Welcome to Reception
Meet the staff:
Class Teacher: Chloe Coady
Support Staff: Julie Cakebread
Reception at Nightingale Primary School
At Nightingale Primary School, the Reception year is a crucial step in your child’s educational journey, building upon the foundations laid in Nursery and preparing them for a successful transition into Year 1. Our Reception curriculum is designed to consolidate early learning goals and introduce more structured academic challenges, all within a supportive and stimulating environment.
Progression from Nursery to Reception
The transition from Nursery to Reception at Nightingale is marked by a shift from predominantly play-based learning to a balanced mix of play and more structured activities. While still embracing the principles of curiosity and exploration, Reception children begin to engage in more focused tasks that prepare them for formal education.
Attaining End-of-Year Learning Goals
Reception children work towards achieving key end-of-year learning goals, which include:
- Literacy: Developing reading and writing skills through phonics programs, storytelling, and writing activities. For example, children may create their own storybooks or write simple sentences using phonetic sounds they have learned.
- Mathematics: Building on basic number recognition and counting skills from Nursery, Reception children engage in more complex tasks such as simple addition and subtraction, understanding shapes, and measuring objects. Activities like number scavenger hunts and shape sorting games make learning interactive and fun.
- Communication and Language: Continuing the support from Early Talk Boost and NELI, children participate in activities that enhance their vocabulary and sentence structure, such as group discussions, role-playing, and interactive reading sessions.
Preparing for Year 1
To ensure a smooth transition to Year 1, our Reception curriculum also focuses on:
- Social Skills: Encouraging teamwork and collaboration through group projects and play. Children learn to take turns, share resources, and respect each other’s ideas.
- Physical Development: Engaging in activities that improve fine and gross motor skills, such as cutting with scissors, building with blocks, and outdoor physical games.
- Emotional Wellbeing: Providing a supportive environment where children feel safe to express their feelings and develop resilience. Mindfulness activities and classroom discussions about emotions help children understand and manage their feelings.
Continuous Communication with Parents
As with Nursery, we maintain open lines of communication with Reception parents through Class Dojo, where we share updates on your child’s progress, exciting classroom activities, and useful resources for supporting learning at home. Reception teachers are available for brief conversations during drop-off and pick-up times, and for more pressing concerns, parents can contact the school office to arrange a meeting.
Enriching Learning Experiences
Reception at Nightingale is enriched with thematic projects and immersive learning experiences that make education enjoyable and meaningful. Children might participate in themed days, such as a “Chinese New Year food tasting” where they learn Chinese New Year and its traditions. For our Festival of Light - Diwali Day celebration, children will create traditional Diva lamps and collaborate on large-scale Rangoli patterns, embracing the beauty and significance of this vibrant festival.
By the end of Reception, children at Nightingale Primary School are well-prepared for the academic and social challenges of Year 1, having developed a strong foundation in key learning areas and a genuine love for learning.
At Nightingale, we are dedicated to nurturing each child’s potential, ensuring they are confident, capable, and ready to embrace the next stage of their educational journey.
Home Resources
If you would like to continue the development of your child’s learning. Please use the suggested resources below: