Reception Updates

Welcome to Reception

We are excited to be working with your child as they begin their learning journey with us.

At Courthill Infant School we deliver an exciting and enriching curriculum that inspires them to be lifelong learners. Our aim is to ensure that your child gets the best out of these early stages in their school life. On this page you will find general information about Reception but also ways you can help at home. At the bottom of the page you will find learning updates and topic webs explaining what your child will be doing every half term.

We understand that you may have questions regarding your child’s learning. If your question is not covered in the page below, please do not hesitate to speak to your child’s class teacher or email the office at office@courthill.coastalpartnership.co.uk.

During their time in Reception, every child will be given the opportunity to ‘Believe, Achieve and Shine’.

P.E day (Tuesday or Wednesday) and Fun Fit Friday (Friday)

On your child’s PE day they will need to come to school wearing their PE kit. Please see your P.E day below:

Dragonflies and Ladybirds - Tuesday

Bees and Butterflies - Wednesday

Every Friday your child will come to school wearing their own sports clothes. Throughout the day there are increased opportunities for children to be active, both within and outside the classroom. As a result of our learning ethos, children go on to thrive emotionally, academically and socially.

Typical Day in Reception - Autumn Term

8.35 – 8.45	Arrive at school and complete morning jobs
8.45 – 8.55	Registration (language development around the date and weather)
9.00 - 9.20	Phonics
9.20 - 9.30	Yoga Bugs or Gonoodle – Movement Break
9.30 – 9.45	English or Maths Input
9.45 - 10.25	Curiosity Time (Teacher directed task for 15 minutes then child initiated learning- staff observing and working with individuals and/or small groups of children)
10.30 - 10.40	English or Maths Input
10.40 - 11.20	Curiosity Time (Teacher directed task for 15 minutes then child initiated learning- staff observing and working with individuals and/or small groups of children)
11.20 - 11.30	Nursery Rhyme focus - Getting ready for lunch (washing hands)
11.30 - 12.30	Lunch
12.30 - 12.50	Kinetic Letters Handwriting
12.50 - 1.00	Movement Break (Yoga Bugs, Gonoodle or Stormbreak)
1.00 - 1.15	Collective Worship, Foundation Subject Topic Input or Storycise (movement through stories targeting gross and fine motor skills)
1.15 - 2.15	Discovery Detectives - Directed Child Initiated focusing on vocabulary development, social skills and emotional understanding.
2.15 - 2.30	Fruit and Milk circle time (communication and music focus)
2.30 - 2.45	Playtime
2.45 - 3.00	Snuggle Read - get ready for home time
3.05	End of the day - home time

Autumn 1 Topic Web - Magical Me

Home Learning Grid

Children will receive a home learning grid when they are in school full-time. Please see an example grid below.

Summer 2 Home Learning Grid

Must Reads

At Courthill, we have a selection of books named our ‘Must Reads’. These are books that have been carefully considered and chosen by teaching staff and they are the books that we ensure children are exposed to and enjoy during their time at Courthill. These high-quality texts have been selected to reflect the wonderfully diverse community we have at our school, as well as take the children on a varied reading journey.

Our list of ‘Must Reads’ have been split into each year group to ensure a progressive reading curriculum. Below you will see the books selected for Reception. By the end of Reception, all of the children will have heard and enjoyed these books in class, but they may wish to add them to their own collection at home. Re-reading and discussing favourite books is a highly valuable part of the reading experience and something that can also be enjoyed as a family. Happy reading!

How can I help my child at home?

Phonics

How to pronounce pure sounds - Oxford Owl

Learn how to pronounce all 44 phonics sounds, or phonemes, used in the English language with these helpful examples from Suzy Ditchburn and her daughter.

You have not allowed cookies and this content may contain cookies.

If you would like to view this content please

Phonics: How to blend sounds to read words | Oxford Owl

Suzy Ditchburn explains how letter sounds can be blended to read words, and gives tips on how to practise phonics with your child.