Welcome to The Foundation Stage

Welcome to Our School We are all looking forward to your child joining us. We will ensure that your child enjoys his/her time with us and will feel safe, secure and cared for. We hope that you will find this booklet useful. It explains a little about what we do and will answer some of the questions you may have about your child’s start at school.

Our Staff Executive Head Teacher: Mr Paul Lovern Head of School Mr Pauline Hupfield Foundation Stage Staff: Miss Linda Martin Miss Harriet Rowe

Our Aims Our EYFS aims to provide an ideal start for a successful future by:- •Providing a happy, welcoming, caring, secure and inspiring learning environment which will foster and encourage the development of sound moral and social values •Establishing and communicating to the children high expectations and clear targets •Providing a broad and balanced curriculum, which will enable each child to produce work to the best of their ability and which is relevant to their needs •Continuing to strive for excellence •Developing in the children, positive attitudes to learning, self-motivation, self-discipline, enthusiasm and confidence through active, experience based learning •Working together in partnership, children, parents, staff and governors, nurturing respect, tolerance, sensitivity and compassion for each other and for the wider community

The School Day Reception Session 8.50 am – 3.15pm Absences and Illnesses Please inform us of any change in address or contact numbers so that we can contact you if your child becomes unwell. If your child is absent please contact the school as soon as possible. A holiday list will be given to you when your child begins school. It is very important that your child has good attendance at school and they arrive for school on time.

End of the day If your child is going home with someone other than yourself, we ask that you let us know in writing or verbally, either on the day or in advance, who will be collecting them. If it is an emergency situation then a telephone call will be sufficient. We are unable to let children go home with anyone who has not been named to us in advance.

Partnership with Parents As parents you are the first educators of your children, we believe in a close relationship with parents and staff, as we join you in educating your child. We want to work closely with you. Good communication between staff and parents enables us to inform each other of relevant matters concerning your child. Any information given is treated with the strictest confidence. Reading books are sent home weekly and activities are sent home when appropriate. Please share this work with your child. The class teacher is your first point of contact if you have any concerns about your child and they will be available at the beginning and end of each day if you need to speak to them. Feedback about your child’s progress will be provided at regular intervals throughout the year.

Help Us to Help Your Child Please name all of your children’s school clothes (including PE kit). It would be useful if you could also name their shoes as many of the children will have the same ones. Please ensure that we are aware of any allergies that your child has. If your child is asthmatic then please ensure that your child’s inhaler is named before it comes into school.

What to have in School We like to go outside even though it is sometimes wet and muddy. It would be really useful to have named wellies and a waterproof jacket in school every day. On hot days, sun cream and a hat are needed.

Early Years Foundation Stage Framework We deliver a curriculum underpinned by the Early Years Stage Foundation. It sets out: •The legal welfare requirements that we must follow to keep your child safe and promote their welfare. •The 7 areas of learning and development which guide how the staff engage with your child’s play and activities as they learn new skills and knowledge. • Assessments that will tell you about your child’s progress through the EYFS. • Expected levels that your child should reach at age 5, usually the end of the reception year; these expectations are called the “Early Learning Goals (ELGs)”

How my child will be learning Your child will be learning skills, acquiring new knowledge and demonstrating their understanding through 7 areas of learning and development. Children should mostly develop the 3 prime areas first. Language and communication:  with opportunities for all children to talk and communicate in a widening range of situations, to respond to adults and each other, to practise and extend the range of vocabulary and communication skills they use and to listen carefully. Physical development:  with opportunities for all children to develop and practise their fine and gross motor skills, and to increase their understanding of how their bodies work and what they need to do to be healthy and safe.

How my child will be learning Personal, social and emotional well-being: providing opportunities for each child to become a valued member of their class and the school with a positive self image and high self esteem. Attitudes towards their learning: developing enthusiasm for learning and confidence in their ability to be successful learners. Social skills:  providing opportunities that enable the children to learn how to co-operate and work harmoniously alongside and with each other and to listen to each other. Attention skills and persistence: helping the children to concentrate on their own play or on a group task. These prime areas are those most essential for your child’s healthy development and future learning.

How my child will be learning As children grow, the prime areas will help them to develop skills in 4 specific areas. These are: •Literacy; providing opportunities for all children to explore, enjoy, learn about and use words in a broad range of contexts and to experience a rich variety of books. •Mathematics; with opportunities for all children to develop their understanding of number, measurement, pattern, shape and space in a broad range of contexts in which they can explore, enjoy, learn, practise and talk. •Understanding the world; with opportunities for all children to solve problems, make decisions, experiment, predict, plan and question in a variety of contexts, and to explore and find out about their environment and people and places that have significance in their lives. •Expressive arts and design. with opportunities for all children to explore and share their thoughts, ideas and feelings through a variety of art, design and technology, music, movement, dance and imaginative and role play activities.

How my child will be learning These 7 areas are used to plan your child’s learning and activities. The staff teaching and supporting your child will make sure that the activities are suited to your child’s unique needs. This curriculum is suitable for very young children, and it's designed to be really flexible so that staff can follow your child's unique needs and interests. Children in the EYFS learn by playing and exploring, being active, and through creative and critical thinking which takes place both indoors and outside.

Snack time Your child is entitled to free milk until their fifth birthday, but we provide milk for the children during their time in Reception. The children have free access to water throughout the day. We are part of the free fruit for schools scheme and so provide fruit for your child each day.

Some important things that your child may like you to know and remember Are my coats easy to manage? Please don’t mind if I get paint and chalk on my clothes as it is quite messy in EYFS! Please let my teacher know if I am upset about something at home.  It will help them understand me at school. Please make sure I have had breakfast in the morning as my brain finds it difficult to work when I am hungry. Please make sure that I can go to the toilet and dress/undress by myself. Please remember to pick me up on time as I hate being the last one left at school. If you are going to be late for me, please try and ring the school to let them know. That way they will make sure I have something nice to do whilst waiting.

Some important things that your child may like you to know and remember Please remember to tell me how good my paintings and drawings are when I bring them home.  They may not look quite how you would think they should, but I have tried very, very hard! I might not bring home paintings and drawings every day but that doesn’t mean I haven’t been working hard. Please remember to tell my teacher all about me especially if there are changes at home such as a new baby as this will help them to understand me a bit more. Please help me to remember my book bag every day. Please try and spend time with me each day doing a fun activity such as reading, counting, helping me to learn my phonemes/letter sounds and even just talking and listening!

Other Useful Information Friday Newsletter Every Friday Mr Lovern sends home a newsletter. This will contain information about the forthcoming week’s events and any other relevant information you may need. So expect this letter in your child’s book bag. If your child has an older sibling in the school they will receive the letter instead. If you would like your Friday letter sent electronically then please let our secretary have your email address. Community Act of Worship Every week we hold a Community Act of Worship in our school hall. This is a time when each class teacher gives out praises to deserving children. Parents are welcome to attend and we are always glad to see you. Book Bags Each child should come to school with a School Bag. These can be purchased from the school. In this bag will be your child’s reading books and diary, as well as any permission slips and the Friday newsletter. We ask that children bring this bag everyday as it is a means of communication between home and school.