Welcome to Reception

General Information

At St. John’s, our school scripture and Christian values are at the heart of everything we do, shaping our ethos, community, and approach to learning.

We recognise that every child is unique and develops at their own pace. Children progress through the Early Years developmental statements individually, and we support this through a flexible, responsive approach to planning that reflects their interests, needs, and next steps. This ensures that our children develop strong foundations, enabling them to confidently progress through and access the National Curriculum.

Our learning is built around an ambitious CUSP curriculum, which incorporates rich vocabulary, encourages deeper thinking, and develops knowledge and understanding through essential key skills. These skills support children’s development from the Early Years and beyond, preparing them for future learning and employment.

Click the link below to view the EYFS Developmental Statements:

 

Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)

The EYFS curriculum is organised into seven areas of learning, grouped into two main categories: Prime Areas and Specific Areas.

Prime Areas of Learning

• Personal, Social and Emotional Development

• Communication and Language

• Physical Development

Specific Areas of Learning

• Literacy

• Mathematics

• Understanding the World

• Expressive Arts and Design

Characteristics of Effective Learning

We actively promote the Characteristics of Effective Learning, which describe how children learn best:

• Playing and Exploring – children investigate, explore, play with what they know, and are willing to have a go.

• Active Learning – children remain motivated, concentrate, persevere, and enjoy achieving their goals.

• Creating and Thinking Critically – children develop their own ideas, make connections in their learning, and work confidently with new ideas.

Physical Education (PE)

Our PE day is Friday. Please ensure that your child’s PE kit is in school on this day and is clearly labelled. Thank you for your support.

Phonics

At St. John’s, we follow the Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised phonics programme to support early reading and writing development.We invite all parents to dive into our Curriculum, a unique educational journey designed to ignite your child's curiosity and passion for learning. Discover how we nurture creativity, critical thinking, and a lifelong love for knowledge, making every day an adventure in education. Your child's dreams start here.

Personal Development

We want every child to feel confident, valued and ready to take part in the world around them. Personal development is woven through school life, from the relationship's children build each day to the new experiences that help them discover their interests and strengths.

Through CUSP PSED, pupils learn to understand their feelings, develop positive relationships and make thoughtful choices. Skills Builder gives them a shared language for practising skills such as listening, speaking, teamwork and problem solving. We encourage children to use these skills in lessons, play and wider school life.

Visitors and trips bring learning to life and introduce pupils to different people, places and ideas. We create opportunities to explore interests, take on responsibilities and try something new. Links to careers help children see how their learning and skills can be used beyond school and open their minds to future possibilities.

We aim to give every child a rich range of opportunities and experiences so they leave us with curiosity, confidence and a belief in what they can achieve.