Reception Home Page

Reception is part of the Foundation Stage that comprises Nursery and Reception. As Reception is the official start of school life, here at Waterloo we aim to make their first year a happy and memorable one.

Prior to children beginning school in September, children and their parents are invited to meet the Reception teachers Miss. Huson (Reception Year Leader), Mr. Huggins, Miss Aspin and Miss. White. At the first meeting children and their parents are able to come into the classroom, meet the teacher and the support staff, familiarise themselves with the setting and some of the activities that the children will experience in the first few weeks of school. During this visit parents and guardians can ask the class teacher any questions that they may have about their child starting school and by staying with their child we hope they will feel more at ease.

During the second meeting parents are able to bring the children into the classroom to spend a short period of time with their new teacher whilst parents and guardians meet Mr. Gray, the Headteacher, who talks to them about life at Waterloo School. Information about such as the School Prospectus, holiday dates etc. will be available during the visit.
On the third and final visit, in September, parents and guardians bring the children into school to complete the PIPS Baseline Assessment (Performance Indicators in Primary Schools) with the class teacher and some informal assessments with a member of the Early Years Team. The children also have the opportunity to play in the unit’s shared resource area and enjoy some light refreshments.

Once children start school they attend for either mornings or afternoons for two weeks. Following this children stay for lunch with the Reception staff for a few days, so that they feel at ease with the lunchtime routine. Full time attendance commences after these early induction weeks.

In Reception children follow a play-based curriculum. The learning environment, which includes the classroom, indoor resource area and the outdoor play area (shared with Nursery) allows children to develop the following skills:
• Communication, Language and Literacy: reading, writing, language skills, letters and sounds
• Problem Solving, Reasoning and Numeracy: numbers, calculating, shapes, pattern
• Personal, Social and Emotional Development: social skills, behaviour
• Knowledge and Understanding of the World: craft work, I.C.T., history and geography skills
• Creative Development: music, art, role play
• Physical Development: P.E., fine/gross motor skills

Each classroom has a class teacher and a qualified Learning Support Assistant (LSA) and we welcome parent helpers. Our fantastic team of LSAs includes Mrs. Kilby, Mrs. Heywood, Mrs. Barker, Mr. Green and Mrs. Calvert.

Milk and Fruit

Children have the opportunity to have a drink of milk each day and are provided with a piece of fruit or veg as a snack.

Homework
After the Reading Talk that Mr. Gray and Miss. Huson arrange for parents and guardians, the children in Reception take home their first reading book. Please take time to read with your child for ten minutes every night and add a comment or sign their Reading Record book when you have done this. Pupils who practise their reading regularly at home tend to make significant progress and it also helps your child across all areas of the curriculum.
P.E
Reception pupils have indoor P.E on Tuesday (YRDP), Thursday (YRSH) and Friday (YRKH). Each child will require black shorts, a white T-shirt and black slip-on pumps. Jewellery is not permitted to be worn.
Educational Outings
Throughout the year the Reception children have the opportunity to take part in several school outings, including a visit to the Post Office, the Greengrocers and the zoo.
Food Tasting
As part of the curriculum the children have the opportunity to taste various different foods including Chinese (Chinese New Year), Indian (Divali), porridge (Fairy Tales), cress sandwiches (Growth and Change) and fruit salad (Fruit and Vegetables).
Coffee Mornings
Each half term parents of Nursery and Reception children are invited into school to enjoy coffee and a chat with other parents and some members of the Early Years Team. We hope that you will join us.