Reception

A warm welcome to Reception at St Mary and St Thomas Primary School! This year your child will embark on one of the most important journeys of their life throughout their time in Reception. Here at St Mary and St Thomas we want to nurture, develop and celebrate each child as an individual. It is crucial that your child feels happy, safe and develops a positive attitude to learning within their first year at school so they can continue to flourish, embrace the joy of discovery, and acquire the desire to want to find out more in the future. To promote this we create a safe, friendly, and inspiring learning space where children's interests and passions are encouraged and supported. We want to work closely with you at home to ensure your child flourishes, whilst finding their first year positive and rewarding.

Below you will find information relating to Reception life. Reception Class Teacher: Miss Stapleton

Reception Learning Support Assistants: Miss Banks & Miss Barnes

Reception class follow the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum. This is a statutory requirement. The curriculum has three prime and four further specific areas of learning which are delivered through a range of activities and learning opportunities across the year.

The areas of learning are as follows

Personal Social and Emotional Development Communication and Language Physical Development Literacy Mathematics Understanding the World Expressive Arts and Design

The children will take part in whole class activities, smaller group activities, individual teaching and structured learning activities. They are also encouraged to develop their own ideas and learning skills and use their initiative during free and supported learning. Please look over our knowledge organisers for more information.

P.E.

We have PE every week. The days for P.E. will be confirmed on Tapestry. On your child's P.E. day they will come to school wearing their P.E. kit. This consists of a white t-shirt, black bottoms and black pumps/trainers. Your child can wear their school jumper or cardigan too.

Book bags

Every night your child will bring home a book bag. Book bags must be brought into school every morning and you must check it each evening for pictures, homework and story/reading book etc. Please keep your child's reading book and reading record in your child's bag each day as this may be needed so that your child can read to adults in school. Thank you.

Homework

Homework will be sent home every Friday and must be returned completed to school every Wednesday morning. Please note that responses to homework can be recorded in their book or as a photo, blurb or video via Tapestry.

Phonics

Once your child begins the phonics programme, your child will bring home a sound pack. This will consist of the sounds that they have learnt that week as well as any additional practise that can support your child's reading development at home. You will also receive video clips and other supporting documents via Tapestry.