FS2 Overview
Reception Class (FS2)
Our wonderful Reception class provides an exceptional early years learning environment where every child is nurtured, challenged, and inspired. The classroom is warm, inclusive, and highly engaging, with purposeful learning areas both indoors and outdoors that promote independence and exploration. Our highly skilled practitioners deliver a rich, balanced curriculum rooted in play-based learning and tailored to individual needs. Phonics, early literacy, and numeracy are taught systematically, and children apply these skills confidently in cross-curricular contexts. Staff use questioning effectively to extend thinking and language development.
We use the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage to inform our planning and teaching. In addition, at the beginning of the year the children will take part in Statutory Reception Baseline and at the end of the year parents will be informed if their child has or has not achieved a Good Level of Development (GLD), a progress measure set out by the Department for Education.
Over the year we host a number of open evenings and parent workshops so that you can come and view our school and provision. If you would like further details on this then please contact the office to book in.
The adults in Reception are:
Miss H Newman (Teacher & EYFS Leader), Mrs E Taylor (Teacher), Mrs T Jackson (Teaching Assistant), Mrs E Elsom (Teaching Assistant)
Spring 1
Reception Class have had a fantastic half term! We have been so impressed with all of their hard work, especially during phonics sessions. Everyone, has been trying hard and making fantastic progress.
We have been captivated by the delightful story of “Naughty Bus” by Jan Oke and Jerry Oke. Through the Talk for Writing storytelling approach, we have immersed ourselves in the mischievous adventures of the Naughty Bus and have learned to retell the story with enthusiasm. We’ve enjoyed collecting ideas about what silly antics Naughty Bus might get up to next, and have used these create our own unique Naughty Bus stories. We want to say a big thank you to you all for getting involved at home, your support has helped bring the story to life.
During our maths sessions, we have been delving into the fascinating world of numbers. We have been introduced to the numbers 6, 7, and 8, exploring their composition and relationships through hands-on activities and interactive games. Through engaging exercises, we have developed a deeper understanding of number concepts and the ways numbers can be combined and decomposed.
In addition to this, we’ve had the pleasure of exploring the fantastic works of artist James Rizzi. We loved the vibrant colours he uses! Inspired by his style, we’ve used watercolour pencils to create our own fun vehicles, adding intricate details with black pens. The result is a wonderful collaborative piece of artwork.
We had a great trip to Wentworth Woodhouse. A big thank you to all the adults who came along with us. We loved our ride on a vintage bus and enjoyed the delicious hot chocolate and time exploring the gardens. We even saw the deer. Who knew you could fit so much excitement and adventure into a morning.
We can’t wait for next half term, I’m sure it will be full of excitement!
Autumn 2
Reception Class have continued to impress us throughout Autumn 2! We have been delighted with how well they follow school routines and how quickly they have adapted to changes in the timetable. They are all trying so hard with their learning and are making wonderful progress.
This half term, our focus topic has been ‘Toys and Tales, Old and New.’ We began with a fantastic week celebrating Diwali. The children worked together to create beautiful Rangoli patterns and used clay to make their own diya lamps. We then used the Talk for Writing approach to learn the story of ‘The Gingerbread Man.’ The children loved bringing the story to life through actions and props. Together, we innovated the story by thinking of new ways for the Gingerbread Man to cross the river.
Later in the half term, we explored toys from the past. The children investigated old toys, thinking carefully about the materials they were made from and how they worked. We also read stories linked to toys, and the children painted pictures of toys from long ago.
We ended the half term with our lovely Christmas performance, Whoops-a-Daisy Angel. The children worked so hard to learn a variety of songs, complete with actions. We are incredibly proud of how confidently they performed for their grown-ups. It was a wonderful experience for everyone!
In phonics, we have continued using our Little Wandle programme. The children have begun learning digraphs and trigraphs, practising word building, and reading new high-frequency words. All children have continued to make steady progress. They have also been taking home a phonics book and a library book each week.
In Maths, we have looked closely at shapes and angles. The children enjoyed discussing the properties of shapes and spotting angles both within shapes and around the classroom. We have also explored the composition of numbers 1–5 and the different ways these numbers can be made.
What a wonderful half term it has been. We can’t wait for next term!
Autumn 1
Reception class have had a wonderful first half term and the children have settled into their new routine brilliantly! They’ve shown great enthusiasm and curiosity as we’ve explored a wide range of exciting learning experiences together.
Over the past few weeks, we’ve been diving into the story of The Little Red Hen. The children especially enjoyed meeting a real-life hen and taking part in the full experience of making—and tasting!—their very own bread.
We also embraced the beauty of the season with a lovely Autumn walk. The children had a wonderful time collecting natural treasures, crafting their own autumn wands, and warming up with some delicious hot chocolate.
In maths, we’ve been busy investigating 3D shapes and exploring numbers 1 to 4 through fun, hands-on activities. Rockstar Day was a big hit too! The children loved dressing up, showing off their dance moves, and exploring Numbots.
We’ve also been learning all about ourselves—talking about who we are, how we all look different but are equally beautiful, and celebrating our families and the homes we live in. The children created some fantastic self-portraits, which really captured their unique personalities and creativity.
We also had a special visit from the dentist, where we learned all about keeping our teeth healthy. The children practised brushing techniques and talked about the importance of healthy eating.
It’s been a fantastic start to the term, and we’re so proud of how engaged and enthusiastic the children have been. Thank you for your continued support!
