Skip to content ↓

Reception

Reception Class 2025-26

Welcome to Reception

Helpful Reminders: 

Staffing 

Reception is taught by Mrs Dhariwal. Mrs Foster teaches in the Reception on Thursday mornings. The class is supported by Mrs Bhatti, Miss Gilbert, Mrs Evans and Miss Sinclair.  

Belongings

Please send your child to Reception each day with a named water bottle, lunch box (if they are having a packed lunch) and a small bag containing a change of clothes, which they can leave on their peg. It would be useful to have a spare pair of named wellington boots which can be left at school. During the colder months, please ensure your child has a warm coat with them every day. 

Please ensure they bring their book bag with their red reading diary and reading book into school everyday.  

Food and drink

Children are provided with a piece of fresh fruit each morning, so there is no need to send in a snack. A carton of milk is also provided in the afternoon. Please let me know of any allergies/ intolerances if you have not done so already.

For those children staying for lunch, you have the option of sending in a lunch box or ordering a school meal.  Please can you tell the children what they will be having! This avoids the unknown and helps them with the whole lunchtime experience.  

Please can you ensure that lunch boxes are nut free and any small items which may cause a choking risk, such as grapes, or cocktail sausages, are cut in half lengthwise. Juice or squash is fine in lunch boxes, but we do ask for water only to be in the bottle the children access throughout the day.

P.E

We have an outdoor learning session on Monday mornings and a PE session on Thursday mornings. On both days, children are asked to come into school wearing their PE Kit  with long hair tied back and earrings removed.

Library 

We will visit the library every Monday.  Please ensure your child had their book in their bag on that day so that they are able to swap it for a new book of choice each week.  

Tapestry

We use Tapestry, which is an online learning journey of your child’s progress. We will record any ‘Wow’ moments in school and ask you to add anything exciting you have been doing at home; whether it is a trip to the park, family day out or other special occasion. We give the children an opportunity to share these updates with their class, which helps to develop communication skills and self-confidence.  

The EYFS curriculum is broken down into the seven areas of learning:

Our Summer Term 1 topic is :

  • Under the Sea  

The EYFS curriculum is broken down into seven areas of learning:

Reception Curriculum Overview

This half term, our Reception children will be diving into an exciting Under the Sea topic, exploring the wonders of ocean life through stories, investigations, creative activities and hands-on learning. Through this engaging theme, children will develop knowledge and skills across all seven areas of learning in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS).

Communication and Language

Children will develop their speaking and listening skills through discussions, storytelling and role -play linked to our ocean theme.

  • Learning and using new vocabulary linked to sea creatures, habitats and the ocean

  • Asking and answering questions about what we discover

  • Sharing ideas and experiences during group discussions

  • Listening carefully to stories such as Commotion in the Ocean, The Rainbow Fish and Tiddler

  • Retelling stories and creating our own underwater adventures

  • Talk about sea animals and their features

  • Read ocean-themed stories together

  • Encourage your child to describe what they can see and explain their ideas in full sentences

 Personal, Social and Emotional Development

Children will build confidence, independence and positive relationships through collaborative learning and play.

  • Working together to create shared underwater worlds

  • Taking turns and sharing resources during group activities

  • Talking about emotions using stories such as The Rainbow Fish

  • Building resilience through problem-solving and challenges

  • Developing independence in daily routines

  • Encourage independence with dressing and tidying

  • Talk about feelings and ways to be kind to others

  • Celebrate your child’s efforts and perseverance

 Physical Development

Children will strengthen both fine and gross motor skills through practical and active experiences.

Developing fine motor control through cutting, threading and crafting sea creatures

  • Practising pencil grip and letter formation in our writing activities

  • Taking part in ocean-themed movement games and obstacle courses

  • Exploring different ways to move like sea animals

  • Practise using scissors and pencils

  • Encourage outdoor play and movement

  • Try simple activities such as playdough, threading or drawing

 Literacy

Overview and outcomes:
The children find rhyming animal-object pairs. They investigate who should sit where through the reading of Oi Frog and use Sound-talk to re-tell a page of the text. They devise their own rhyming pairs of animals and objects and through using strategies such as Supported Sentences, they write their own version rhyming narrative

We will also be inspired by engaging underwater stories and imaginative play.

  • Reading and discussing a range of sea-themed books

  • Learning new phonics sounds and applying them in reading and writing

  • Writing labels, captions and simple sentences about sea creatures

  • Creating our own underwater stories and messages

  • Read regularly together

  • Practise phonics sounds and blending words

  • Encourage your child to write simple words, labels or sentences

 Mathematics

Children will develop their mathematical understanding through practical, hands-on activities linked to our topic.

  • Counting, comparing and ordering sea creatures

  • Exploring number bonds and simple addition/subtraction stories

  • Investigating patterns, shapes and measures using shells and underwater objects

  • Using mathematical language such as more, fewer, heavier and lighter

  • Count objects together

  • Spot shapes and patterns in everyday life

  • Use number language during play and routines

 Understanding the World

Children will become curious investigators as they explore oceans, habitats and sea life.

  • Learning about different sea creatures and where they live

  • Exploring floating and sinking through simple science investigations

  • Talking about how to care for our oceans and environment

  • Using non-fiction books and technology to research ocean life

  • Visit an aquarium or explore sea life online

  • Talk about ways to protect the environment

  • Encourage questions and curiosity about the natural world

 Expressive Arts and Design

Children will use their imagination and creativity to bring the underwater world to life.

  • Creating paintings, collages and sculptures inspired by the sea

  • Singing songs and learning rhymes about ocean animals

  • Using role play to explore underwater adventures

  • Designing and building underwater habitats

  • Encourage drawing, painting and making

  • Sing songs and rhymes together

  • Provide opportunities for imaginative play

Working Together

Our Under the Sea topic offers many exciting opportunities for exploration, creativity and discovery. We look forward to sharing the children’s learning journey with you and appreciate your continued support at home as we dive into this wonderful theme together.

Contact information

For general things e.g. lost jumper, wearing trainers because shoes are too small, etc. please contact the class teacher using the messaging function on Tapestry.  

For more significant concerns or worries, please email secretary@nshprimary.co.uk

with FAO Mrs Dhariwal in the subject.

Any changes to school pick up should go through the school office.

EYFS Topic Map and Progression of skills 2025

Maths Pathways to learning:

Literacy Pathways to learning:

       Oi Frog - Summer 2 Literacy Unit 

General links: 

  • Oxford Owl Packed with free eBooks and activities to help you support your child's reading and maths at home.