Foundation Stage - information

The Foundation Stage children are called the Ducklings and we pride ourselves on being a happy, safe and friendly environment for you and your child to come and learn in.

Each year we have an intake of up to 45 reception children each year.

We are split into two small classes of about 23; the Green Ducklings and Yellow Ducklings who work very closely together and share the indoor and outdoor learning environment.

Each class has a named member of staff who you will get to know you as a family during the induction process and throughout the year.

Read on and find out all about us‌‌.

Ducklings follow the Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum which all schools have to offer. We work with the children to plan their learning and their next steps so that they can move forward with their learning and tailor their curriculum to their individual needs, interests and learning styles.

Each week there is a huge variety of activities on offer for everyone to enjoy. The teachers do learning activities throughout the day and we are always busy learning. We ensure that the children can access the curriculum according to their ability and previous learning and life experiences.

Monday

Number time

Phonics

Literacy

Topic

Welly walk

Tuesday Wednesday

Number time PE

Phonics ICT

Literacy Literacy

Topic Library

Thursday Friday

Number time Number time

Phonics Phonics

Literacy Literacy

Topic Topic

Gardening Weather watch Role play Playground games

Mrs. Catterall Mrs. Catterall is a very experienced teacher has worked throughout the school in all the year groups. She has been teaching for 16 years following her BSc Hons and PGCE. She has co-ordinated Science and Assessment throughout the school and is now responsible for the Foundation Stage Profile and Assessment in the Ducklings. She has taught Years 1, 2, 3 and 4 before moving to Reception in 2008.

She has two children who are both at school now, Eleanor who is 8 and Louis who is 5.

She works here four days a week and will be teaching both classes

Mrs Wills

Mrs Wills is a very experienced teacher who has worked at Carleton Green the longest in our team, for 18 years! She has worked throughout the school and has taught most of the year groups. Mrs Wills has been ICT and RE Coordinator as well as being responsible for Assessment and Key Stage 1 leader.

Mrs Wills has enjoyed teaching in Reception for 5 years and leads the role of Parental Involvement.

She has three children of her own Joseph 10, Joshua 6 and Ellen who is 3.

Mrs Wills works three days a week and is the main teacher for the Green Ducklings’ class.

Mrs.Cassidy

Mrs. Cassidy is our most experienced reception teacher having worked with this age group for years. She has worked in Years 1 and 2 for years and during this time she has co-ordinated Design Technology throughout the school and had the responsibility of Key Stage One before returning to her first love of Reception.

She now has the responsibility for Teaching and Learning in the Foundation Stage.

She has two pre-school children, Evie who is 3 and Thomas who will be one this year. She is in class 3 days a week and is the main class teacher for the Yellow Ducklings.

Mrs Moss

Mrs Moss is in class full time as our teaching assistant.

She is kind, caring and the children love her, (possibly because she is in charge of the snack!) She also oversees the dinner time and will ensure all the children are well fed and watered throughout the day.

She has been a teaching assistant at Carleton Green for 6 years.

She has two children. William is a grown up now and Spencer who attended CarletonGreen is now Year 7 at St. Aidans. She lives locally and She has a NCFE level 2, CASH level 3, first aid and food hygiene. She also has her British Sign Language Level 1 and Baby Sign.

Lucy Bushell

Lucy has been a teaching assistant at Carleton Green for 16 years. She is an old pupil and enjoys working with the children very much who call her Lucy.

She enjoys creative activities and playing playground games outside with the children. She also helps us put together your children’s Shooting Stars folder which is no mean feat!

She has a Child Care and Education Certificate.

Mrs. Hicks

Mrs. Hicks is our lunchtime supervisor. She works with Little Chicks and so knows many of the children before they start.

She is also a teaching Assistant in Year One five mornings a week.

Before coming to work here she was a parent and all three of her children have attended Carleton Green before moving on to Secondary school and b

Danny Duck is ready to welcome you to our class. Have a look at some of the things he gets up to and where he likes to learn. We are very lucky to have such a lovely big indoor and outdoor space in which to learn. We are allowed to learn inside and outside and there is always some-one there to learn with.

Danny Duckling enjoys learning inside. He loves;

Reading a book

Making a junk model

Drawing pictures

Writing a story

Parking cars in the garage

Playing with playdough

Using the computer

Building models with bricks

Playing shop keeper

Hiding in the igloo

Making a train track

Being in the home corner

He also loves learning outside;

Riding on the bikes

Pretending

Gardening

Writing with water

Climbing on the tyres

learning numbers

Each day follows a routine to help the children feel happy, confident and secure with their surroundings and with their learning. There are a mixture of different ways the children learn; whole class carpet time, small focused learning tasks and independent learning time.

We have a welcome session and a goodbye session at the beginning and end of each day to pass on any day to day information and welcome you into the classroom to see what we have been doing.

Time 8.50-9.10 9.10-9.30 9.30-11.00

11.00-11.15 11.15-11.40 11.40.11.45 11.45-1.10 1.10-1.15 1.15-1.35 1.35-3.00

3.00-3.10 3.10-3.30

Activity Meet and Greet Register Number or Phonics time Adult led Focused Activities Idependent Learning Snack Tidy up time Story/Song time Toilet time Lunch Lunch Time Activities Register Number or Phonics Time Adult led Focused Activites Independent Learning Snack Tidy up Story/song Time

Each child has a “Shooting Stars” folder where we keep a record of learning and achievements throughout the year. Parents and Guardians have access to this document all the time but it is sent home at least three times a year before each Parent’s Meeting.

We also display our work to celebrate the children’s achievements.

(Photos of displays, folders, shooting stars wall)

Our Induction process begins with you and your child on the day you find out if you have been offered a place here.

We offer a wide variety of activities for you and your child to take part in to make the transition from nursery and home to life in “big school” a smooth and positive experience for everyone.

Drop in sessions We offer three drop in sessions after school for you and your family to come and play in our classroom and meet the staff. This is a great opportunity for you and your child to get to know us and become familiar with the classroom inside and out.

Induction Evening All parents and guardians are invited to an evening event from 6pm. This is an information evening for adults only. We have a school dinner tasting session, the school nurse, breakfast and after school club, governors, PTFA and teachers all there so you can find out everything you need to know about life at Carleton Green.

Stay and Play The children are then invited to “Stay and Play” sessions on their own. This gives them a chance to meet the other children who will be their friends and to get to explore the classroom freely.

Nursery Visits All children receive a nursery visit from one of the teaching staff. This enables us to talk to the people who have already worked with your child and to see your child in their own environment and on their own terms. It really helps for them to be the “expert” and to show us what they do and where they like to play.

Home visits All parent’s and guardians are offered a home visit. This is a perfect time for you to talk one on one with your child’s teacher before they start school. You will be able to express and worries and concerns and talk freely about starting school. We are not coming to check up on your home and the parents who have taken up the opportunity have found it very beneficial. The children also love the fact that their teacher has been to their house and enable us to talk to them about their home and their family when they start school.