Reception Class

We are delighted to welcome you and your child to Reception Class at Our Lady and St Kenelm’s. We hope the information below will answer most questions, but please do not hesitate to contact us if you would like more information. The transition into Reception ensures all children settle into their new life at OLSK smoothly. Thank you  and we look forward to meeting you all very soon.

STARTING SCHOOL SCHEDULE

Wednesday 7th September & Thursday 8th September

You and your child will attend an informal meeting with the EYFS team. This will be a great chance for your child to explore their new classroom environment and meet the staff. During this meeting you will hand over your completed welcome pack and receive an OLSK book bag as a welcome gift.

You will have received details about your meeting at the intake meeting in June or they will have been sent through the post.

* As we want to spend time with you and your child starting Reception class, please find alternative childcare for younger siblings as they are not to attend.*

Friday 10th September

The children will start school but only for half a day, 15 children will attend the morning session and 15 children will attend the afternoon session. You will have been informed of which session your child will attend beforehand so please make sure you come to the correct one.

Morning Session: 8.40-11:30

Afternoon Session: 1.00-15.15

Monday 12th September

All the children in Reception class will be in class full time:

8.40-15.15
 

PRACTICALITIES

Bags: We suggest that your child brings their book bag to school every day, although they will not be getting reading books straight away, it helps the children to get into a routine and is also a place to put letters and correspondence between home and school. They can bring another small snack bag for their drink or carry their drink to the snack table in class. We ask that drinks do not go in book bags, in case of leaks.

Drinks: We advise that your child brings a labelled water bottle every day, which they will be able to access throughout the school day. (Please ensure they are labelled as we do end up with unclaimed, unlabelled bottles) This bottle can be filled with water or if your child won’t drink water, they can have very diluted squash. No fizzy drinks or juices please.

Snacks: You can send in a healthy snack each day, however the children are given fruit twice a day at school.

Name labels: Please ensure that ALL your child’s clothes and belongings are labelled.

PREPARATION FOR SCHOOL

All your children will be at different stages in their development and I would like to stress that there is not a one-size-fits-all model of school readiness. Here are a few suggestions of how you can support your child in their preparations for school.

• Encourage independence:

We work with the children to dress independently (although we know that buttons are very tricky), to put their own things away, to look after their belongings, to do up their own coat, to use a knife and fork etc… so consider any ways you can support your child to do things for themselves in preparation for September. In particular, that they are confident using the toilet independently.

• Encourage them to recognise, read and write their name

Your child might already be able to read their name and be ready to write it so you could practise this over the holiday. (Not in capital letters please, except the first letter, of course)

• Encourage them to cut with child scissors

Any activities that support your child’s hand-eye coordination are useful preparation, such as cutting with scissors, threading beads, throwing and catching…

• Encourage them with counting

If your child enjoys reciting numbers, it might be the right time to encourage ‘touch counting’ where they point and count a set of objects. You can do this almost anywhere – on car journeys, while playing games…

• Encourage them to look at books and enjoy stories with you

Reading stories to your child is key to supporting your child’s language development and vocabulary. Attention and focus are important so it will help your child’s transition if they can sit and look at a book on their own or sit and listen to a whole story.

WHAT TO EXPECT

Reading Books

Your child will receive a reading book and reading record book at some point during the Autumn Term. Please be aware that we give the books out as and when we believe the children are ready. The reading record book is a great communication tool, so please fill it in each time you hear your child read. It only needs to be a short comment.

Website https://www.our-lady.dudley.sch.uk/

The Reception class page on the school website will celebrate the children's learning with photographs. There will also be updates and information for parents on these pages so please check the Reception page regularly.

Supporting learning at home

As the children begin phonics sessions, there will be sound cards sent home so that the children can practise these at home. There will the opportunity to practise writing the sounds as well as suggestions of activities to support maths learning. The partnership between home and school is crucial during your child’s first year so we advise regular, short and fun learning opportunities at home to support your child’s learning and progress.

Mrs Ofosu: EYFS Class Teacher

Miss Beasley: EYFS Lead Teaching Assistant

I hope this information has answered any questions that you might have.

We all look forward to seeing you soon.

Love from the EYFS Team