An introduction for parents of children in Reception
An introduction for parents of children in Reception 2022/23
Clifton College Reception
Contents Welcome to the Pre-Preparatory School Our Reception Provision Curriculum Children’s Interests The Reception Day After School Care Clifton College Pre-Preparatory
Specialist Activities Forest School Food and Drink Trips Assessment and Reporting Class Assemblies The Interactive Learning Diary Safety Absence and Sickness Uniform Birthdays and Celebrations Holiday Club Golden Rules and Positive Behaviour The Parent/School Partnership Term Dates
Contact preprepoffice@cliftoncollege.com 0117 315 7591 www.cliftoncollege.com 2|
An introduction for parent of children in Year 1 21/22
—Welcome to the Pre-Preparatory School Welcome to Reception and the start of your journey through the Pre-Preparatory School. The Reception year is truly a transformative year where many milestones are reached and celebrated. We are excited to continue the Early Years Foundation stage pathway and give your children a rich and diverse curriculum providing awe and wonder.
The primary aim of those first weeks in Reception is for the team to provide an environment where children feel happy, safe and valued. This forms a firm foundation for all future learning.
We hope you find this booklet informative and helpful in the early days, but if you have any problems or queries please do not hesitate to ask a member of staff.
We understand the importance of parent partnerships and look forward to interacting with Reception families over the coming year.
|3
Clifton College Pre-Preparatory
—Our Reception Provision Children join Reception when they reach the age of four. Children are expected to attend on a full time basis. All of the Reception teachers will be available to talk to parents each day, either at drop off or pick up. If you wish to speak privately or at greater length, please ask to make an appointment.
4|
Alongside Google Classroom, which we to use frequently to share pictures and information to the parents, each child also has a white message book. The message book is a good way to communicate information that does not require further explanation.
Your child’s message book lives in their book bag and should go to and from school each day. If you have a message for your child’s teacher, please write it in the book and put it in your child’s book bag.
“The message book is also a good way to communicate information.”
|5 An introduction for parent of children in Year 1 21/22
—Curriculum All of the staff work together to provide a curriculum following the Early Years Framework 2021. This is a government framework which sets out guidance for children aged 0 to 5. The framework seeks to ensure that the children’s first five years are happy, active, exciting and secure as well as supporting their development, care and learning needs.
Clifton College Pre-Preparatory
Children learn best when they are motivated through their own play, therefore the curriculum is delivered through a mixture of well thought out play experiences and adult led activities that follow the children’s interests. The framework is divided into three prime areas, and four specific areas of learning. The prime areas are essential skills which children develop to access future learning.
Prime Areas The prime areas consist of; Communication and Language (CL), Personal, Social, Emotional Development (PSED) and Physical Development (PD). Communication and language development involves giving children opportunities to experience a rich language environment; to develop their confidence and skills in expressing themselves; and to speak and listen in a range of situations. Physical development involves providing opportunities for young children to be active and interactive; and to develop their co-ordination, control, and movement. Children are helped to understand the importance of physical activities, and to make healthy choices in relation to food.
Personal, social and emotional development involves helping children to develop a positive sense of themselves, and others; to form positive relationships and develop respect for others; to develop social skills and learn how to manage their feelings; to understand appropriate behaviour in groups; and to have confidence in their own abilities. Specific Areas The specific areas consist of; Literacy (L), Maths (M), Understanding the World (UW) and Expressive Arts and Design (EAD). Literacy development involves encouraging children to link sounds and letters and to begin to read and write. Children are given access to a wide range of reading materials (books, poems, and other written materials) to ignite their interest.
Mathematics involves providing children with opportunities to develop and improve their skills in counting, understanding and using numbers, calculating simple addition and subtraction problems; and to describe shapes, spaces, and measure. Understanding the world involves guiding children to make sense of their physical world and their community through opportunities to explore, observe and find out about people, places, technology and the environment. Expressive arts and design involves enabling children to explore and play with a wide range of media and materials, as well as providing opportunities and encouragement for sharing their thoughts, ideas and feelings through a variety of activities in art, music, movement, dance, role-play, and design and technology.
—Children’s Interests We follow the children’s interests to promote and extend learning opportunities in the environment. Children learn effectively when they are engaged, motivated and thinking. The children take ownership of their learning and make effective progress when excited and interested to learn. When learning and playing, children will have regular opportunities to play in our inside and outside environments with all the Reception cohort and as part of the continuous provision.
Everyday, there will be opportunities for child initiated play, adult led sessions including Phonics, Maths and Literacy as well as wider curriculum activities.
•
playing and exploring children investigate and experience things, and ‘have a go’
•
active learning - children concentrate and keep on trying if they encounter difficulties, and enjoy achievements
•
creating and thinking critically - children have and develop their own ideas, make links between ideas, and develop strategies for doing things
Characteristics of Effective Learning How children learn is as important as what children learn and the Characteristics of Effective Learning reflect this. They consist of descriptors to describe learning in the following ways:
For more information about the Early Years Framework, please see the link below: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/988004/Development_Matters.pdf 6|
—The Reception Day
Breakfast Club Children in Reception have the option of attending Breakfast Club from 7:30am. While they are still in the Early Years Foundation Stage this takes place in our Nursery, where the children can be dropped off before being brought over to Reception at 8am by the Nursery staff. Early stay Early stay is from 8 - 8.20am in the Reception classrooms (using the Reception door) and is available free of charge for working parents. When dropping off please ensure that you sign in your child so that we know who will be picking them up and at what time.
Drop Off If you are not using Early Stay, children should arrive at school and wait in the playground with their parent/guardian until the bell goes at 8.30am. You will be greeted by a member of the Reception team at the Reception door. While you will of course be welcome to bring your child into the classroom to settle him/her, hang up his/ her coat and drop off any bags in those early days if needed, we encourage children to enter independently as soon as possible. You are welcome to bring your child into the classroom to settle him/her, hang up his/her coat and drop off any bags. Please also use this time to pass on any quick verbal messages that you need to share with your child’s teacher / a member of the Reception team. If your child would like the independence of coming into school alone, you can say goodbye to them at the door.
In wintry or particularly wet weather, the Reception door will be open from 8.30am. Snack Children will have access to a mid-morning and afternoon snack which consists of fruit, crackers, cheese and there is milk and water available to drink. Lunch At 11.45am the children walk over to the Bretton Memorial Hall (BMH) for lunch with their teacher and Years 1-3. The lunch menu, which runs on a 2 week rolling rota, can be picked up from the school office. In Reception, the children sit with their class teacher to eat and dining room etiquette and good manners are encouraged.
They are then collected from the playground by their class teacher. During wet weather, the children will go straight back to Reception after finishing their lunch and play inside. End of Day The school day ends at 3.30pm. Parents meet their children outside the Reception door where the children will say goodbye to their teacher. When the children show readiness, the Reception day is extended to 4pm in line with the older year groups. This allows children to enjoy an extended afternoon provision and a little longer at the forest.
Introduction for parents of Reception 2022/2023
In the Michaelmas term, the school day begins at 8:25am and ends at 3:30pm for Reception. In the Lent term, we begin to extend the day by finishing at 4pm on our Forest School Days. In the Summer term, children will finish every day at 4pm. A typical day is flexible but may look like this:
The school office will email the lunch menus each term. At approximately 12.30pm the children return to the playground, where they play until the afternoon sessions begins.
—After School Care After School Care is primarily a provision available for children who cannot be collected at the end of their school day due to the work commitments of their parents. Our After School Care facility takes place in the lower ground floor of Sharps House, and runs until 6.00pm. Qualified staff supervise the children until they can be collected.
Children are able to select a variety of activities including art and crafts, games and may use the playground when daylight allows. The children are given a snack tea which includes a choice of sandwiches, fruit, cheese and a drink. After School Care can be booked by submitting a form to the office. The form is shared with parents ahead of each half term,
so bookings can be made in advance for regular users. Occasional use may be available on the day, and a booking can be made via the office, but children can only be accepted if space is available. After places are allocated to working parents, places will be given to occasional users on a first come, first served basis. The provision is free to use.
|7
8|
—Specialist Activities
In preparation for these specialist activities, please encourage your child to change their own clothes at home. This will help your child to become independent and be able to take responsibility for their belongings at school. Swimming Each Reception class has a 30 minute weekly swimming lesson that is led by Mrs Francis and a team of swimming instructors. Your child’s swimming kit should consist of – Swimming costume, towel, swimming hat, goggles and hairbrush / comb. Each item should be clearly labelled and placed in their named red kit bag. This bag will be kept in your child’s classroom and should be taken home after each swimming lesson and returned ready for the next session.
PE
Music
Each Reception class has a 30 minute weekly indoor gym session. The unit of work changes each half term but over the year your child will cover dance, gymnastics, basic throwing and catching skills, small sided team games and using gym equipment. These sessions are held in the BMH and are run by Mr Finn.
Our specialist music teacher, Mrs Gillam, has several sessions a week with Reception.
Your child’s PE kit should consist of – Non mark ‘Velcro’ fastening trainers, blue shorts, white polo shirt, white socks, school tracksuit bottoms, and school tracksuit sweater. Each item should be clearly labelled and placed in their named blue kit bag. This bag will be kept in your child’s classroom and should be taken home on a regular basis to be washed and then returned to school. Games The Reception classes will take part in a games lesson each week, taught by Mr Finn. The children will experience a range of activities to build both their gross and fine motor skills, as well as working individually, in pairs or as a member of a team. Your child will require the items from their blue kit bag (as listed above) for these lessons.
These include a class music lesson, ‘Big Sing’ with Nursery and a Reception sing. Preparing for whole school events, such as the Christmas Production, Spring Service and assemblies means that there is plenty of time for music. French Each Reception class has a specialist French lesson once a once a week with Madame Wolff.
Introduction for parents of Reception 2022/2023
Reception children have use of all of the facilities that the College has to offer. They will visit the Pre-Prep library weekly, the BMH, Butcombe Hall and the music room. There will also be chances to visit the College Chapel, Redgrave Theatre and the outdoor classroom areas at Beggar’s Bush for Forest School.
The children are provided with a variety of exciting activities with the aim of encouraging a good basic vocabulary by the time they reach Year 1. Library Each Reception class has a weekly library session where they can change, borrow and read a selection of age appropriate books. The PrePrep library has a vast range of literature on offer and Mrs Denning, our Librarian, is always on hand to suggest new books.
“Reception children have the use of all of the facilities that the College has to offer.”
|9
Clifton College Pre-Preparatory
—Forest School Forest School is a particular favourite with the children and adults alike. The children learn the rules of the forest that keep them safe and begin to explore their natural environment. We focus on skills such as the appreciation of our world, developing self-confidence and self-esteem, turn-taking and listening. Children will have the opportunity to begin to learn to use tools safely,
build dens, play games, and of course, drink hot chocolate and eat marshmallows. Reception children will either make their way over to Forest School at our Beggar’s Bush site or participate in outdoor learning experiences on the school site. The sessions, led by our very own EYFS Forest School leader, Mr Cox, are designed to engage the children in all sorts of activities outside of the constraints of the
classroom. We go whatever the weather (other than in times of high wind) and, more often than not, your child will come back extremely muddy! Every week on your child’s designated Forest School afternoon, they will need to come to school in their Forest School kit (see list below). Just before getting on the minibuses we will ‘layer up’ and put on waterproofs and wellies.
Please ensure that your child has the following Forest School kit, fully labelled – Wellington boots, walking boots, spare pairs of thick & thin socks and pants, waterproof trousers. Clifton College waterproof jacket, hat / gloves / scarf, Clifton College long sleeved navy blue top and Clifton College Forest School green fleece.
—Food and Drink All children have access to milk, water, fruit, cheese and crackers during snack each morning. Snack time is a sociable part of the day when children enjoy the chance to chat with their friends. The children are encouraged to set the table and prepare the snacks to encourage independence.
10 |
A cooked lunch is provided for all children. Lunch takes place in the BMH and Reception children sit with members of the Reception staff to eat. There is a wide choice of hot, cold and vegetarian options to choose from. We will cater also for children with specific food requirements.
There is also pudding, yoghurt, cheese and crackers and fruit to choose from. Children are encouraged to try new things, demonstrate good table manners and use their cutlery correctly. They then clear their own places before leaving the hall to go out into the playground.
The weekly menu is available from the school office and is also on the school website. Snack consisting of fruit, crackers and biscuits is also available each afternoon. Clifton College was awarded Healthy School Status in 2011. We are a nut free environment to safeguard children with allergies.
—Trips Trips in the Early Years are generally frequent, low key events. They may involve walking to another part of the school to explore the campus gardens, or examine the stained glass windows in the Chapel. From time to time we may take the children off site to local places that are of particular interest and value to their learning and development.
Parental permission will always be obtained before we go off site, a risk assessment will be undertaken and appropriate adult:child ratios adhered to. We are exceptionally lucky to have Bristol Zoo on our doorstep. As such we will use the zoo to enhance many areas of learning, and take the children there often.
“Every six weeks your child’s teacher will review his or her ‘next steps’.”
Every six weeks your child’s teacher will review his or her ‘next steps’ across the seven curriculum areas and revise and update these next steps as appropriate. These ‘next steps’ are sent to you and you will have a chance to discuss them with your child’s teacher by either making an appointment or when we host our regular parents’ evenings. One of the key principles of the EYFS is about building up a positive partnership between school and home to ensure that your child’s wellbeing is at the centre of everything that we do.
An introduction for parent of children in Year 1 21/22
—Assessment and Reporting In order to complement this, parents are regularly invited into school for special events. These may include; ‘Stay and Play’ sessions where you can spend time with your child in their learning environment; tea parties for Mother’s Day; Christmas event; reading stories in your home language and many more. Please consult the College calendar for further information.
—Class Assemblies In the Lent and Summer terms each class will lead an assembly. Parents are invited into school to watch their child take part in their class assembly. It begins at 8.45 a.m. and usually lasts about 10 – 15 minutes.
| 11
Clifton College Pre-Preparatory
—The Interactive Learning Diary The Interactive Learning Diary (ILD) is an easy to use, web based tool. Early Years staff use it to record observations, assessments and learning journeys for each child, by way of text, photos and video. This then builds up a record of your child’s activities, accomplishments and next steps for us to share with you as parents. Progress is assessed in line with the Early Years Curriculum.
Parents can log on to their child’s ILD at any time and may add in their own comments and observations of their child out of the school setting. When your child is settled and their ILD has been set up you will be given log on details so that you may access and contribute to your own child’s ILD. Please be assured that no personal data regarding your child will be shared beyond the Early Years team.
—Safety The security of your child is of paramount importance. All external doors have security code systems installed. We will not allow your child to be collected by other adults unless we have received your written/ verbal permission in advance. We would appreciate it if you could write a brief note in your
12 |
child’s message book if you have made arrangements for him or her to be collected by another adult. If we do not have permission, we will require your child to stay with us until either parent has been contacted, even if the collecting adult is known to us, i.e. the parent of another child.
“This then builds up a record of your child’s activities, accomplishments and next steps for us to share with you as parents.”
—Absence and Sickness If your child is absent from school, please contact the school secretary, at your earliest convenience, or leave a message on the voicemail. Please call 0117 315 7591.
The School Matron will only administer doses of antibiotics to pupils subject to writteninstructions being given on an authorisation form signed by the parent/guardian.
If a child has had an upset stomach with sickness and/or diarrhoea, please keep him or her away for at least 48 hours after the last episode has passed.
In the event of a child requiring paracetamol for high temperature or discomfort, an emergency dose can be administered with your written permission. This will be given
while we wait for your child to be collected from school. These forms are available from the staff. If your child requires an inhaler at times, or may be prone to an anaphylactic reaction, the appropriate in-date medication must be given to the matron with full written instructions on its use. It is your responsibility to ensure that inhalers/epipens are in date.
Our uniform is very simple, practical and easy to wash. It is available from the school shop, along with name tapes. Please ensure every single item of clothing is named. Children with long hair should wear it tied up whilst in school, and are not allowed to wear jewellery of any kind whilst in school. If earrings are worn, they need to be covered up.
Option 1 -
•
Grey trousers
•
Navy V-neck jumper or tank top
•
White polo shirt
•
Shoes with Velcro or buckle fastening
Option 2 -
For all -
•
Grey shorts or trousers
•
•
Black watch tartan pinafore
Wellington boots (to be kept at school)
•
Navy V-neck cardigan
•
A labelled water bottle
•
White polo shirt
•
•
Shoes with Velcro or buckle fastening
Clifton College waterproof coat and trousers
•
•
Butcombe summer dress (in warmer weather)
Complete set of spare clothes in yellow Clifton College PE bag
•
Navy blue Clifton College book bag for message book, art work, letters etc.
•
For Forest School there are dark green fleeces, jogging bottoms and waterproofs.
An introduction for parent of children in Year 1 21/22
—Uniform
—Birthdays and Celebrations Some children like to share special times with their friends in Reception. We are happy for birthday cake (preferably individual cupcakes) or fruit to be brought into school to celebrate special occasions.
If bringing in cake, please be aware of potential allergies and remember that we are a nut-free environment.
| 13
—Golden Rules and Positive Behaviour We pride ourselves on being a happy school, and happy children invariably reach their potential. Our Positive Behaviour Policy, in which we reinforce good behaviour rather than penalising poor behaviour, has a significant impact in making the school a happy learning environment. The school has a set of Golden Rules, which apply to all age groups from Nursery to Year 3.
In line with our positive approach to discipline, the rules make a positive statement about behaviour, and are on show in classrooms and public areas around school. The rules are discussed in PSHEE (personal, social, health and economic education) lessons and ‘circle time’, and often form the focus of school assemblies.
The rules are: Do be gentle Do not hurt anybody
Do look after property Do not waste or damage things
Do be kind and helpful Do not hurt people’s feelings
Do listen to people Do not interrupt
Do work hard Do not waste yours or other people’s time
Do be honest Do not cover up the truth
—The Parent/School Partnership We value close links with parents in order to create the most effective partnership between home and school, and you will always find a welcome here. If you have a query or concern, please do not hesitate to ask any member of staff - we are all here to help your child make the very best of his or her opportunities.
The door is always open to you, so please let us know how things are going. We are all very proud of our school, but we are not complacent and we value your feedback. We look forward to getting to know you and your child, and to a long and happy partnership in the years to come.
The staff are available during drop off and pick up for a quick word, or if you would like to talk more privately or at greater length, please make an appointment.
“The door is always open to you, so please let us know how things are going.” 14 |
An introduction for parent of children in Year 1 21/22
—Term Dates 2022-2023 Reception to Year 3 Michaelmas Term 2022 Term starts at 8:30am Thursday 8 September – 3:30pm Thursday 8 December Half Term: 4.00 pm Wednesday 19 October – 8:30am Thursday 3 November Lent Term 2023 Term starts at 8:30am Thursday 5 January – 3.30pm Thursday 23 March Half Term: 1:00pm Friday 10 February – 8:30am Monday 20 February Summer Term 2023 Term starts at 8:30am Wednesday 19 April – 1:00pm Thursday 6 July Half Term: 4.00pm Friday 26 May – 8:30am Monday 5 June
| 15
An introduction for parent of children in Year 1 21/22
Together, we are Clifton Clifton College Pre-Preparatory School Butcombe House, Guthrie Road, Clifton, Bristol, BS8 3EZ T. +44 (0)117 315 7591 E. preprepoffice@cliftoncollege.com cliftoncollege.com
| 16