Early Years

We aim to ensure that we are providing an appropriate and high-quality experience for our youngest pupils.

We set out to provide learning opportunities which are imaginative and offer direct teaching balanced with opportunities for children to choose activities for themselves. Research shows that early opportunities for children to learn in such an environment can have long term educational and personal benefits.

Reception staff liaise closely together to ensure as smooth a transition as possible into commencing the key stage one national curriculum.

We have one Reception class at Henderson Green Primary Academy. Children in Reception are taught in line with the Early Years Foundation Stage Profile which covers children’s development in these areas:

The prime areas are:

Communication and language
Listening, attention and understanding
Speaking
Personal, social and emotional development
Self-regulation
Managing self
Building relationships
Physical development
Gross motor skills
Fine motor skills

The specific areas are:

Literacy
Comprehension
Word reading
Writing
Mathematics
Number
Numerical patterns
Understanding the world
Past and present
People, culture and communities
The natural world
Expressive arts and design
Creating with materials
Being imaginative and expressive

EYFS curriculum map

Starting in Reception

All new Reception pupils and their parents/carers will have an opportunity to meet the class teachers prior to starting at our Academy.

Children are encouraged to explore and engage with the variety of activities provided, in a practical and purposeful way. We encourage them to become increasingly independent and to communicate and cooperate with others.

Literacy and Numeracy are taught at appropriate times throughout the school day, in addition children will have regular opportunities to share and handle books, listen to stories, and learn nursery rhymes, and songs.

Children will learn how to write, draw and paint with increasing control; recognise symbols, letters and sounds. They will develop mathematical language, practise counting, matching and sorting activities.

Preparing for Reception

To make your child’s first few days at Valley successful, try to help your child to:

Put on and take off a coat and manage the fastenings
Tidy up toys
Go to the toilet alone and wash their hands
Dress and undress themselves
Manage a knife and fork
Look after books

Teaching your child to recall colours, count familiar objects, sing nursery rhymes, listen to stories and share books with you, will help your child with their early learning.