Nursery and Reception make up the Foundation Stage of your child’s education.
In Reception we aim to provide a friendly, happy and secure environment in which the children may settle easily and where learning can take place. The curriculum covers six main areas under the headings of:
• Communication, Language and Literacy
• Mathematical Development
• Knowledge and Understanding of the World
• Physical Development
• Personal, Social and Emotional Development
• Creative Development
all of which establish literacy and numeracy, sociability and self-confidence in a child.
GENERAL INFORMATION
We hope that by now each child has a book bag in which to carry school books and letters.
In Reception it is necessary for the children to have book bags in school everyday.
Toys – sometimes we ask children to bring in a toy as part of a topic but generally we do not encourage children to bring toys into school.
The Topics we cover in our school year are as follows:
Autumn Term
Myself
Autumn
Christmas
Spring Term
Toys
Dinosaurs
Clothes
Summer Term
The Garden/ Growth
Our World
Where I live
HOMEWORK
Homework is on Fridays and will include some writing / maths or something from curriculum from the previous week.
Please return the book on Monday when the homework is completed. Work is to be completed in pencil and all pictures coloured in. (No felt-tips please).
LITERACY/ENGLISH
Reading
Reading is not a race – it is a doorway into a world of information and imagination. Please read with your child as often as possible- ideally this should be a little every day.
Ideas to help your child at home:-
- Discuss front cover & illustrations in books.
- Can your child predict what might happen next?
- Ask your child to point to the words as s/he reads them.
- Write words out, use word-sheets, cut them out & play games with them etc.
- Repeat word/ sentence together.
- Look at words around you, when you visit shop etc.
- Visit your local library.
Spelling & Writing
In Reception during Spring & Summer term, children will begin to learn simple spellings. These will be sent home each Friday to learn for the following week.
Encourage your child to write independently e.g. Birthday cards, Stories, Invitations etc.
Library
In Reception our library day is a Friday. The children should return their borrowed book the following week to receive a new book.
NUMERACY /MATHEMATICS
At this age, children learn more easily through practical experiences using various, suitable materials within the home.
Ideas to help your child at home:-
- Practise sorting everyday materials e.g. spoons & forks, laundry, toys into sets according to type and colour.
- Practise telling the time, focusing on the o’clock using both digital and analogue clocks.
- Take your child shopping – work out change using 1p, 2p, 5p.
- Look at the calendar days and the seasons.
- Play number games e.g. Snakes and Ladders, Snap, Ludo. This helps with sequencing, ordering, counting on and turn-taking.
- Include your child when cooking, for example, estimating and weighing.
- Look at shapes of objects, both solid and flat shapes: cube, cuboid, cylinder, circle, triangle etc.
KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORLD
Help your child by making them more aware of the world around them. Help to develop their powers of observation by talking and discussing things of interest.
If you have a computer at home you could play games together to practise mouse & keyboard skills.
VISITS / SPECIAL OCCASIONS
We aim to have a visit each term. A Christmas theatre trip and a visit to the Natural History Museum are planned.
The Chessington Lodge Christmas Celebration will take place on Thursday 7th December at St. Mary’s Church, Ewell at 2.00 p.m..
The Christmas Parties will take place on Thursday 14th December.
We will give you more details about these events nearer the time.
P.E.
Children need to change at school for P.E. Please ensure names are on all items of clothing. Encourage children to practise dressing and undressing themselves at home.
Reception have P.E on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The children will need two separate bags for their P.E kit and outdoor shoes. Please ensure that your child’s P.E kit includes white socks, a tracksuit and a pair of plimsolls. Please note that no jewellery is allowed in school.
NOTICEBOARD
There is a class notice board on Reception’s window. Check this for any items needed to help with your child’s learning.
If you have any concerns or problems during the year please do not hesitate to come and see Miss Lovett or Mrs Crossley.
