The Early Years Foundation Stage
The majority of learning in the Early Years is through ‘PLAY’. It is through these play activities that your child will gain the experiences that will prepare them for their continuing learning journey. We observe your children in their play to ensure we take their learning forward.
We consider the individual needs, interests and stage of development of each child in the class. We use this information to plan a challenging and enjoyable experience for each child in all areas of learning and development.
The School Day
The school doors open at 8.45 a.m. so that children will be ready and in their classrooms by 8.55 a.m. for the start of lessons. Parents of children in the Reception Class can bring their children to the classroom in the morning and collect them from the door at the back of the classroom at 3.20 p.m. Full details of all lesson times during the day can be found on our School Day page.
Session times for Reception children are:
8.50 a.m. – 12.00 noon
12.50 p.m. – 3.20 p.m.
Eating at School
Reception children who are having a cooked meal or a packed lunch will usually eat this just after midday in the hall. The Reception staff will help them to become familiar with the lunchtime routine and go into the dinner hall with them for the first week or so. More details about School dinners can be found on our School Dinners page.
Preparing your child for school
All parents want their child to be happy and do well at school. Encourage your child to look forward to going to school without making it sound too daunting e.g. ‘You won’t be able to do that when you start school!’…
The school day can seem long and tiring to begin with so don’t be surprised if your child seems tired and ‘babyish’ at the end of the day. It is best not to press them to answer lots of questions immediately – wait until they offer the information, possibly at bath-time or bedtime.
Tiredness during the first few weeks is quite natural and your child may equate this with ‘not liking school’ – try to stay positive and reassure them.
Your child will make a better start at school if he/she has learned to do the following:
- Speak clearly and ask politely for what they need
- Dress and undress on their own
- Go to the toilet alone, wipe themselves, flush the toilet, wash and dry their hands
- Blow their nose
- Use a knife and fork, spoon, cup and drinking straw
- Recognise their own names beginning with a capital letter
- Share things and take turns
- Answer questions and use ‘please’ and ‘thank you’
- Handle and enjoy books
- Use crayons, pencils, plasticine, scissors etc.
- Clear up toys, games or puzzles
All children need to be assured of being loved, to be praised when it is deserved, to feel proud of their achievements and to be encouraged to overcome difficulties.
If you have any questions or concerns please come and discuss them with their teacher to get the whole story. It is important that you are always positive and supportive about school in front of your child as this will help them to settle and feel secure.
More Useful Information
| Toys |
Toys are not permitted in school because they often get lost or damaged causing distress. However, we do regularly ask children to bring in toys or items related to our class theme to help enhance their learning. You will be notified of this via letter or the class page of the website. |
| Bookbags |
Book bags with the school name on are essential for the children to keep their reading books in. These cost £3.00 and can be bought from the school office if you haven’t already ordered one. |
| Drinking Water |
Surveys show that many of us do not drink enough water during the day and consequently our bodies are dehydrated and our brains do not work at their best. The children are permitted to have a plastic bottle of water with them during the day. The School sells these for £1.20. They must only contain water and will be sent home on Fridays for cleaning/sterilising. Please remember to name your child’s water bottle with permanent pen or suitable stickers. |
| Parking |
We recommend that parents who bring their children to school by car should park in the Dale End or Wharfage Car Parks. Special permits are provided for parents so that they can park here without cost; please contact Telford & Wrekin Council on 01952 384 000 for permits. From the Dale End car park use the pedestrian crossing and then a path leads into the Infant playground. Due to our restricted space parking is not permitted on the school site. Pedestrians entering the school from Dale End should use the path on the left side of the school – not the driveway.
Parents should not park in the local doctors surgery car park, in private residents parking areas of nearby houses or across local residents driveways. |
| Get Involved |
Are you able to provide some help in the classroom on a regular basis? You could supervise a group, share books with children, help on school visits and many other activities. We also need regular helpers for Forest School on Friday mornings.
All adults working in school with children need a DBS check. Please ask the class teacher or school office for a form. |
Ongoing Parental Support
There are useful activities that you can do before school to help your child learn. However, children learn at different rates and the list below is only a guide. As the year goes on, the teacher will put ideas on the school website and information about what we have been doing in school – you will be able to follow these up at home to enhance your child’s learning experiences….
The most important thing you have to offer your child is your time – time to listen, talk and discuss, time to share their interests and experiences.
- Read and share books together
- Draw and paint
- Sing
- Make models
- Play games, including memory games and story games
- Cut out
- Throw and catch
- Fold paper
- Tell their own stories
- Make their own books
- Count objects
- play ‘shops’
- Explore the outdoors
The Early Years Framework
Prime Areas of Learning:
- Communication & Language
- Physical Development
- Personal, Social & Emotional Development.
Specific Areas:
- Literacy
- Mathematics
- Understanding the World
- Expressive Arts & Design
Recommended Reading & Websites for Further Information:
www.foundationyears.org.uk
www.peal.org.uk
www.early-education.org.uk
Is your child ready to start school? – YouTube