Welcome to Reception Class!
A big welcome to Reception Class to all our children and parents! We are very excited to start a new year with you, to learn lots and have fun! Please see the attached newsletter for information about the start of Reception for your child.
As the children become more familiar with school life our page will be updated with all the excting things we will be doing, but for now the children will be concentrating on settling in, learning rules and routines and exploring in our indoor and outdoor areas.
If you have any concerns or questions then please come and see us at the end of the day or telephone Mrs Marnell to make an appointment.
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Mrs Allen Mrs Totterdale
Our first half term!
Reception Class have now completed their first half term at St Clements! We want to say a huge well done for how you have settled in and made a great start to school life. We have enjoyed lots of fun activities this half term based around ourselves, our families and Autumn, including looking at how we have changed from baby photos, discussing our family trees and going on an Autumn walk.
It has been lovely getting to know you and your families better, and watching your friendships grow within the class.
We are looking forward to our next exciting half term, with activities planned around 'Light', including Diwali and Bonfire night before moving on to Winter and Christmas! Our focus story for the next half term will be 'Star in the jar' which complements our topics!
Changes to the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)
Last year, changes to the Early Years Foundation Stage, the curriculum we follow in the Reception year, became statutory. These changes affect what the children are taught and how we assess in Reception.
Below are some documents that you may find informative this year.
What and How we Learn
In Reception we learn through a mixture of adult led carpet sessions, adult initiated play based activities and child initiated independent learning. Sometimes children will be sat on the carpet being taught by an adult, but for most of the day adults plan a range of activities for children to interact with and learn through their play.
The Way, The Truth, The Life
At St Clement's we follow 'The Way the Truth, The Life' scheme in RE. The children cover a different topic each term as shown below. Please see our newsletters at the bottom of the page for more information on each topic.
Fantastic Phonics
In Reception class we teach phonics daily for 20 minutes. We follow the 'Ready, Steady, Phonics' scheme. Children are taught in groups by teachers and TAs throughout EYFS and KS1 to make sure the content and pace is suitable for them.
After an intoduction to phonics through phase1, children will then move on to matching sounds to letters in phases 2 and 3 over the year. As we learn new sounds we will practice putting these together to read words, and sounding them out to write words. More information about phonics and reading will be given once the children have settled in but if you have any questions please come and see me. 
Reading
Children will read twice a week to an adult in Reception class. We ask for reading books to be brought into school every day as children do not always have set reading days and may have extra opportunities to read with parent helpers during the week.
When reading the school reading book we will focus on using phonic skills to read words as well as comprehension skills to talk about the story and characters. Reading books will be linked to the children's developing phonic knowledge. We ask that if possible parents spend at least 5 to 10 minutes a night reading the school reading book at home, as practise makes perfect!
Later on in the year children will also take part in guided reading sessions, sharing and discussing a book as a group.
More information about how to support your child with reading will be sent home with their first reading book.
Children also have the opportunity to choose from a selection of books from our school library each week. Children will choose a library book to take home to share with their family. This is to encourage 'reading for pleasure' together and is not linked to phonics like the school reading book.
As well as school reading books, any extra reading at home is beneficial. Oxford Owl have put together a wonderful electronic reading library, using phonically decodable books.
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Power Maths
'Power Maths' happens throughout the week in Reception. This includes several short practical sessions, as well as a recorded piece of work completed with an adult. Children can practise and consolidate their skills through child-led continuous provision activities throughout the week.
Homework
Children will recieve homework on a Friday. Homework will always be accompanied by an explanation of how you can support your child at home with the task. Homework will be due in by the following Thursday.
In addition to the set homework task we encourage children to read for 5 to 10 minutes each night and to practise tricky words and counting where possible through the week.
Newsletters!
Useful Links:
http://www.oxfordowl.co.uk - Electronic Reading books.
http://www.twinkl.co.uk - Free resources available.
http://classroomsecrets.co.uk/home-online-learning - Free maths resources.
http://www.youtube.com/user/cosmickidsyoga - Yoga videos designed for kids.
http://www.phonicsplay.co.uk - Offering free resources.
http://www.ncetm.org.uk/resources/52060 - Work linked to CBeebies number blocks.
https://whiterosemaths.com/homelearning/early-years/ - White Rose Maths activities