RSM Reception 2024-25

THE TEAM

Reception B (RB)

Teacher:

Miss Roseanna Bew

Teaching Assistant:

Mrs Mel Smith

Reception F (RF)

Teacher:

Miss Julie Filmer

Teaching Assistants:

Miss Suzy Burnett

Mrs Louise Brotzel

Reception P (RP)

Teacher:

Ms Rachel Peters

Teaching Assistants:

Miss Karlyn Buick

Mrs Vanessa Rivers

WELCOME TO RECEPTION (2024–25)

DROP OFF & COLLECTION

We will be waiting in the Reception classrooms to welcome the children every day.

Drop Off

7.30–8.00am

8.00–8.20am

8.25 am

Breakfast Club (payable) – drop to dining hall (children will then be taken to Early Class at 8.00am).

Early Class (free, but children must arrive before 8.20am) – drop to the Reception classroom via the Reception playground gate. (The schedule of which classroom is displayed in the RP window). If arriving after 8.20am, please wait with your child in the playground for the morning bell. Alternatively, children may be dropped off at the Pen in the morning and will be greeted by a member of staff.

Please drop your child to their classrooms. If it is raining, children can go straight to their classrooms when they arrive at school from 8.00am.

Collection – Children are collected from the Reception gate in the playground at 3.30pm, or they can stay until 4.00pm in sibling late care if they have a sibling in Year 3 or above. If they do not have a sibling, they can go straight to extended day (separately bookable) which is open until 6.00pm daily. Please do not enter the school buildings unaccompanied at any time. Instead, report to the Receptionist at the school’s main entrance who will guide you.

UNIFORM, BELONGINGS & SNACKS

SCHOOL UNIFORM

• Red sweatshirt with school logo*

• Grey pleated skirt/grey trousers* (winter)

• White short-sleeve polo shirt

• Grey socks/tights (winter)

• Black leather/patent shoes (Velcro fastening)

• Navy, black or red scarf and gloves

• Red striped summer dress*/grey shorts (summer)

• Red/white cycling shorts (optional to be worn under summer dress)

• White socks (no tights with summer dress)

• RSM logo winter beanie hat* (as weather requires)

• RSM cagoule with zip-in fleece*

• Art overall*

• RSM logo navy rucksack (larger size) *

• Navy waterproof trousers

• Wellies

SPORTS KIT

• RSM drawstring bag in House colour*

• Navy shorts*

• Kukri RSM House sports top*†

• Navy jersey tracksuit trousers

• RSM logo navy school hoodie*

• Trainers with Velcro fastening (for outdoor use)

• RSM logo red school sun cap*

• Navy swimming costume/trunks (not shorts) *

• Towel

• Drawstring (House colour) swimming bag*

• Navy swimming hat

Items marked with * can only be purchased from Ellis Scott, those marked with † can only be purchased from Kukri and those marked with * † can be purchased from both stores.

PE, GAMES & SWIMMING

LUNCH

A hot lunch will be served to the children in the dining hall.

BELONGINGS

The following should be kept at school:

• Wellies, waterproof trousers and a spare set of clothing.

• Children do not need a pencil case.

The children will have one PE lesson, one games lesson, and one swimming lesson (at the Reigate Grammar School pool) per week. On games, PE and swimming days, children come to school in their navy shorts or tracksuit bottoms, Kukri House t-shirt, navy RSM hoodie and trainers.

SNACKS & MILK

Each day your child will need to bring:

• A named water bottle filled with still water.

• A morning snack – fresh or dried fruit or vegetables (please cut grapes in half).

• An afternoon snack – as above but may also include rice cakes, bread sticks or bread and butter. Snacks should be in a named small container (not a lunchbox) that can fit in your child’s tray. No chocolate or sweets and, as we are a nut-free school, no nuts or sesame (including houmous). Milk is provided free until the term your child turns five, so do let us know if you do not want your child to have it.

HOMEWORK & REPORTING

Your child will have a Reading Record Book which goes home with them each day and is also used for home to school communication (see below). After the first few weeks of term, we will start to send home phonics activities that are tailored to your child’s needs. Please make a note in the Reading Record Book when you have completed these with your child.

Parents’ evenings will take place in the Autumn and Spring terms, and you will receive a full written report on your child’s progress in the Summer term.

Tapestry – We continue to use Tapestry in Reception. It is an online record of your child’s experiences, development and learning journey in the Early Years at RSM. Teachers will regularly upload photos and comments about your child’s learning and development which you can view online via a unique password.

HOME/SCHOOL COMMUNICATION

READING RECORD BOOK

Messages between home and school should be written in the book which is reviewed by the teacher or teaching assistant daily. Any change to collection arrangements can be noted here. Do make sure that the person collecting has the correct password, otherwise we will not be able to release your child.

IN PERSON

Please do not hesitate to speak to the Reception team if you have any concerns. We are very happy to have a brief chat at drop off but if you would like to talk for longer, you can make an appointment via the school office. Meetings tend to be before school (8.00–8.20am) or at the end of the school day (3.40pm onwards). Mrs Selkirk, Head of Lower School, is also available to talk to you by phone or in person.

The school office email is: office@reigatestmarys.org. For sensitive matters, please email: confidential@reigatestmarys.org

TOPICS & TRIPS

Each term there is an exciting cross-curricular topic:

AUTUMN TERM – Something Sticky/Awesome Autumn SPRING TERM – Mr Men & Little Miss and Excellent Eggs

SUMMER TERM – Dreams & Goals

The Early Years teachers often talk to the children about characteristics of effective learning as part of the focus on a growth mindset:

• Have-a-go Hippo – Showing a ‘can-do’ attitude even if the activity is tricky. Persevering and not being put off by the fear of failure.

• Busy Bee – Focusing on an activity without being distracted. Choosing activities independently depending on interests and fascinations.

• Choosing Chimp – Making choices and deciding independently how to approach a new activity. Thinking of different ways of doing things when faced with a challenge.

TRIPS – We visit the British Wildlife Centre in the first half of the Summer term.

INFORMATION & EVENTS

THE PARENT PORTAL – Curriculum jigsaw maps, Lower School weekly sheets, menus and school reports are uploaded here. It can be accessed via the school website and new parents receive a log-in before the beginning of term.

WEEKLY OVERVIEWS – Contain information about the children’s learning for the following week. They are available on the Parent Portal every Friday.

VIRTUAL YEAR GROUP UPDATES – Once a term there will be a collective update from class teachers and members of the senior leadership team. This will take place via Microsoft Teams and provides an opportunity for teachers to talk about the children’s learning and activities and for parents to ask general questions.

INFORMATION EVENINGS – We run a Curriculum Evening early in the Autumn term and Mrs Selkirk runs phonics sessions throughout the year.

SOCIAL MEDIA – Follow the school’s Instagram and Facebook accounts to see lots of the fun activities that take place on a day-to-day basis.

SCHOOLSBUDDY APP

Has details and takes bookings for:

• Breakfast club and after-school care

• Clubs

• Trips

• Events

• Holiday clubs run by RSM New parents receive a log-in before the beginning of term.

FAMILY EVENTS

We hope to see you at our family events throughout the year. These include:

• Harvest Festival

• Christmas Concert

• Christmas & Easter Services

• Grandparents Morning

• Family Breakfast

• Sports Events

ReigateStMarys rsmprepschool

THE WEEKLY BULLETIN – Includes a message from the Headmaster, a round-up of school news from the previous week and school notices. It is issued each week during term time.

• Summer Celebration Concert and Picnic

FOSMA EVENTS

Please keep an eye on the Bulletin