Information Meeting
Reception Class
September 2014.
Aims of the meeting
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To inform you about your child’s school
day
To inform you about our routines and
rules
To give you some information so that
you can continue to support your child
at home
Keeping you informed
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On the school website – ‘Reception Class’
page
Texts
Letters
Quick notices in the window
Each half term we will inform you about what
your child is learning in topic work and in
groups – so that you can support this at
home. Printed copy and on the web site.
Speaking to Reception Staff
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Please do!
If you have a concern/query you can usually speak to
a member of staff in the morning or after school. If
we can’t resolve your concern there and then we will
arrange a meeting at a convenient time.
Please pass messages through the staff member on
the door in the morning, e.g. if someone else is
picking you child up, etc..
Please tell us about any changes at home which may
affect your child in school!
If we ask to speak to you!
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If we have concerns during the school day,
e.g. about behaviour, not eating etc… we will
usually ask you to pop in at pick up time or
the next morning.
We will tell you if your child has hurt
themselves during the day – if it’s a more
‘serious’ injury or illness we will contact you
during the day. Please ensure we always
have up to date contact numbers!
Sick children
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Please do not send a sick child into school!
Vomiting and or diarrhoea – children must not be
returned to school until 48 hours after the last
bout!
Please notify us of any infections such as chicken
pox, ‘slapped cheek disease’, etc..
Also tell us if your child has ‘nits’ or ‘worms’- these
can spread rapidly amongst young children. We
never disclose personal information!
On your child’s return after illness please send a note
to the school office (email or written).
Breakfast, snack, dinners and
packed lunches!
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Please make sure your child has had something to
eat and drink before coming to school!
At snack time we offer a piece of fruit/seasonal
vegetable and a drink of milk or water.
Water is available during the day (no need to send in
a water bottle).
School meal menus are on the website (2 week
cycle)
We encourage the children to choose what they
would like (hot option) and have bread and salad as
well if they want. A drink (water/juice) is provided for
school dinner children.
Packed lunches – we request that you send in a
‘healthy’ lunch. Don’t send in too much – there is a
lot of waste! NO SWEETS AT ANY TIME!
Your child’s school day
Morning
 Self registration, prayers and ‘carpet time’.
 ‘Dough Disco’ – to help develop coordination,
muscles etc… for writing and fine motor control.
 ‘Self choice’ activities in our areas of continuous
provision inside/outside
 ‘Focus group’ e.g. handwriting, craft, outdoor
learning etc…
 Group Literacy / phonics session
 Snack time and play time
 Group maths session
 Story time/singing/morning review
This is flexible and times/activities can change.
Afternoon
Free choice activities
 Focus groups (topic work, guided writing, guided
reading, art/craft, cookery, science investigation,
outdoor learning, support etc..)
 Weekly music session
 Weekly PE session
 Religion
 Computing
 Circle time
 Group ‘story talk’ time
Once again this is flexible and as the year progresses
we do more focused activities.
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Literacy Groups
RML Literacy (Read Write Inc)
 Children work in one of four levelled
groups
 Phonic progression is assessed each
half term (more frequently if necessary)
 Children may move between groups as
appropriate (we will let you know)
Maths Groups
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Children work in one of four levelled
groups
Progression will be assessed half termly
Children may move between groups
(we will let you know)
Class rules.
Child ‘friendly’ and ‘can do’.
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We are kind and helpful to everyone
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We listen carefully
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We always walk in the classroom
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We sit sensibly
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We look after our equipment
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We always do what an adult asks us to
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We are polite and respectful
If the rules are not followed
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Lots of reminders are given!
Children are given the opportunity to try again (and again).
If the behaviour continues a ‘sanction’ is given e.g. sit on the
carpet for 5 minutes, don’t get to do what they want at
‘choosing time’, (the sanction is always appropriate).
If the behaviour continues we will speak to you and seek your
support.
Behaviour Book – incidents of persistent low level disruption,
misbehaviour are recorded – as stated in the school’s behaviour
policy.
If all else fails a letter will be sent and you may be asked to
meet more formally with the Foundation Stage Manager or a
member of the Senior Management Team.
Rewards
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Stickers!
Verbal praise
Peer praise
Praise Pad notes to you
‘Star Of The Week’
Half termly ‘Head Teacher’s Certificates’
Termly ‘Mary Livesey Friendship Award’
Please send in (to stay in
school) –
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A pair of plain black school pumps
(clearly labelled with name!!!!), a pair of
shorts and a bag to keep them in for PE
sessions
Wellington Boots (again labelled)
Please make sure your child’s coat is
warm and appropriate (waterproof) for
the coming winter and outdoor
activities! Gloves and hats too!
General reminder! Please label
cardigans, jumpers, coats etc…
Helping at home
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Reading with and to your child. Library books, Reading Journals
and Learning Logs return on Monday please.
Practise RML Set 1 sounds (every body should have a set!!) It is
very obvious who has practised at home! Ask if you are unsure
about the correct sound pronunciation.
Please do the phonic practice sheets we will send home (keep
them)
Set 2 and 3 sound cards will be sent out as appropriate when
your child is ready for them.
Handwriting practise (encourage your child’s correct letter
formation). Handwriting rhymes are on the Set 1 sound cards.
Capital letters only for beginning of names etc… (not in the
middle of words!) Bad habits form quickly and are very difficult
to correct.
Maths – lots of practical counting activities (not just by rote),
look out for numbers in the environment, identify shapes, say
the days of the week, look at a calendar, talk about the passing
of time, weigh and measure things, coins etc…(see our booklet)
Learning Journeys
Each child has their own ‘Learning
Journey’ file (working document).
Includes;
 Observations
 Photographic evidence
 Pieces of work
 Anecdotal information, etc…
Learning Journeys
To create a fully rounded picture of your child’s
development we ask you to contribute to this
document.
 Please let us know via a ‘Wow’ slip any
significant developments your child makes at
home e.g. swimming award, riding a bike,
writing name independently, commenting on
significant experiences.
 Please date these for us.
 Extra sheets will be on our door.
 You don’t have to fill in loads! One or two
each term will be great!
Learning Logs.
Learning Logs are used throughout the school – but are
a new idea for Reception.
They are a way for you to work alongside your child at
home to do short activities and tasks.
These will support what we are doing in school e.g. in
‘topic’ work, physical development, expressive art and
design, child-led ideas etc…
We will give the activity on a Thursday to be returned
by the following Monday with your child’s Reading
Journal.
What’s next…
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‘Settling in’ meetings – will be held on
Tuesday 21st and Wednesday 22nd
October, 3.30pm – 5.30pm.
We will give you more details next
week about making an appointment.
Watch out for a text and a letter.
After the half-term break.
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After the half term break we will be
sending home ‘high frequency’ words
for you to practice with your child (just
a few at a time). We will check these
weekly (on a Tuesday).
These are really important in your
child’s reading progression.
Please remember…
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If you have any concerns, questions
etc… please come and speak to any of
us sooner rather than later.
We are here to help you!
Thank you.
Thank you very much for you time and
attendance this evening. We hope the
information is useful to you.
Please ask if there is anything else!
(This information will be put onto our
Foundation Stage page on the school
website.)