GETTING RECEPTION READY
Moving up to Reception is a significant transition for Kindergarten children. We want to make sure everything goes smoothly so they settle quickly into their new class and feel safe, confident and ready to learn as soon as they come back after the summer holidays. We plan and prepare for this transition throughout Kindergarten in the following ways:
• We have whole-school initiatives, which begin in Nursery and ensure that there is a consistency of approach to learning and language used by teachers as the children move up. These include:
– Our Read, Write Inc. phonics programme;
– The Zones of Regulation framework;
– The House system in which every child is a member of one of our four houses;
– A whole-school Behaviour Policy, which includes the Early Years;
– Our focus on ‘how to become an effective learner’, which teachers refer to during their teaching, is on posters around the classrooms and is the basis for our reward system.
• Nursery children are included in many whole-school events (Sports Day, Quest Day, World Book Day, etc.).
• Specialist teachers who teach the whole school also teach Nursery – languages, PE, music and drama.
• Before- and after-school care sessions are held in the Lower and Upper School buildings for all children, including those in Nursery.
As we move into the summer term of Kindergarten, the children:
• Attend Lower School assemblies;
• Participate in Read, Write Inc. lessons in the Reception classrooms with the Reception teachers;
• Join play time in the Lower School playground with the Reception children;
• Enjoy meeting their new teachers during a morning class swap at the end of June (there is a Meet the Teacher Event in the evening of the same day for parents);
• QR code links to tours of the Reception classrooms/bathrooms/playgrounds, greetings and stories recorded by the class teachers are given to parents to share with their child over the summer holidays.
In September, just before the first day of term, parents and children are invited to a Teddy Bears’ Picnic at school as a way of building confidence for their return to school.
There are many things parents can do at home to help their child to get Reception Ready too (see overleaf).
