Early Years
Our children say…
“I like learning to read and write”
“I like playing and learning outside”
“I enjoy playing and building things with the bricks”
“I love playing and learning new things”
“I like learning with Lego”
“I like playing on the bikes and getting muddy”
“I like learning to draw”
“I enjoy playing in the house and learning my phonics”
ONL Class
Teacher: Miss Lowen and Mrs Dale
Learning Assistants: Mrs Busson, Mrs Camfield and Miss Hill
Welcome to 0NL. In Reception there is a strong emphasis on the Prime Areas of learning; Personal, Social and Emotional Development and Communication and Language, including Oracy. Oracy not only improves academic outcomes, but is a life skill to ensure success beyond school, in life and future employment. Our enabling environments, and warm, skilful adult interactions support the children as they begin to link learning to their play and exploration right from the start.
Learning does not happen by chance, therefore children need to be taught the knowledge and skills needed to be successful learners. This is achieved through Adult-Led and Adult Initiated activities which are complemented by Child-Initiated learning, by offering extended periods of play to following children’s interests and ideas to foster a lifelong love of learning both in and outside of school.
By the end of the Reception year our intent is to ensure that all children make at least good progress from their starting points. We carefully adapt their timetable each term, to ensure children are equipped with the skills and knowledge to have a smooth transition into Year 1.
FAQ’s
The school day begins at 8.30am and finishes at 3.25pm for all children. Please see the ‘School Day‘ page for more detail.
We normally have children in our Reception class complete half days for the first week of the Autumn Term.
Our school uniform is:
- Black, grey or navy blue trousers, shorts or skirts.
- White or blue shirt or polo shirt
- Tie (for pupils in Year 5/6)
- Black shoes
- Blue and white summer dresses
Our PE kit is:
- Black or navy blue shorts
- PE t-shirt (available to order from school)
- Trainers
- A blue, black or grey tracksuit (for outdoor PE in colder weather)
For further information, please visit our Uniform page.
All children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 are eligible for a free school meal which is funded by the government. In addition to this, families may be eligible for Free School Meals if they meet certain criteria.
In school children can have a ‘pick and mix’ lunch consisting of a roll, popcorn, fruit etc or a hot meal prepared by the school kitchen. The menu works on a 3 week basis each term. Children are also welcome to bring a packed lunch from home too.
For further information please visit our School Meals page.
Miss Lowen teaches 5 days per week and Mrs Dale teaches every Friday.
There are between two and three additional EYFS LSA’s to support the teacher.
For further information about the staff at Coupals Primary Academy, please visit our Staff page.
Our Leadership Team:
- Mrs Jane Sendall – Executive Headteacher
- Mr Tom Wade – Head of School
- Mrs Alexandra Shorter – Deputy Headteacher
- Mrs Dale – Deputy Headteacher / EYFS Lead
- Miss Leonie Guiler – Assistant Headteacher
- Miss Rhea Brown – Assistant Headteacher
For further information about the staff at Coupals Primary Academy, please visit our Staff page.
Learning in Reception is a balance of Adult led Learning and Child led learning to ensure pupils have lots of opportunity to learn through play and follow their own interests.
When pupils start in Autumn, our focus is to introduce them to our routines and expectations and model how to use our learning environment. This develops excellent learning behaviours in order to access our engaging curriculum.
From the start, pupils have directed learning sessions for Phonics, Literacy and Mathematics. These start of short but increase in length as children move through each term.
This is to ensure pupils build on their knowledge and skills and have a seamless transition into Year 1.
For further information please visit our Early Years page.
Phonics Teaching begins on day one following the Sounds Write Programme of Study. Once Children can recall the first Unit of Sounds, a, i, m, s, t, they will be sent home a decodable reading book. That is, a book that only contains the sounds they have been taught.
Children will have the book for a week. This is to ensure children have the opportunity to practise lots, and develop confidence and fluency.
For further information please visit our Early Years page.