Reception Class

Reception Class

Reception is the exciting start of a child’s education in primary school. During this year our children will learn through play and opportunities to investigate learning. At this age children start to develop an understanding of key communication skills as well as developing more social relationships with their peers and adults in the environment. At Holy Cross the school day provides a safe and secure environment where children can play, explore, experiment, investigate and learn. We also encourage our children to acquire skills and knowledge through first-hand experience, gaining a sound understanding of the world around them.

EYFS Curriculum

We aim to develop and broaden the range of children’s learning experiences, to leave them confident, eager and enthusiastic learners who enjoy school life. We hope to play our part by treating your child as an individual and offering them a variety of experiences and activities which are designed to further their development process.

Much of the children’s learning will be through play where children are offered a range of activities each with an educational purpose. Play is the means by which the children explore a variety of experiences in different situations for a variety of purposes. It is a process which provides for children a way of learning about the world around them.

Staff plan activities and experiences that promote children’s development and learning based on the following key aspects:

Area of Learning and Development	Aspect
Prime Areas
Communication and Language	Listening, attention and understanding
Speaking
Personal, Social and EmotionalDevelopment	Self-Regulation
Managing Self
Building Relationships
Physical Development	Gross Motor Skills
Fine Motor Skills
Specific areas
Literacy
Comprehension
Word Reading
Writing
Mathematics	Number
Numerical Pattern
Understanding the World	Past and Present
Peoples, Culture and Communities
Expressive Arts and Design	Creating with Materials
Being imaginative and Expressive

These seven areas are used to plan children’s learning and activities. The staff supporting our children will make sure that the activities are suited to each child’s unique needs. Children in the EYFS learn by playing and exploring, being active, and through creative and critical thinking which take place both indoors and outside.

Our aim in Reception Class at Holy Cross is to teach our children our key school values and skills such as resilience to make them happy, confident and life-long learners.

Mrs Ley has produced some short videos for our EYFS children and parents to enjoy together. They tell the stories through song about Little Red Riding Hood and The Three Little Pigs, stories our younger children are very familiar with. Our thanks to Mrs Ley for her time and effort.

Our lovely children have all recorded a class video of Christmas songs to help to bring some Christmas cheer to you, as you are not able to experience it with us in School this year. Please do have a look at this heart warming video. Thank you to Mrs Ley for her musical talents and encouragement and to Mr Foster for filming each class and producing the videos.

Useful links:

https://www.phonicsplay.co.uk

For speech and language resources and advice and tips for parents working at home with children who have SLCN visit:

https://speechandlanguage.info/parents

CBeebies is an excellent resource for you to use. Click on the icon, have a look and see what you can learn!