Reception New Starters Information
Dear parents/carers,
I am delighted and feel privileged to be part of your child’s learning journey this year. Early years is a fantastic place, and I am enthusiastic about ensuring that every child who joins us, has the best possible start to school life.
We have a fantastic outdoor area, and I know you will enjoy exploring the changing seasons and supporting our local wildlife with me. We have a challenge every year, to share fifty books with each other! All the adults enjoy reading so much, that we have created an indoor and outdoor reading area.
We hope you find the following information useful. As always, we offer an open-door policy so please contact us if you have any queries or questions.
Kind Regards,
Mrs Morris
A typical day in Reception
We welcome children into the setting at 8:30 AM. Children are encouraged to place all their belongings into their personal locker. Water bottles are kept in the classroom so that they are accessible during the day. The day will begin with a short, interactive phonics session before moving onto maths and literacy. Children will be given the chance to explore and practice the skills for that week in both the indoor and outdoor environment. After lunch, the children will have the opportunity to join in our topic; we have a new focus each half term, please see the school website for our curriculum maps.
Our learning environment is vibrant; we are very lucky to have an amazing outdoor area with mud kitchen, role play, sand and water play, enabling the children to use their imagination and build upon their natural curiosity which we feel is integral to development at this age.
Forest Fridays
Forest Fun takes place every Friday. Our early years staff are Forest School trained, and the forest area is currently undergoing an exciting development, led by our Junior Leadership Team in school. It will have an outdoor classroom, pond, mud kitchen and a real campfire for the children to explore. Forest Fun activities are carefully planned and each week children will be introduced to a new skill often linked to the sustainable development goals; we want the children of our future to understand how to take care of their immediate environment in practical ways. Children often get muddy during forest school sessions; therefore, we suggest bringing wellies and a waterproof coat. Children love immersing themselves in the natural area and we do not place restrictions on them - the more mud the better.
Attendance
Children need to arrive on time and we would love children to be in school every day.
Please inform school if your child is unwell and make sure we have up to date phone numbers so that we can contact you as soon as possible if your child should become ill whilst in school.
SeeSaw
In Reception, we use the Seesaw app to share what we have been learning and investigating in class. Homework will be set using the app too. The app is interactive, enabling parents/carers to share achievements from home. Children will be sent home with a code to access their personal seesaw account during the first half term.
In class each child has an individual learning journey, we use Seesaw and this journal to inform next steps.
Parents' Evening
Parents' Evening is held three times per year, this is an opportunity to share all the children’s achievements and discuss next steps together. We also have half-termly stay and play sessions as well as many other parental engagement opportunities.
Rewards
Our positive behaviour policy is on the main school website; however, we place emphasis on high expectations in Reception, in line with our STARS Christian values: Sharing, Trust, Achievement, Respect and Safety. We value teaching our children the value of team work together with respecting each other opinions and embracing difference.
In the classroom we have a zone board where children will have their star moved to silver or gold for demonstrating the STARS Christian values. One child each week is selected as Star of the Week and will receive a certificate given out in our weekly collective worship celebration which parents/carers will be invited in for to share the achievement. In addition to this, each week, one child whose name has made it all the way to the top of the zone board, into ‘sunshine’ will get the chance to take our class bear, ‘Popcorn’ home for the weekend.
The children really thrive from having these systems in place and enjoy sharing each other’s achievements.
For more information view our behaviour policy
School lunches
All children in Reception are currently entitled to Universal Free School Meals.
If you receive benefits and financial support, then your child may also be entitled to Free School Meals funding which is given to the school.
Check if you are eligible and apply for free school meals on the Worcestershire Children First website
School lunches can be ordered online through ParentPay. A menu can be found on our school website and options chosen when they are ordered.
Snack and milk
The children are provided with free fruit or vegetables every day. Children receive free milk up until the day of their fifth birthday but it can be purchased after this date.
More information can be found here:
Extra-curricular activities
We run after school clubs every evening, and children can sign up for these every half term. There are a range of clubs, including arts and crafts, dodgeball, horticulture club and many more, so there is something for everyone.
More information about extra-curricular clubs can be found here:
Uniform/book bag/water bottle
Our uniform plays a very important part in giving our school its identity. It helps to develop loyalty and pride in belonging to Cutnall Green C of E Primary and Pre-school. Please support us by ensuring that children come to school in the correct uniform.
Please ensure that every item of clothing is clearly named - even socks!
All uniform and book bags can be purchased online from Brigade Clothing Ltd.
More information on school uniform can be found here:
Wrap Around Care
We offer breakfast club (7:30-8:30 AM) and after school club (3:00-6:00 PM) during term time. Sessions are booked in advance through ParentPay, or you can contact the office if you pay using vouchers.
More details can be found about wrap around care can be found here: