Pre Prep
Welcome to Reception (4-5yr olds)

The aim of Reception class is to create a happy, stimulating environment in which the children lay down the foundations to their education.

Personal, Social and Emotional Development

Making Honey Biscuits

This area should give children the basis for success in all other areas of learning.  It encourages them to form relationships, gain confidence to try new activities, initiate ideas, build up concentration, work as part of a group and understand people's needs.

Communication, Language and Literacy

Throughout this area children are given opportunities to listen to each other and to communicate, both in speech and writing.  They share and enjoy a wide range of rhymes, poetry, stories and non-fiction books.

The Jolly Phonic scheme encourages the children to develop a strong phonic knowledge that will assist them with both reading and writing.

Children read to their class teacher regularly.   Reading should be a pleasurable, shared experience and we encourage parents to use the reading record book to comment on how well a child has read at home.

Mathematical Development

This area of learning includes counting, sorting, matching patterns, shape, spaces and measurement.  We encourage mathematical understanding through stories, songs, games and imaginative play.  This gives the children opportunities to use and experiment with numbers up to and above 10.

Knowledge and Understanding of the World.

In this area the children begin to develop skills, knowledge and an understanding of the world around them.  This gives them an insight into History, Geography, Science and ICT.  Children in Reception have opportunities to use the classroom computer to encourage confidence and familiarity with this technology. 

The children are given opportunities to investigate using senses, to identify living things, to find out about past and present events in their lives and people they know.  They begin to learn about their culture and that of others; to identify and observe features of the place they live, and of those in the natural world.

Enjoying the outdoor area

Physical Development

In the Reception Year the children have a weekly games/gymnastic lesson with a member of the PE staff from the Upper School.

The children also enjoy a lively Music and Movement / Dance lesson in the Sports Hall with a specialist teacher.  They participate in swimming, from the Summer Term, which takes place at Brackley Pool. However, we also use the heated outdoor school pool as much as possible.

Creative Development

This area includes art, dance, music, role-play and imaginative play.  The children have many opportunities to explore colour, texture and shape throughout their artwork.  Music, which is taken by a member of the Upper School, takes place twice a week and this includes singing, using instruments, making sound patterns and matching movement to music.  In the Michaelmas Term we put on a Christmas play for parents.

Making Shape Pictures

There is always a 'home corner' available to allow children to express their ideas and thoughts through this imaginative play.

General

Reception follow a topic based approach each term and wherever it is possible a visit is organised to extend the children's enjoyment and understanding of the topic covered.

We were inspected in March 2004 and received an excellent report; a summarised copy is available from the office.