The Reception class is another light and bright room with its own secure outdoor learning area. Kindergarten children often join with the Reception girls for projects and themed activities and this ensures a smooth transition into Reception when the time comes.
The curriculum in Reception is topic based involving many cross-curricular activities that will support and tie into all areas of learning. The daily range of stimulating, hands on activities prompts the girls to ask questions, to discover, to wonder and to learn new skills. In Reception we continue to give the children ownership and independence over their own learning. Child-initiated opportunities are balanced with teacher-led activities.
With their class teacher and full-time assistant, girls pursue the learning and development areas of the Foundation Stage. Phonics teaching enables girls to make rapid progress with reading and to gain an easy independence in their writing. The foundations of mathematical thinking are laid through carefully selected practical tasks.
Girls spend time on the iPads and in the ICT suite, mastering computing skills. Creativity is fostered in music and dance, art, design technology, literacy activities, drama and role play. Music, French and PE lessons are taught by specialist teachers. The school grounds and woodland areas provide a rich environment for building knowledge about the world of nature as well as space to develop physical skills. Above all, the experience in Reception is fun and the girls learn without realising.