St Benedict de Moor – Reception
Welcome to St. Benedict class! my name is Miss Boldero. I am your child’s teacher, and Ms Galvin and Ms Gabino are our class teaching assistants. We are looking forward to the next year of helping your child develop into a kind, respectful, and determined child.
Reception Parent Information Session Powerpoint
In Reception, children will learn through a mix of independent exploration of the classroom environment, short carpet sessions led by adults and through adults supporting children in their play. Our short carpet sessions focus on the key Early Years subject areas of English, Maths, Phonics, RE, PSHE and Understanding the World.
St Benedict de Moor Weekly Timetable
Our learning environment is the indoor classroom and our outside area and children will explore both areas throughout the day. Please ensure children are dressed appropriately for the weather (raincoats or jumpers and coats depending on the weather!) and are provided with a spare change of labelled clothes to stay at school.
Religious Education is at the heart of our learning. We say a morning, lunchtime and end of day prayer which you can practise at home with your child. We also have regular Celebration of the Word prayer time where we listen to important stories about Jesus and think about what they mean to us with drawing, singing and reflection.
This term’s learning:
This half term, our main focus is helping the children to settle confidently into Reception, build positive relationships and develop greater independence as they begin an exciting new stage of their school journey.
Our learning will begin with New Beginnings and All About Me. Children will talk about themselves, their families, how they have changed, what they are good at and what makes them unique. We will also spend time developing friendships, learning classroom routines and expectations, recognising and managing our feelings and becoming increasingly confident and independent learners.
Communication and language continue to be at the heart of our curriculum. Children will be encouraged to listen carefully, contribute their ideas during discussions, ask questions and use new vocabulary in their everyday conversations. Through stories, role-play, and shared experiences, we will help children develop their confidence in speaking in full sentences and explaining their ideas.
In Literacy, children will enjoy a wide range of high-quality stories, rhymes and poems. Our Reception core texts will support vocabulary development, comprehension, prediction and storytelling. Children will begin their Read Write Inc. phonics journey, learning Set 1 sounds, practising oral blending and beginning to apply their phonics knowledge to early reading and writing. By the end of Autumn 1, our curriculum aims for children to recognise 16 single-letter Set 1 sounds.
Children will also have many opportunities to develop their early writing skills through purposeful activities such as writing names, labels, lists, messages, and signs. We will focus on developing good pencil control, letter formation and confidence in giving meaning to our writing.
In Mathematics, children will develop a secure understanding of early number through practical, hands-on experiences. They will practise counting accurately, recognising numbers, subitising small quantities and comparing amounts. We will also explore shape, pattern, size, measure and positional language, encouraging children to explain what they notice and develop positive attitudes towards mathematics.
Through Understanding the World, we will explore ourselves and our bodies, healthy lifestyles, food and our five senses. Children will learn about the world immediately around them and begin to observe seasonal and weather changes as we move through Autumn. We will also celebrate and learn about Harvest, Diwali, and Black History Month, helping children appreciate different families, communities, cultures, and traditions.
Our physical development will continue through daily indoor and outdoor opportunities. Children will develop their balance, coordination, strength and spatial awareness through climbing, running, games and equipment, while fine motor activities will strengthen the hand and finger muscles needed for confident writing.
In Expressive Arts and Design, children will explore different materials, colours, textures, music and imaginative play. They will be encouraged to create, design, perform and talk about their ideas, developing both creativity and confidence.
Throughout Autumn 1, we want every child to feel happy, safe and proud to belong to their new Reception class, while beginning to develop the independence, resilience, curiosity and love of learning that will support them throughout the year.
Helpful reminders
Children need to have spare clothes that are labelled in school. Their clothes may get wet when playing outside and with the water tray.
Water bottles can be purchased at the school office. These must be clear and should be taken home to be cleaned every evening.
Fruit is provided every day before morning break time.
Children will bring home a book to read every day and must read with an adult every evening and have their reading record signed. You can read to your child or with your child, depending on their reading ability. Children will bring home a new Phonics book each week which should be used daily to practise blending their sounds once they are beginning to read.