Early Years

The Reception Year at Ashleworth CE Primary School:

Your child’s first experience in school is very important. Settling into school is a big step for your child, and we endeavour to make it a happy and smooth transition. In the Summer term, before your child starts school, we invite the pre-school children to spend time in class and this happens on a weekly basis. The children then become familiar with the school staff and become familiar with the class routines. It is very important to us that home and school work together, and we meet with parents before the children start school to help begin to build this partnership.

The children in Reception have access to a range of activities both inside the classroom and outside the classroom. The activities set up in these areas are well-thought-out and generally are linked to the current topic. The skills and ideas acquired during your child’s time in Reception provide them with a firm foundation for their future development.

The learning opportunities they have at school will enable them to become confident, considerate, well-behaved children, who make the most of their school experience and enjoy success.

‘Early Years Foundation Stage Framework’:

During the Reception year, your child will follow the national ‘Early Years Foundation Stage Framework’, where they will be working towards the ‘Early Learning Goals’. This will follow on smoothly for those children who have already attended a nursery/pre-school setting. Your child will be involved in a wide range of activities every day and this will ensure that they develop skills across the different areas of the Early Years Foundation Stage Framework.

At Ashleworth, we believe that Reception children should learn through play and through directed activities that are led by the class teacher or by the teaching assistant. Sometimes, your child will be involved in a task that focuses upon developing a skill in one specific area. For example, they will take part in regular handwriting practice and have daily Phonics lessons. At other times, your child will have the opportunity to learn through child-initiated tasks. We plan activities based on the children’s interests and the topic we are covering. We have high expectations of the children, and we encourage them to do the very best they can do. We celebrate their successes as they make progress with the Early Learning Goals.

The teachers and teaching assistant regularly undertake observations of the children and these observations help us to assess against the ‘Early Learning Goals’. As well as making observations, staff also take pictures and these pictures are placed into a ‘Learning Journey’ for each child in Reception. These Learning Journeys are shared regularly with parents.