Welcome to Reception. The class where all the foundations of learning begin.
Welcome to Reception. The class where all the foundations of learning begin.
In the Reception class we have Miss Tallant (EYFS Lead and Teacher), Mrs Ward (EYFS Learning Support Assistant) and Miss Linstead (Teaching Assistant Apprentice).
In the Reception class we have Miss Tallant (EYFS Lead and Teacher), Mrs Ward (EYFS Learning Support Assistant) and Miss Linstead (Teaching Assistant Apprentice).
Our EYFS Provision maintained its judgement as Outstanding by Ofsted in 2019. Children in the early years are happy and settled. They have already learned routines for tidying up and listening. They behave well. This is because staff form positive relationships with both children and parents. Teachers understand the needs of young children. They make sure that they provide a wide range of learning activities. Children have daily phonics sessions. The majority of children leave the early years with the skills and abilities they need for Year 1.
Our EYFS Provision maintained its judgement as Outstanding by Ofsted in 2019. Children in the early years are happy and settled. They have already learned routines for tidying up and listening. They behave well. This is because staff form positive relationships with both children and parents. Teachers understand the needs of young children. They make sure that they provide a wide range of learning activities. Children have daily phonics sessions. The majority of children leave the early years with the skills and abilities they need for Year 1.
100% Attendance Awards
100% Attendance Awards
On Friday the celebrated which children had attended school everyday during the second Autumn term. All of the children who had achieved 100% attendance each received a certificate and their names were entered into a prize draw to win a Cadbury's Chocolate Christmas box. Our winner was Adam. Congratulations too all of the children who achieved 100% attendance.
On Friday the celebrated which children had attended school everyday during the second Autumn term. All of the children who had achieved 100% attendance each received a certificate and their names were entered into a prize draw to win a Cadbury's Chocolate Christmas box. Our winner was Adam. Congratulations too all of the children who achieved 100% attendance.
Message from Santa
Message from Santa
We were very lucky to receive a special message from Santa! See below to see what he had to say to us all.
We were very lucky to receive a special message from Santa! See below to see what he had to say to us all.

Christmas Party
Christmas Party
The Reception children had a great Christmas party on Wednesday and looked very smart in their party clothes. We enjoyed playing pass the parcel and musical statues and eating party food. Look how much fun we had below.
The Reception children had a great Christmas party on Wednesday and looked very smart in their party clothes. We enjoyed playing pass the parcel and musical statues and eating party food. Look how much fun we had below.
Merry Christmas Everyone!
Merry Christmas Everyone!
The Reception children have been getting to the festive spirit. We have made our own table placemats for our Christmas lunch to sit on, we have enjoyed Christmas dinner in our Christmas jumpers too. We have began to make our calendars and Christmas cards too. Watch this space to see what else we get up to.
The Reception children have been getting to the festive spirit. We have made our own table placemats for our Christmas lunch to sit on, we have enjoyed Christmas dinner in our Christmas jumpers too. We have began to make our calendars and Christmas cards too. Watch this space to see what else we get up to.

Run, run , run as fast as you can you can't catch me I'm the Gingerbread Man
Run, run , run as fast as you can you can't catch me I'm the Gingerbread Man
This week the children have been learning about the Gingerbread Man story. We have been listening and sequencing the story. On Thursday we had a special visitor, Mrs Bun who needed our help to find her Gingerbread Men who had ran away when she opened her oven. We went on a gingerbread man hunt and found some clues in our playground that the gingerbread men could have been there. On Friday morning Mrs Silverwood shared a special video of the school cameras which spotted the gingerbread man and his friends running through our playground. We could not believe it!!
This week the children have been learning about the Gingerbread Man story. We have been listening and sequencing the story. On Thursday we had a special visitor, Mrs Bun who needed our help to find her Gingerbread Men who had ran away when she opened her oven. We went on a gingerbread man hunt and found some clues in our playground that the gingerbread men could have been there. On Friday morning Mrs Silverwood shared a special video of the school cameras which spotted the gingerbread man and his friends running through our playground. We could not believe it!!


And the winner is.....
And the winner is.....
This week the children have been trying really hard with their letter formation and handwriting for the Handwriting Competition. All of the children tried incredibly hard but there can only be one winner and the winner is Kira! Well done Kira
This week the children have been trying really hard with their letter formation and handwriting for the Handwriting Competition. All of the children tried incredibly hard but there can only be one winner and the winner is Kira! Well done Kira
Teaching pre-cursive letter formation
Teaching pre-cursive letter formation
After our parent's evening consultation's last week a lot of our parents have asked for some support on how to help their child with forming their letters in pre-cursive. Below you will find a short video that shows you how we teach letter formation to the children in our phonics lessons. There's is a short video to help you with the pronunciation of the letter sounds too.
After our parent's evening consultation's last week a lot of our parents have asked for some support on how to help their child with forming their letters in pre-cursive. Below you will find a short video that shows you how we teach letter formation to the children in our phonics lessons. There's is a short video to help you with the pronunciation of the letter sounds too.
Diwali
Diwali
This week the children have been learning about Diwali. We have been creating our own Diwali Rangoli patterns, Mehndi patterns and diva lamps out of clay. Once our diva lamps had dried we used paint and glitter to decorate them.
This week the children have been learning about Diwali. We have been creating our own Diwali Rangoli patterns, Mehndi patterns and diva lamps out of clay. Once our diva lamps had dried we used paint and glitter to decorate them.
Children in Need
Children in Need
On Friday 13th November we celebrated Children in Need in school. We had a non-uniform day and learnt about the Children in Need charity. We decorated buns with yellow icing and skittles to represent Pudsey's spots and finger painted to make a spotty bandana for Pudsey and Blush.
On Friday 13th November we celebrated Children in Need in school. We had a non-uniform day and learnt about the Children in Need charity. We decorated buns with yellow icing and skittles to represent Pudsey's spots and finger painted to make a spotty bandana for Pudsey and Blush.
Remembrance Day
Remembrance Day
The children in Reception have been learning about Remembrance Day and why is celebrated. We learnt about why we wear a poppy to honour Remembrance Day. During provision the children have been cutting out the parts of the poppy and making a poppy field picture, painting poppy's, making poppy's out of playdough and lego and writing a short poem about poppy's. Take a look below at our lovely poppy work.
The children in Reception have been learning about Remembrance Day and why is celebrated. We learnt about why we wear a poppy to honour Remembrance Day. During provision the children have been cutting out the parts of the poppy and making a poppy field picture, painting poppy's, making poppy's out of playdough and lego and writing a short poem about poppy's. Take a look below at our lovely poppy work.
Remember, remember the 5th of November
Remember, remember the 5th of November
Today the children have been learning about why we celebrate Bonfire Night. We have learnt about the story of Guy Fawkes as well as firework safety. During continuous provision the children enjoyed taking part in lots of activities linked to Bonfire Night such as, making chalk firework pictures, creating fireworks on biscuits, writing about Bonfire Night and also counting different firework pictures and finding the matching numbers. We also enjoyed watching the firework display over our school. Take a look below to see how much we enjoyed our learning.
Today the children have been learning about why we celebrate Bonfire Night. We have learnt about the story of Guy Fawkes as well as firework safety. During continuous provision the children enjoyed taking part in lots of activities linked to Bonfire Night such as, making chalk firework pictures, creating fireworks on biscuits, writing about Bonfire Night and also counting different firework pictures and finding the matching numbers. We also enjoyed watching the firework display over our school. Take a look below to see how much we enjoyed our learning.

'Winter Life in a Freezer'
'Winter Life in a Freezer'
Welcome back to you all. I hope you have all had a lovely half term break.
Welcome back to you all. I hope you have all had a lovely half term break.
This half term our topic will be ‘Winter Life in a Freezer’. The children will be learning about winter and also all about the Polar Regions and what we will find there.
This half term our topic will be ‘Winter Life in a Freezer’. The children will be learning about winter and also all about the Polar Regions and what we will find there.
The children will also be learning about the life of Sir David Attenborough and his love of animals and our planet.
The children will also be learning about the life of Sir David Attenborough and his love of animals and our planet.
Take a look below to find out how our classroom has been changed for our new topic.
Take a look below to find out how our classroom has been changed for our new topic.
Black History Month
Black History Month
For Black History Month we have been learning about Nelson Mandela. We have been learning about the history of Nelson Mandela and why he is an inspirational figure in Black History. The children have been making collage South African flags using paints and coloured paper. We also worked together to make a giant hand print flag. The children have been looking closely at photos of Nelson Mandela to paint a portrait of him. We have also written about what we have learnt and even tried some South African food, sadza with cucumber.
For Black History Month we have been learning about Nelson Mandela. We have been learning about the history of Nelson Mandela and why he is an inspirational figure in Black History. The children have been making collage South African flags using paints and coloured paper. We also worked together to make a giant hand print flag. The children have been looking closely at photos of Nelson Mandela to paint a portrait of him. We have also written about what we have learnt and even tried some South African food, sadza with cucumber.
Harvest Day
Harvest Day
On Wednesday we learnt about Harvest Festival and how it was celebrated. We thought about what Harvest means to us and wrote our ideas done on handprints to make a class harvest wreath. Today we have all made an Autumn tree picture using autumn colours and sponges to create leaves on the trees. We also practiced our cutting skills to cut out the body parts of a scarecrow to stick them in the right place and used apples to create pumpkin shapes with paint. We have all had a lovely day learning about the Harvest Festival.
On Wednesday we learnt about Harvest Festival and how it was celebrated. We thought about what Harvest means to us and wrote our ideas done on handprints to make a class harvest wreath. Today we have all made an Autumn tree picture using autumn colours and sponges to create leaves on the trees. We also practiced our cutting skills to cut out the body parts of a scarecrow to stick them in the right place and used apples to create pumpkin shapes with paint. We have all had a lovely day learning about the Harvest Festival.
Our Bodies
Our Bodies
This week we have been learning about our bodies. We have been practicing the names of the different body parts and used a skeleton to help us. We have been matching labels of body parts to the right part and practiced our cutting skills to make our own skeletons making sure the parts of the skeleton are in the right place.
This week we have been learning about our bodies. We have been practicing the names of the different body parts and used a skeleton to help us. We have been matching labels of body parts to the right part and practiced our cutting skills to make our own skeletons making sure the parts of the skeleton are in the right place.
We can write our names!
We can write our names!
The children have been working really hard to practice writing their names all on their own. This week we gave out our first certificates for the children who can now write their names independently.
The children have been working really hard to practice writing their names all on their own. This week we gave out our first certificates for the children who can now write their names independently.
Recycling Week
Recycling Week
This week has been National Recycling Week. In the Early Years we have been learning about which items can be recycled and how they are recycled. We have been litter picking in our playground to ensure all rubbish is collected and any items that could be recycled we put to one side to be recycled. The children were also set the challenge of helping with recycling at home too.
This week has been National Recycling Week. In the Early Years we have been learning about which items can be recycled and how they are recycled. We have been litter picking in our playground to ensure all rubbish is collected and any items that could be recycled we put to one side to be recycled. The children were also set the challenge of helping with recycling at home too.
PE lessons in the Early Years
PE lessons in the Early Years
This half term we will be exploring the parachute during our PE lessons. The children had their first PE lesson this week and we really enjoyed using the parachute. Take a look at what we got up to below.
This half term we will be exploring the parachute during our PE lessons. The children had their first PE lesson this week and we really enjoyed using the parachute. Take a look at what we got up to below.


This half term our topic is All About Me. The children will be learning about their bodies, feelings, emotions, our families and where we live. The children will also be learning about the four seasons, why we have Harvest Festival and about the famous person Neil Armstrong.
This half term our topic is All About Me. The children will be learning about their bodies, feelings, emotions, our families and where we live. The children will also be learning about the four seasons, why we have Harvest Festival and about the famous person Neil Armstrong.
Take a look below for a short video of our classroom environment.
Take a look below for a short video of our classroom environment.

Our First Day at School
Our First Day at School
Look how we have been learning so far!
Look how we have been learning so far!
Below you will find some photos of how the new Reception children have been learning during their first week at school. We have had lots of fun!
Below you will find some photos of how the new Reception children have been learning during their first week at school. We have had lots of fun!
Remember to use Espresso at home.
Remember to use Espresso at home.
Your login details can be found in the front of your child's reading diary.
Your login details can be found in the front of your child's reading diary.
What is Espresso?
What is Espresso?
Espresso is the UK's leading educational digital content company. It is available for parents and children to use at home. The aim is to transform learning at home by providing high-quality educational resources. Espresso Primary is an easy-to-use and constantly growing library of digital educational resources. Everything on Espresso supports the National Curriculum and the classroom work which we do here a Shafton Primary. Children can log on to this resource at home by using their log in details given to them by their teacher.
Espresso is the UK's leading educational digital content company. It is available for parents and children to use at home. The aim is to transform learning at home by providing high-quality educational resources. Espresso Primary is an easy-to-use and constantly growing library of digital educational resources. Everything on Espresso supports the National Curriculum and the classroom work which we do here a Shafton Primary. Children can log on to this resource at home by using their log in details given to them by their teacher.
Phonics and reading
Phonics and reading
When children enter Reception they take part in high quality phonics sessions every day. We use a systematic phonics programme called Letters and Sounds. Letters and Sounds is divided into 6 phases, with each building on the skills and knowledge of previous learning. These are fun sessions involving lots of speaking, listening and games, where the emphasis is on children’s active participation. They learn to use their phonics knowledge for reading and writing activities in their independent play.
When children enter Reception they take part in high quality phonics sessions every day. We use a systematic phonics programme called Letters and Sounds. Letters and Sounds is divided into 6 phases, with each building on the skills and knowledge of previous learning. These are fun sessions involving lots of speaking, listening and games, where the emphasis is on children’s active participation. They learn to use their phonics knowledge for reading and writing activities in their independent play.
From a very early stage, children develop awareness of different sounds in spoken language. They develop understanding that spoken words are made up of different sounds and they learn to match these sounds to letters. Phonics is about children knowing how letters link to sounds, for example c as in ‘cat’, ll as in ‘fell’, ee as in ‘sheep’. Please see the video link below which shows you how the letter sounds are pronounced and taught in school.
From a very early stage, children develop awareness of different sounds in spoken language. They develop understanding that spoken words are made up of different sounds and they learn to match these sounds to letters. Phonics is about children knowing how letters link to sounds, for example c as in ‘cat’, ll as in ‘fell’, ee as in ‘sheep’. Please see the video link below which shows you how the letter sounds are pronounced and taught in school.
Children use their phonics knowledge when they are reading and writing. This approach has been shown to provide a quick and efficient way for most young children to learn to read words on the page fluently and accurately. We want children to develop this skill so that it becomes automatic. This also greatly helps them with their spelling.
Children use their phonics knowledge when they are reading and writing. This approach has been shown to provide a quick and efficient way for most young children to learn to read words on the page fluently and accurately. We want children to develop this skill so that it becomes automatic. This also greatly helps them with their spelling.