Reception
Team
LATEST NEWS FOR RECEPTION - SEPTEMBER 2026
Important dates can be found on our home page as "Upcoming Events" but Reception news and messages will be updated here. Please check weekly.
Welcome to the families of our Reception children. We look forward to working together with you this year.
REMINDERS
We need...
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Your child to bring a coat and a water bottle every day.
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Names on everything. Jumpers, water bottles, lunch boxes.
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A bag of spare clothes to be left in school. Multiple sets of pants, trousers/leggings, socks if recently toilet trained or currently being trained.
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Wellies (Named)- To be left in school for use in the sand pit and for Forest School.
PE is on TUESDAYS (commencing 15/9/26)
Please ensure that your child is wearing their PE kits on this day.
PE Kits consist of a white T.shirt, black bottoms and trainers (no laces).
Earring must be removed or covered with plasters for your child to take part.
Reception Phonics Video QR codes
Your child will recieve 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. If your QR link isn't working, please see the class teacher.
If you would like to purchase the Read Write Inc. Phonics Flashcards then click the link.
For more info on how to pronounce the sounds click to watch the video How to say the sounds
Reception class Email
Please send 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/activities 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 proud 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
Support website for parents- CBeebies Parenting
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Reception Curriculum
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.
