads in class and produced some wonderful Christmas craft pieces. Surprisingly, we still have some sequins and glitter left for next year.
Thank you so much for your continued support and we look forward to seeing you at our next parent session.
Reading is a big part of your child's curriculum in school. Please ensure your child brings their reading folder to school everyday so they can be changed when needed.
During the Autumn term, the children's love for books has been developing. Below are just a few of the observational videos we have taken of the children enjoying books.
Today, as part of our St Sebastian's day celebration, Reception meet their prayer partners. The children in Reception had the opportunity to go upstairs and venture into unknown territory, Year 6. They had a lovely time chatting, reading and drawing. I know they can't wait to see them again soon. Below are the highlights from our trip to Year 6.
This week, we've had lots of fun celebrating diversity. We've discussed what makes us special and how we all different and special. As part of diversity week, we looked at the country France. We learnt a lot about France by completing research, building landmarks and tasting some delicious French cheese and bread. The short film below, highlights the fun we had and the learning that took place
Stay and Play
A big thank you to all the parents who attended our Stay and Play sessions. The children really enjoyed having their mums and dads in class playing and learning with them. It was also a great opportunity for parents to talk to other parents, speak with the class teacher and to seek advice form Sandra, the speech and language therapist. If you need any more advice form Sandra or have any questions please don't hesitate to come in on a Friday to speak with her. Thank you again for coming and enjoy the half term holidays.
World Book Day
World Book Day is a celebration! It’s a celebration of authors, illustrators, books and (most importantly) it’s a celebration of reading. In fact, it’s the biggest celebration of its kind, designated by UNSECO as a worldwide celebration of books and reading, and marked in over 100 countries all over the world. Below, is a short video showing our Reception children all dressed up and joining in with the celebrations.