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Welcome to Reception

Welcome to Felsted School’s Pre-Prep

“ I look forward to welcoming you to Felsted School’s Pre-Prep. Our aim is to create a positive learning environment, where your child will thrive and grow. We intend to have a lot of fun along the way!

You will see me at the gate every morning and every afternoon at the end of the school day. If you would like to meet with me, please contact Mrs Boreham in our Pre-Prep office to make an appointment shoffice@felsted.org

Pre-Prep office

Please contact our Pre-Prep office for any questions about school, including clubs and events or to make appointments. Please inform us if your child is unwell and will not be in school.

All school events can be found on our termly calendar on our school website: www.felsted.org/parents/school-calendar

Mrs Boreham

Mrs Atkins

Reception Classes

Hedgehog Class

Rabbit Class

Class teacher: Mrs Norton

Class teacher: Miss Thomas

Class Teaching Assistant: Mrs Mangham

Class Teaching Assistant: Mrs Miller

How we create our class mix….

When the children join to us to start Reception, they come from a number of different early years settings with some children starting school with no prior experience of nursery or pre-school. We base our class mix on information shared from parents and nurseries and any other information we have gathered from your child’s previous visits to the school.

The interactions between the children are unknown until they start school, therefore, at the end of Reception we look again at the classes and create a new class mix as the children move to Year 1. Our aim is to create supportive and effective working relationships between the children.

Beginning and End of the school day

➢ We run a Breakfast Club from 7:30am – 8am at an additional cost

➢ The gate opens at 8:00am for parents who need an early drop off

➢ Between 8:00am – 8:10am the children will wait in the hall until it is time to go to class at 8:10am. After 8:10am, the children will go straight to their classrooms independently

➢ If you wish to walk your child to their classroom: From 8:10am Please walk around the back of the building, to your child’s outside classroom door

➢ We encourage the children to do ‘Kiss and Drop’ after October half term (this is where the children are helped out of your car and walk to their classroom independently)

➢ By the Summer term, if your child is not already doing Kiss and Drop, we ask parents to begin to say goodbye at the main front gate. If you child needs assistance to get to their classroom, a member of staff can help

➢ School finishes at 3:20pm. Parents walk around the back of the building to the classroom outside door, where the teachers will check the children are collected by an approved adult

➢ After school clubs sign out at the front gate at their given end time

➢ Woodlanders - ring the gate buzzer and wait outside by Toad Hall

Timetable

Uniform Wear the red t-shirt, navy sweatshirt and joggers for forest school Don’t forget wellies . Bring the navy rucksack for your drink and hat Wear the maroon PE Kit with white t-shirt all day

- see list for Winter/Summer uniform Uniform - see list for Winter/Summer uniform Wear the maroon PE kit all day. Bring the maroon rucksack for Swimming Kit

Uniform

The children will be fitted for their school uniform at our school Tailor’s Shop.

The children should wear their ‘day’ uniform to school, apart from the following days:

● Swimming day - wear the maroon PE and Activities Kit

● PE - wear the maroon PE and Activities Kit

● Forest school - wear the navy Forest School Kit. We also ask that the children wear navy waterproof dungarees (a link to an example can to found here)

There are 3 school bags:

Black book bag - Bring this to school every day. This should have the reading book and zippy wallet inside for all homework, letters home and other information.

Maroon rucksack - This should be used on swimming days for Swimming Kit.

When your child is attending an After School Club, they should also use their burgundy rucksack to bring their kit into school. The children will get changed at the end of the school day.

Note: If your child is wearing their PE and Activities Kit to school as it is a swimming or PE day, they will not need to get changed.

Some clubs require a specialist kit, such as Karate, Judo and Ballet. Please use the burgundy rucksack to bring this kit into school.

If this rucksack is being used for Swimming Kit, then please use the navy Forest School rucksack for After School Activities Kit

Navy rucksack - This should be used on Forest School days to carry water bottles, hats, gloves etc to the forest

A school coat should be worn everyday - we never know when it may rain!

School hats - Please make sure your child has their school woolly hat in the winter and school cap in the summer

Book bags

The children should bring their school book bag into school every day. This will be used to carry reading books and homework folders.

To help your child identify their book bag, please attach a name clearly. Some children like to add a keyring to help them find their bag easily. Please ensure this a sensible size and not precious.

Please do not attach numerous or large keyrings, as this make it very difficult to store the bags in the classroom storage boxes.

Self-regulation and executive function

Executive function and Self-regulation, are essential skills for learning.

Executive function includes a child’s ability to:

❖ Hold information in mind

❖ Focus their attention

❖ Regulate their behaviour

❖ Plan what to do next

These abilities contribute to a child’s growing ability to self-regulate:

★ To focus their thinking

★ To monitor what they are doing and adapt

★ To regulate strong feelings

★ To be patient for what they want

★ To bounce back when things get difficult

Language development is central to self-regulation. Children use language to guide their actions and plans. Pretend play gives many opportunities for children to focus their thinking, persist and plan ahead.

Phonics

❖ The children have daily phonics lessons, which include blending for reading and segmenting for spelling. We use ‘Monster Phonics’ teaching resources and books.

❖ Children have the opportunity to write words which build up to sentences. This includes independent writing and sentences that have been dictated to them which include words containing the phoneme being taught.

❖ Children are encouraged to ‘have a go’ at spelling words phonetically. A range of strategies are introduced to help the children make a plausible attempt, based upon their phonic knowledge taught in Reception.

❖ The books in our Pre-Prep reading scheme are linked to the phonic phase progression as each phonic sound is introduced.

Handwriting

Letter formation is taught as follows:

During phonic and handwriting lessons, the children are encouraged to use their preferred hand and to sit correctly:

Sit with base of back supported in the chair.

Both feet on the floor

Skills taught:

★ To write own name

Pencil held between first finger and thumb. Supported by second finger

Make sure the pencil is not held too close to the nib or too far up the pencil

Left handed pupils will sit on the end of a table so their left-hand side is not next to a righthanded pupil – this will prevent elbows bumping.

★ To form taught letters (as new letters are introduced in phonics lessons)

★ To form all letters correctly on the line, above the line (ascenders) and below the line (descenders)

★ To begin to write both capital letters and lower-case letters, saying which they are

★ To write all letters the same size

★ To begin to put spaces between the words written

★ To write some regular words, making the letters similar in size

★ To begin to write own sentences neatly and correctly

Example of Reception Spring term writing.

Reading

Children will work their way through the Pre-Prep reading scheme, which links to our phonics lessons and the progression of sounds taught.

Emphasis is placed on decoding and comprehension skills.

The strands of comprehension are:

1. Retrieval

2. Inference

3. Prediction

4. Sequencing

5. Vocabulary

Your child will experience individual reading, group reading and reading lessons to develop their fluency, comprehension and deeper understanding skills. Online books and quizzes will also be shared with you.

Whilst your child will read at school every day, the teacher and/or teaching assistant will record a reflection of your child’s reading development twice a week. Parents are encouraged to read with their child every day too and are asked to record a reflection at least once a week.

Year R will have an opportunity to visit the library to choose books during the week.

Marking Symbols

The children are encouraged to ‘have a go’ at writing. Phonetic spelling is celebrated and the children are taught how to spell key words.

Marking symbols are used to show the children where they have been successful and what their next writing target is. These symbols are used as prompts when the children begin a piece of independent writing.

Children are encouraged to use a range of ways to explore mathematical concepts practically before moving on to more formal recording - writing.

Number:

• Have a deep understanding of number to 10, including the composition of each number;

• Subitise (recognise quantities without counting) up to 5;

• Automatically recall (without reference to rhymes, counting or other aids) number bonds up to 5.

Number Patterns

• Verbally count to 20, recognising the pattern of the counting system;

• Compare quantities up to 10 in different contexts, recognising when one quantity is greater than, less than or the same as the other quantity;

• Explore and represent patterns within numbers up to 10, including evens and odds, double facts and how quantities can be distributed equally.

Our Creative Curriculum

Children learn best when they don’t realise they are learning, that’s why most of your child’s learning will be topic or theme based explored through practical and purposeful play.

Each topic is introduced with a first-hand experience such as a visit out of school or an experience in school, which acts as a reference point. Activities follow which encourage problem solving, enquiry and collaborative work.

The year group topics provide a ‘lived’ experience for the children to relate to and connect their learning experiences together. This helps to overlap learning and to make connections, supporting understanding and reasoning skills.

Teaching Diversity

We ensure that our topics and resources are inclusive and represent the diverse world we live in. Families are encouraged to share their cultures and traditions with us at school.

We also follow the Think Equal programme which has been created by global leaders in the fields of education, psychology, human rights and neuroscience, who have written age-appropriate picture books and accompanying resources to promote discussion, thought and learning focusing on social and emotional development, inclusivity and respecting each other. The aim is that this will enable learning with will have lifetime effects.

Trips and First Hand Experiences

Each term your child will be involved in a first hand experience which links to the topic. This could be an experience in school such as drama/ Pretend play/ Music, a visitor in school or a trip out of school.

During the Reception Year, your child will take part in…

Little City – in school

Trip: Christmas railway at Audley End

to China – in school

Trip: Sealife Centre

Relationships and Health Education

As part of the School’s Personal, Social and Health Education programme and in line with the latest Relationships & Health Education Guidance from the Government (click to read the guidance), Pre-Prep pupils will explore the three core themes in their PSHE lessons:

❖ Health & Wellbeing,

❖ Living in the Wider World

❖ Relationships.

The term ‘relationships’ covers all relationships that we, as humans, have with others - family members, friends, the relationships children have in school with their peers and members of staff. With Relationships & Health Education now becoming a statutory part of the curriculum, it remains important that all of our pupils are taught about relationships in an engaging, meaningful and ageappropriate manner. Through these sessions, Children will become aware that we are all different and that this is a further opportunity to celebrate diversity.

In Reception, children will begin to:

● Develop a positive sense of themselves and others

● Form positive relationships with others

● Develop respect for others

● Develop an awareness of similarities and differences between people

Swimming

Reception children will have a swimming lesson once a week on a Friday. Our swimming teachers are Mrs Green and Mrs Lighten.

Please make sure your child’s Swimming Kit is brought into school on a Friday using the maroon school rucksack.

Your child should wear their maroon PE Kit to school on a Friday as this is much easier to change out of/in to.

It is important that the children bring in their Felsted hat, gloves and a scarf in the Autumn and Spring Term.

Our swimming lessons aim to...

● Teach the children an important life-long skill

● Provide a meaningful and safe swimming experience for children

● Reinforce the stated aims of the school in relation to physical education the personal and social development of children and their health and wellbeing

During Spanish lessons across Pre-Prep, with each year group will learn about their family, animals, colours and counting through songs and games, building up to beginning to speak in sentences.

Mrs Green

Mrs Lighten

Physical Education

PE is taught by our Prep School PE teachers. PE for Pre-Prep contributes to the overall education of our children by helping them to lead full and valuable lives through engaging in purposeful and highquality activity. It promotes active and healthy lifestyles, physical skills, physical development and knowledge of the body in action. PE enables children to learn confidence, perseverance, organisation and a positive approach to team spirit.

In Year R, the children have a weekly PE lesson on a Tuesday Please ensure your child Wears their maroon PE and Activities kit into school

Mr Holt

Music

Each week the children have a Music lesson led by Mrs Clarke. The Pre-Prep children begin their musical journey by having as much fun as possible with singing, playing instruments, composing their own music and performing to different audiences. The children learn through different musical techniques - namely 'Kodaly' and 'Dalcroze' methods of teaching music. These aim to improve the all round musicality of children through whole body movement and aural techniques.

Exploration of sound through everyday objects, our voices, bodies and musical instruments, plays a vital role in the discovery of music in the younger years. Percussion instruments are enjoyed in most lessons which help the children explore the 'musical elements' of rhythm, dynamics, pitch, tempo and duration.

The children learn through different musical games and songs which improve their confidence, intonation and musicality. Singing and performance plays a big role in music in Pre-Prep house -the children sing in assemblies, productions, League music and concerts and come together with the Prep School to sing in Chapel each term.

Mrs Clarke

Forest School

The children have regular opportunities to attend our own Forest School site adjacent to the Senior School on a Monday.

When it is your child’s turn to go to the forest, they should wear their navy sweatshirt and joggers and bring in wellies and their navy waterproof dungarees as the children can get muddy and wet! Please bring in the navy rucksack, so a water bottle can be carried to the forest.

A spare pair of socks is essential!

Our qualified Forest School leader for Reception is Mrs Pickford, who plans a range of activities which often relate to the learning in school. Children are given the chance to use tools, such as potato peelers, for whittling. Spades, trowels and forks can be used for digging. Magnifying glasses and pots are provided to help the children hunt for minibeasts.

Activities are child-led but closely supervised - The children are encouraged to risk-take in a controlled environment.

Mrs Pickford

Assessment

The children’s learning will be assessed throughout the year for all subjects. Teachers will use the EYFS Development Matters and Early Learning Goals as the criteria for these assessments.

Focus meetings and Parent/Teacher meetings take place in the Autumn and Spring term to discuss progress towards the Early Learning Goals. . At the end of the academic year in the Summer term, parents will receive a report based on these assessments which indicate if your child is working:

● Working towards the national year group expectations

● At national year group expectations

● Above national year group expectations

If your child is finding aspects of learning challenging, support will be planned in class. Our SENCO Mrs CliffordSmith supports and guides the Pre-Prep teachers and Teaching assistants and is also available to meet with families if required.

Homework

It is really important that your child has an opportunity to rest at home and to lead their own play and interests. Homework in Reception is set, but it is age appropriate and if you find that your child is not ready for extra work, then just focus on reading together.

Homework will include:

★ Reading each night - this will be the reading book sent home to practise phonic sounds and retelling stories. This could also be listening to a story at bedtime. Some families find reading at night works for them. Others find it is better to read in the morning as their child is too tired at bedtime. There is no set rule for when this should happen, but regular reading is proven to be extremely beneficial to a child’s development.

★ Talking to your child - Exploring language, talking about what happened that day, recounts or explanations are key skills to help at school. Taking time to talk without distractions will support your child’s communication and language skills.

★ Homework challenges - This could be maths/literacy or PSE (personal, social and emotional) for example, learning to put on your art apron and coat; Doing your zip up.

Positive behaviour

All behaviour is a form of communication. Positive behaviour is modelled and recognised in class and at playtimes, through praise and explanations.

Consistent, clear expectations help support the children to know what behaviour is expected of them and the impact of this behaviour on themselves and others. It is essential that adults understand the causes of challenging behaviour and use proactive approaches to support the children.

When things go wrong, the adults talk to the children in an age appropriate manner to create a plan to restore the respectful, positive behaviour promoted at school and to help the children to manage their self-control and self-regulation. Parents will be involved in this process to reinforce a consistent and collaborative team approach between school and home.

Rewarding Positive behaviour

Class rewards include the following…

Dojo points Class animal Manners Cup Gold sticker

To help promote desirable behaviour and social interactions, the children are awarding virtual ‘Dojo points’.

These are accumulated over time and Dojo certificates are awarded when the children reach a target number of points.

Each class has a class animal which is awarded each week to a child to take home for the weekend.

The class animal is returned the following week.

Each week, a class is awarded the Manners Cup for a collective effort to be respectful to others.

Mrs Atkins awards gold stickers for exceptional effort for both academic and learning behaviour.

We understand that there may be times when undesirable behaviour happens. Our approach is to teach the children to recognise why this behaviour is not acceptable and to help them resolve this, using ‘thinking time’ to reflect on how to put things right, then restorative, adult supported conversations.

Rewarding Positive behaviour

Every week we hold our ‘Award’ assembly where a number of different awards are presented to the children. These include:

Learn Award certificate Badges

LEARN AWARD CERTIFICATE

Learn Award certificates are presented for outstanding achievements and working attitudes

Marvellous Manners badges for amazing manners.

Wonderful walking badge for remembering to walk sensibly inside the building or when needed to.

Kindness star badges for consistent kindness.

Playground friend badges for being a great friend to others at playtime.

Creativity Star Fantastic Felstedian tea party invitation

Creativity Star awarded for creative thinking, arts, singing, drama, imagination, building and so much more!

The class teachers nominate a child in their class who is a ‘Fantastic Felstedian’ for demonstrating our Felsted values:

● Welcoming

● Respectful

● Adventurous

● Fun

● Inspirational

A surprise invitation is sent home in the post to a tea party with Mrs Atkins.

Leagues

When your child joins Felsted, they also join a Prep School League. This is their ‘House’ which they support throughout their time at the Prep School. Family members always join the same league so this becomes a family aspect of school.

The leagues are as follows:

Name of League Colour Mascot History

Lord Riche Yellow Rooster

Cromwell Red Scorpion

Gaselee Royal Blue Griffin

Grignon Green Gorilla

Smythies Sky Blue Lion

Named after the founder of the school, Richard Lord Riche.

Named after Oliver Cromwell who sent his children to Felsted School.

Named after an ex pupil who was a soldier.

Named after an ex headmaster.

Named after a famous ex-pupil who was a bishop.

Opportunities to discuss your child’s learning

Each term, there is an opportunity for families to come into school as follows:

Autumn Term:

Focus meetings held approximately every 4 weeks

Settling in letter sent home from class teacher

Harvest service, Christmas performance

Parent/Teacher Meeting after October half term

Opportunity to look at workbooks

Spring Term:

Parent/Teacher Meeting after February half term

League Music singing event

Opportunity to look at workbooks

Summer Term:

Year group parent event

Sports day

Fete

Written report at the end of the academic year

At the end of the school year, information about Year 1 will be shared with families. This will include an opportunity to meet the Year 1 teachers. The children will have an opportunity to spend the day with their next teacher in Year 1.

Classes will be mixed up into new classes for Year 1.

Tapestry

We use an educational software called ‘Tapestry’ to create an individual learning journal for your child.

Tapestry allows you to view observations and learning notes with accompanying photographs. This will keep you informed of the areas of learning your child is working on with an explanation of the learning that took place. Tapestry also allows you to add observations and photographs and share your own comments.

Snacks and Lunch

Our school catering team provide all snacks and lunches at school. A menu for the term is available on our school website: www.felsted.org/parents/menus

All food is prepared on site and we can cater for all dietary needs. Our catering manager Mrs MacDonald can meet with you to discuss your child’s needs in detail.

Pre-Prep pupils have snacks each morning and afternoon for example fruit, flapjacks, crackers and cheese etc.

At lunchtime the children walk to the Prep School dining room. The children are served a hot lunch and have salad and fruit available. The children are encouraged to use a knife and fork correctly, with good manners recognised and promoted through stickers and badges.

Mrs Jerri MacDonald

Breakfast Club and Woodlanders

Breakfast Club

Breakfast Club will be held in Toad Hall from 7:30am to 8am Monday to Friday. There are limited spaces available, so parents are asked to book spaces for the days they need. There is an additional cost for Breakfast Club

Woodlanders

Woodlanders is our after-school care club which is staffed by our Pre-Prep teaching assistants. Activities are informal but usually include craft activities, free play, toys and games both indoor and outdoor. There is an additional cost for Woodlanders

Pupils can attend Woodlanders for as many sessions a week as you require them to. Please note you must book the places for the whole academic year. You can book a half session which will run from 3:20pm – 4:30pm, or after an activity until 5.45pm. A full session is from the end of the school day at 3:20 until 5:45pm. You can collect your child at any time before the end of either session.

All pupils attending Woodlanders after a club or for a full session must bring in a packed tea. This must not contain any nuts or eggs. A Woodlanders handbook will be sent via the Pre-Prep office.

Mrs Groves Mrs Miller Mrs Hill Mrs Norris Mrs Watkinson Mrs Bird Mrs Herban Mrs Lorenzi Ms Stapleton

After School Clubs

We have after school activities specifically for Reception children which include LAMDA, Street Dance, Ballet, Karate, Multisports, Ballet and Gymnastics.

All information regarding After School Clubs will be sent out by Mrs Boreham from our Pre-Prep office.

Fees are charged on a termly basis. Please refer to the school website www.felsted.org/admissions/fees

PLEASE NOTE:

Your child can wear their PE Kit to their club if it is their PE day and they are wearing their PE Kit to school. Some clubs have special kit.

* The above club list will be confirmed at the beginning of the school year/ term

Communication

If there is anything you need to let us know, then please either write a note in your child’s reading diary or leave a message with the Pre-Prep Office shoffice@felsted.org

Tel: 01371 822616

You may also wish to email the teachers, but please be aware that a response will be made within 24 hours as the teachers are in class during the school day and attend meetings after school.

Leadership Team

Prep School Head Deputy Head of the Prep School

Mrs Cain

Pre-Prep Assistant Head supporting Mrs Atkins with the leadership of the Pre-Prep department

Mrs Norris

Mr Fincher

Mrs Clifford-Smith

SENCO

Wellbeing and Health

Our Health and Wellbeing Assistant is Mrs Morris

Mrs Morris will contact parents when a child is unwell or to discuss medical requirements.

We call Mrs Morris ‘Matron’

Our School Nurse is Mrs Machell

Please contact fpsnurse@felsted.org should you wish to discuss your child’s health.

We call Mrs Machell ‘Nurse Vikki’

Wellbeing Support & Safeguarding

Our Wellbeing Centre is located on our Senior School site. It is a calming hub where all members of the Felsted community can access resources to support their mental health. The decor is natural, the furniture comfortable and the atmosphere calming, with a focus on a sensory experience.

Sometimes pupils have times when they would benefit from play therapy. If this is something you would like to discuss further, our Head of Wellbeing Mrs Jane Miller, can be contacted to discuss your child’s needs. wellbeing@felsted.org

Our Designated Safeguarding Lead is Mrs Nicola O’Brien

www.felsted.org/boarding day/pupil-wellbeing

Mrs O’Brien supports pupils and families across the school. Should you need to discuss and concerns or worries you may have please email seniordsl@felsted.org

Or telephone: 01371 822543

Domestic Team

Our domestic team Christie and Mary, keep our site, Pre-Prep, clean and ready for the children to learn each day. You will also see Christie and Mary keeping our children safe outside on our crossings during drop off and pick up.