Welcome to our Reception class!

Thank you for your interest in our school. We will be delighted to welcome you and your child to Heatherley Primary as they begin their full-time education journey.  

In our Reception class we learn in a variety of ways, each designed specifially for Early Years Children to engage in. These include:

• Adult-led learning
• Child - initiated learning
• Learning through play

We have daily Phonics, Literacy and Maths lessons as well as weekly PE and Forest Fun. Our Forest Fun area is our new purpose built outdoor space where children can play, explore and learn through nature. 

A combination of adult-led learning, daily assemblies and continuous provision allow our children to learn about a range of different subjects, including Maths, Art, Geography, History, Science and Religions. 

Children have daily pockets of COOL time:

Choose

Our

Own

Learning

where they can access both our indoor and outdoor areas and engage in quality interactions with adults and other children. 

During their time in our Reception class, children will begin to read independently. We follow the Little Wandle phonics scheme. Initially, your child will bring home wordless books, where the focus is on developing their own skills in oracy and storytelling. As the year progresses, they will move on to reading words they can decode using their ever-evolving phonics knowledge.

We encourage children to read at home with their grown-ups on a regular basis and find that short, daily practice helps build confidence and fluency. 

In addition to this, we share books regularly as a class and often focus our Literacy sessions on a particular story. Listening to stories is vital for your child's communication and language development, as well as helping them to broaden their vocabulary and prepare them for handwriting. 

Come and visit us!

We hold open events throughout the year for parents who are going through the application process. You are most welcome to come along, meet our team and have a coffee and a chat. Dates will be posted on this page nearer the time. 

For those parents who wish to join us mid-year, please telephone the school office to arrange an appointment on 01623 420244. We would love to meet you!

We look forward to welcoming you all to our school and making wonderful memories with your little learners!