Arriving in the morning
The academy gates will open at 8:45am (Rise Class) and 9:00 (shine Class) each morning and your parents/carers will wait (following Covid 19 guidelines) on the playground with you until the classroom door is opened. We ask that your parents/carers drop you off at the classroom door so that you (and the other children!) settle quickly and are ready to start the academy day. If your parents/carers need to speak to the teacher then they just need to let us know at the door and this can be arranged. We also ask that we are informed if someone different will be picking you up in the afternoon.
8:45-9:00am (Rise) 9:00-9:15 (Shine) : Register and settling
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. We will then listen to a story.
9:10 – 9:40: 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 big 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 blends the sounds in words.
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. It would be great if you could write your own name when you start the academy, remembering to use a capital letter at the start!
9:40-10:15am: Child-initiated 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:
10.15 – 10.45 Snack and break-time
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.
After the children have finished their snack, we all go outside to play on the playground.
10.45-11:30 CLL and getting ready for lunch
Children are given a range of opportunities that enable them to engage in discussion, interactions, problem solving and listening. These are often based around stories or linked to various topics, such as Bonfire night!
The children will go to the toilet independently and wash their hands ready for lunch. While we take turns to do this, we will sing lots of different songs or listen to a story.
11:30 – 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 practice over the summer holidays!
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.
12.40 – 12.45pm: Registration
12:45 – 1:00pm: 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:
13:10 0 2.30pm: Child initiated play
2:45 (Rise) 3:00pm (Shine): Time to go home!
First, we tidy away from our child initiated play, each being given a special job to complete. Then,
after a busy day, it’s time for you to go home! We will all sit on the carpet together and your parents/carers will wait outside the classroom door to pick you up. Once one of the adults sees your parent/carer you will be called 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.
Hopefully this will give you an idea of what a day in Reception might look like! A typical week would also include:
