Arriving in the morning
The academy gates (Gordon Road entrance) will open at 8:30am each morning. We ask that parents/carers drop you off at the entrance to the EYFS area where the teachers will meet you each morning.
We like to be able to have a quick check in with you and your parents/carers as you arrive so that we have a settled start to the day. If a longer chat is needed we ask parents/carers to request a meeting at another time.
8:35am – 8:55am: Register
Each morning the teachers will call the register to check if all of the children are present. You will be asked if you are having a cooked dinner or a packed lunch from home.
8:55am – 9:20am: Handwriting/Story (Communication, Language and Literacy)
9:20am – 9:50am: Phonics
We spend some time each day helping you to learn your letter sounds and names. You will work with an adult and you may even take some work home to share with your families! It’s very important that you try your best to practice the letters and sounds and remember them as best as you can.
When you attend the academy you will begin to learn to read. You will read books with your teachers and after a while you will take reading books home to share with your family. At first you will remember stories just by looking at the pictures and then, with lots of practice, you will begin to use your phonics to help you sound out and blend the sounds in words. Phonics books are sent home on a Wednesday each week for you to practice at home each day. They are then returned every Monday. In addition to this you will take home a sharing book from the classroom or library to enjoy at home.
You will also get to do lots of writing at the academy. You will learn how to form your letters correctly and also how to write short sentences.
10:00am – 10:10am: Snack
The academy will provide you with a snack and a drink. We encourage the children to be as independent as possible, even when peeling fruit and pouring drinks. Snack normally consists of a piece of fruit and a carton of milk.
10:10am – 10:45am: Child-initiated outdoor play
During this time the children are encourage to be as independent as possible, choosing activities and learning through play. Adults help to support and scaffold the children’s learning through questioning and discussion. We use this time to ensure that the children experience a broad curriculum.
There will also be lots of activities for you to do, such as:
10:45am – 11:30am: Continuous provision and directed activities in and outdoors
Children are given a range of options to access play opportunities (ones that link to curriculum areas as well as self -chosen).
11:30am – 12:40pm: Lunchtime
We will all have our lunch in the main academy hall. We will walk over to the hall together and then we will sit at tables and eat our lunch with our friends. All of the reception children are entitled to a free hot dinner. It is really important that you are able to eat your dinner with a knife and fork so make sure you try to practice at home.
After we have eaten lunch, the children play on the playground. Although closely monitored, the children are given the opportunity to take part in unstructured play which encourages them to develop their own games and rules.
12:40pm – 12:45pm: Registration
12:45pm – 1:30pm: Maths
At the academy we will do lots of mathematical activities. You will do lots of exciting things, such as counting, sorting, measuring, weighing, looking at shapes, making models, following directions and using the computer.
There are lots of things that you can do at home to help you with your maths, such as:
1:30pm – 3:00pm: Child initiated play/directed activities
3:00: Time to go home
Unfortunately, we can’t let you go home with a different adult unless we have been told that you are being picked up by someone different. Passwords are used for these occasions.
Pick up is also from the Gordon Road Gate entrance. Parents and carers are asked to wait in the EYFS play area for the children to be handed over by staff.
Hopefully this will give you an idea of what a day in Reception might look like. A typical week would also include: