Reception
Team
LATEST NEWS FOR RECEPTION -NOVEMBER 2025
Welcome to all our Reception children and their families. Important dates can be found on our home page as "Upcoming Events" but Reception news and messages will be updated here. Please check weekly.
New Book Bag
Your child now has a St.James School book bag. They have chosen a book from the Reception library and this book will be changed every Friday. This offers a great oppportunity for you to read them a story at bedtime. Read it as often as you wish but we recommend that you keep it in their book bag to avoid it getting lost at home. (Lost or damaged books incur a £5 charge). Please ensure that your child brings their book bag to school DAILY. Thank you.
Reception Phonics Workshop
Please respond to your email inviting you to attend the workshop on Monday 17th November. This is an opportunity to see a Phonics lesson in action and to work with your child on some fun phonics activities (which you can then continue at home). It takes everyone in the team (teachers, parents and children), to work together so that your children become confident readers by the end of Reception.
Reception Phonics Video QR codes
Your child receives daily Phonics lessons taught using the Read Write Inc. Phonics Programme. Please support your child by scanning the QR codes (sent home weekly) and sit together each evening to watch them. You can also help them to practice writing the sound.
(QR codes valid until January 2026)
If you would like to purchase the Read Write Inc. Phonics Flashcards then click the link.
Reception class Email
Please keep sending in photos for your children to talk about. Communication and language skills are of high priority in Reception and Nursery so please keep sending in any family photos or photos of events/activites for your child to discuss. They will get the chance to do so every Monday eg. a day out, a birthday (their own or close families), a party, something they've made or that they're pround of eg cakes, art work etc
Receptionclass@stjamespri.uk
This is for strictly photos only. No messages will be responded to.
Thank you for your continued support!
The Reception Team
Reception Curriculum
Sand pit is now open. Please send wellies (with name written inside both boots) in a carrier bag (with name on) to keep in school on their peg.
In Reception, we build upon the firm learning foundations made in Nursery. We provide a happy, safe, caring and stimulating environment, both indoors and out. Every day the children enjoy a range of practical learning experiences, either through adult led learning or enhanced activities accessed during their child initiated play which help to develop all areas of the learning in the EYFS. As a setting we have planned exciting units that will stimulate and motivate the children and each unit has a core focus on an area of learning.
Children’s ideas and opinions are actively encouraged and valued. As a result, even though topics are planned for across the academic year, they are only a rough guide and the main priority is following the children’s interests, therefore through close relationships with the children, practitioners will incorporate children’s interests and ideas when planning activities, which ensures that all pupils continue to be motivated learners.
Alongside these topics we teach and educate children about cultural and religious celebrations that happen through the year.
Our EYFS curriculum is designed to be progressive, with a weekly focus on high quality books, the children develop the knowledge and skills that make up the Educational Programmes outlined in the Statutory Guidance for the Early Years Foundation Stage.
The seven areas of learning and development are:
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Communication and Language
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Personal, Social and Emotional Development
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Physical Development
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Literacy
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Mathematics
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Knowledge and Understanding of the World.
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Expressive Arts and Design
Phonics
At St James we follow the Read Write Inc phonics program. Read Write Inc. Phonics is an approach to teaching phonics, it starts in Nursery and continues through to Year 2. Daily phonics lessons helps to create fluent readers, confident speakers and willing writers. It integrates phonics with comprehension, writing, grammar, spelling and handwriting, using engaging partner work and drama. You can find furthur information about Read Write Inc phonics in the documents section.
Power Maths
We follow the Power Maths program for the teaching of Maths. Power Maths is a UK curriculum mastery programme designed to spark curiosity and excitement and nurture confidence in maths. Maths is delivered daily, in the documents section you can find the yearly overview outlining the units to be taught.
PE
PE is every Tuesday. Please send your child into school in the correct PE kit. (Names clearly labelled). Please remove earrings or cover with plasters provided by you.
Every child should have a small backpack/carrier bag of spare clothes in school which is to remain on their peg for when it is needed.
Please view our Timetable here.
