Reception

Welcome to Reception!

We are delighted to have you join us for an exciting journey of learning and discovery. At Renishaw, we believe that the early years are a magical time filled with wonder, curiosity, and endless possibilities. Our dedicated team is committed to providing a warm, nurturing environment where your child can thrive and develop a love for learning.

Reception Class Staff

Miss Williams - Class Teacher 

Mrs Halliday - Teaching Assistant Apprentice

Curriculum Overview:

Reception Long Term Plan 2025/2026

Autumn One – All About Me: My Family, My World!

Autumn Two – Sparkle and Shine: Celebrations Galore!

Spring One – Royal Adventures: Castles, Crowns and Legends

Spring Two – Everyday Heroes: Superpowers and Helping Hands

Summer One – Passport to the Planet: Exploring Cultures and Continents

Summer Two – Nature Detectives: Growing, Changing, and Discovering Life

 

Phonics

Welcome to the beginning of the most wonderful journey in which your child, whatever their starting point, will become a fluent, confident reader who loves books! For many children at the start of Reception, letters look like squiggles on the page and have no connection to sounds. Learning that letters and sounds are linked – phonics – is the key to reading. 

In Reception, we teach a 20-30 minute phonics session daily and then carry out group reading sessions throughout the week, aiming to read 2 to 3 times a week. Your child will eventually come home with a Little Wandle Big Cat reading book and a Library (reading for pleasure) book. It is so important as a parent to listen to your child read and give them lots of praise as they do. 

This year we are placing a strong focus on helping children become confident, enthusiastic writers by building the foundations through gross and fine motor development. Activities like Squiggle While You Wiggle and Dough Disco are a fun and engaging way for children to strengthen the muscles they need for writing. We also provide a wide range of mark-making opportunities—indoors and outdoors—that encourage creativity, control, and early writing skills in a playful and purposeful way.

Reception Autumn Term Information

Reception Spring Term Information

Our environment

 Handwriting

This term we are excited to introduce Little Wandle Handwriting, a newly released scheme designed to build strong foundations for writing from the very start of children’s school journey.

Through clear modelling and consistent practice, children will learn correct pencil grip, the correct starting point for each letter, accurate letter formation and orientation, and how letters are grouped into families to support fluency. They will also learn how to form capital letters and strengthen the important link between letters and the sounds they represent.

By the end of Reception, the Little Wandle handwriting expectations are that children will hold their pencil using the correct grip, form lower-case letters starting in the right place and moving in the correct direction, and begin to form capital letters accurately. We are looking forward to supporting the children in developing confident, neat and fluent handwriting skills.

Anti-Bullying

Please find below the child-friendly Anti-Bullying Policy created by the Year 5 children with collaboration from other classes in school.

Children in Reception are always encouraged to be kind and respectful to others. This is woven throughout the Prime Areas of Communication and Language, Physical Development and Personal, Social and Emotional Development and through stand-alone lessons.

When managing conflict between children in the Early Years we use the Restorative Practice Approach. Please see the Behaviour Policy for more information.

Children's Anti-Bullying Policy 2026

 Achieve - Belong - Thrive in Reception