Small steps lead to big changes at Hatherop

Starting school is a big milestone in a child (and parent’s!) life.  At Hatherop we aim to make the transition into Reception as stress free and smooth as possible.  

Prior to starting school, our Transition children have regular contact with their future Reception teachers through; weekly stay and play sessions, PE, Music and French. This will be a combination of visits from the teachers and little trips to the classrooms they will be taught in. This allows the children to familiarise themselves with the school environment and teaching staff.  It also enables them to develop relationships with teachers and reduce any anxiety they may have when starting Reception.

We are incredibly lucky at Hatherop to have many outdoor and indoor spaces which the children love to use and explore.  We begin Reception by settling in and learning the new routines of the day. Phonics and number time sessions are delivered in short sharp bursts which are interactive in their nature; number hunts in the school grounds, finding letters in the sand, the list is endless!  This term already, our Reception class have been down to the forest school and braved the elements to begin building dens and learning about how to be safe in the great outdoors.

The early days of school are vitally important and with small class sizes, we are able to dedicate our time to getting know the children individually and quickly.  Daily circle times enable the children to settle and feel secure and most importantly grow in confidence when talking and sharing their ideas in class and small groups. 

Mrs Pearce & Miss Buck – Reception Teachers