Reception Class – 2026–2027

We are delighted to welcome you to Reception Class for the 2026–2027 academic year. Miss Entwistle, Miss Bentham and Miss Master are looking forward to getting to know all of the children and families!

Reception is such an exciting time as children begin their school journey. Throughout the year, we will encourage the children to become confident, independent and curious learners, developing new skills through a mixture of purposeful play, exploration, stories, practical experiences and adult-led activities.

We look forward to sharing our learning journey with you throughout the year, celebrating the children's achievements and giving you a glimpse into the exciting activities, memorable experiences and special events that make Reception such a wonderful place to learn and grow.

Thank you for visiting our page. We hope you enjoy following our adventures, discoveries and successes throughout the year!

Our Themes

Throughout the year, our learning will be guided by six exciting themes:

• Autumn 1 – All About Me

• Autumn 2 – Cracking Celebrations

• Spring 1 – Winter Wonderland

• Spring 2 – Helping Hands

• Summer 1 – Come Outside

• Summer 2 – Wonderful World

These themes provide opportunities for the children to explore the world around them, develop their vocabulary, share their own experiences and make connections across different areas of learning.

Communication and Language

Communication and language is at the heart of everything we do in Reception. We will encourage the children to listen carefully, take part in conversations, ask questions and develop confidence when speaking to others.

Throughout the year, the children will enjoy a wide range of stories, rhymes, songs and poems. They will learn to retell familiar stories such as Peace at Last, The Gingerbread Man, Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Supertato, Jack and the Beanstalk and The Earth Book.

We will also introduce new vocabulary linked to each of our themes and encourage children to use new words in their conversations and play. As the year progresses, children will develop their ability to use well-formed sentences, talk about events in the past and present, express their ideas and ask increasingly thoughtful questions.

Literacy

We want every child to develop a love of books, stories and writing.

Through our Super Six literature books, children will enjoy listening to, reading and re-reading a wide range of stories while developing their comprehension, vocabulary and enjoyment of books.

Phonics will be an important part of our learning throughout the year. Children will learn to recognise, say, blend and use their sounds to read words, gradually progressing towards reading more complex words and sentences. They will also learn and practise their tricky words.

In writing, we will develop children's pencil control, letter formation and ability to write their names, sounds, captions, phrases and sentences. By the end of the year, children will be encouraged to read back what they have written and check that it makes sense.

Mathematics

In Reception, we will develop children's confidence with numbers through practical activities, games, songs and everyday experiences.

We will begin by securing children's understanding of numbers 1–10, including counting, recognising quantities, comparing groups and exploring part-part-whole relationships.

As the year progresses, children will develop their understanding of numbers to 20 and beyond, including counting, ordering, comparing, addition and subtraction, doubling, halving and sharing.

We will also explore shape, pattern, measures, money, time, capacity, mass, distance and sorting, giving children plenty of opportunities to apply their mathematical understanding in meaningful situations.

Understanding the World

Our Reception children will have lots of opportunities to explore and make sense of the world around them.

In History, we will think about the past and present and learn about important people including Zaha Hadid, Captain Tom Moore, David Attenborough, Mary Kom and Mary Anning. We will also explore how people, places and experiences have changed over time.

In Geography, children will learn about their local community and the wider world. They will explore maps and globes, learn the name of the town where our school is located, investigate hot and cold places and learn about the England flag.

In Science, children will investigate their bodies, materials, light and shadows, nature, plants and animals. They will explore changes caused by heating, cooling and melting, learn how plants grow and develop an understanding of how to care for living things. They will also investigate forces such as magnets, floating, sinking and stretching.

Personal, Social and Emotional Development

A very important part of Reception is helping children to become confident, independent and caring members of our school community.

We will support children to understand and manage their feelings, make positive choices and develop resilience when faced with challenges. Children will learn about the importance of healthy eating, exercise, sleep, dental hygiene and sensible screen time.

We will also focus on developing positive relationships. Children will learn to listen to others, share, take turns, express their opinions respectfully and solve problems with their friends and adults.

Throughout the year, we will encourage children to use kind hands and kind words, understand the effects of their behaviour on others and develop the confidence to ask for help when they need it.

Physical Development

Physical development is an important part of our Reception curriculum.

Children will develop their gross motor skills through activities such as hopping, skipping, jumping, balancing, climbing, kicking, throwing, catching and batting.

We will also develop children's fine motor skills, helping them to strengthen their hands and fingers and develop the control they need for writing and other everyday tasks. Children will practise pencil grip, letter formation, using scissors, fastening buttons, using cutlery, threading and sewing.

Our P.E. day is Friday.

Children will get changed in school for their P.E. lesson, so please ensure they have their full P.E. kit in school as required.

Expressive Arts and Design

Reception is a wonderful opportunity for children to be creative, imaginative and expressive.

Throughout the year, children will enjoy singing nursery rhymes and songs, exploring rhythm, experimenting with musical instruments, dancing and creating their own performances.

In art and design, children will explore different artists and techniques, including the work of Giuseppe Arcimboldo, Wassily Kandinsky, Vincent Van Gogh and Amiria Gale. They will experiment with painting, printing, drawing, collage, clay and a range of joining techniques.

Children will also have opportunities to cook and explore food through experiences such as making gingerbread biscuits, preparing porridge, tasting fruit and vegetables and making ice lollies.

Computing

Our Reception children will begin to develop their confidence using technology safely and purposefully.

They will learn how to use an iPad to take photographs, use a keyboard, operate a trackpad, create digital art using Paint, programme a Bee-Bot and use dictation to ask questions.

We will also focus on Internet Safety Week, helping children begin to understand how to use technology safely and responsibly.

Religious Education

Children will explore a range of religious celebrations, beliefs and traditions throughout the year.

Our learning will include questions about Harvest, Christmas, Diwali, prayer, special times, Easter, special places and special people, with opportunities to learn about Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism and other faith traditions.

Learning Experiences

We are looking forward to providing the children with lots of exciting experiences throughout the year, helping them to connect their classroom learning with the world around them.

Planned experiences (hopefully) include:

• Local walks

• Santa's Grotto

• Carol singing at a nursing home

• Enterprise activities

• A visit from Daisy Street Veterinary Centre

• Critters to You

• Smithills Farm visit

• Visits from community professionals

• Allotment experiences

• Recycling information and activities

• A visit to Longley Lane Education Centre

These experiences will give children opportunities to explore, ask questions, develop their confidence and create wonderful memories during their first year of school.

Reading at Home

Reading regularly at home is a wonderful way to support your child's development.

We encourage you to share books together, talk about the pictures, discuss characters and events, and encourage your child to talk about what they think might happen next.

As the year progresses, children will become increasingly confident in using their phonics knowledge to read words independently. Reading together at home will help develop their confidence, vocabulary, comprehension and love of stories.

P.E. Days

Our P.E. day is Friday.

Children will get changed in school for P.E. Please ensure that your child's full P.E. kit is in school and clearly labelled.

Homework and Home Learning

We will share activities and ideas throughout the year to help you support your child's learning at home.

Simple activities such as sharing a story, practising phonics sounds, counting objects, recognising numbers, talking about the world around us and encouraging independence with everyday tasks can make a huge difference.

We want home learning to be enjoyable and purposeful, giving children opportunities to practise the skills they are developing in school.

Any Questions?

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to speak to a member of the Reception team, or contact the office. 

Thank you for your continued support. We are very excited to work together with you to give your child a happy, successful and memorable first year at school.

We can't wait to see all of the wonderful things our Reception children will achieve this year! 🌟