THE FIRST STEP OF THE JOURNEY

Children begin their Foundation year in the September of the academic year in which they have their fifth birthday. This stage is part of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum, which is a statutory play based curriculum as followed in Nursery, but this year is also the start of an introduction to more formal aspects of schooling.

PLAY BASED LEARNING

Opportunities for play start to become more structured and the small classes, led by a well-qualified early years’ teacher and a full-time teaching assistant for each class, enable children to make an excellent start in numeracy and literacy.

NURTURING A LOVE FOR LEARNING

We teach a phonics programme to enable children to learn to read with growing confidence. Individual work and small group work enables children to learn at their own pace and make significant strides forward. Children in the Reception classes attend whole school assemblies, including ‘good work’ assemblies on Mondays and Chapel Services on Fridays.

SO MUCH MORE

In addition to an emphasis on numeracy and literacy, the children in the Reception Classes also receive specialist teaching in French, Dance and Drama, Music and all aspects of Games and PE. Reception children visit the library weekly, use the ICT suite and have music lessons with the Director of Music in our music school.