Early
Years
We aim to ensure that we are providing an appropriate and high quality experience for our youngest pupils.
We set out to provide learning opportunities which are imaginative and offer direct teaching balanced with opportunities for children to choose activities for themselves. Research shows that early opportunities for children to learn in such an environment can have long term educational and personal benefits.
Reception staff liaise closely together to ensure as smooth a transition as possible into Year 1.
We have one Nursery class, Bishy Barney Bees, offering morning and afternoon sessions and two Reception classes. Children in Nursery and Reception are taught in line with the Early Years Foundation Stage Profile which covers children’s development in these areas:
The prime areas are:
- Communication and language
- Listening, Attention and Understanding
- Speaking
- Personal, social and emotional development
- Self-Regulation
- Managing Self
- Building relationships
- Physical development
- Gross Motor Skills
- Fine Motor Skills
The specific areas are:
- Literacy
- Comprehension
- Word Reading
- Writing
- Mathematics
- Number
- Numerical Patterns
- Understanding the world
- Past and Present
- People Culture and Communities
- The Natural World
- Expressive arts and design
- Creating with Materials
- Being Imaginative and Expressive
Starting in Reception
We aim to ensure that we are providing an appropriate and high quality experience for our youngest pupils.
We set out to provide learning opportunities which are imaginative and offer direct teaching balanced with opportunities for children to choose activities for themselves. Research shows that early opportunities for children to learn in such an environment can have long term educational and personal benefits.
Nursery and Reception staff liaise closely together to ensure as smooth a transition as possible into the main school.
See our reception curriculum plan below.
Starting in Reception
All new Reception pupils and their parents/carers will have an opportunity to meet the class teachers prior to starting school.
Children are encouraged to explore and engage with the variety of activities provided, in a practical and purposeful way. We encourage them to become increasingly independent and to communicate and cooperate with others. Literacy and Numeracy are taught at appropriate times throughout the school day, in addition children will have regular opportunities to share and handle books, listen to stories, and learn nursery rhymes, and songs. Children will learn how to write, draw and paint with increasing control; recognise symbols, letters and sounds. They will develop mathematical language, practise counting, matching and sorting activities.
Preparing for Reception
To make your child’s first few days at Heartsease Primary successful, try to help your child to:
- Put on and take off a coat and manage the fastenings
- Tidy up toys
- Go to the toilet alone and wash their hands
- Dress and undress themselves
- Manage a knife and fork
- Look after books
Teaching your child to recall colours, count familiar objects, sing nursery rhymes, listen to stories and share books with you, will help your child with their early learning.
