foundation stage welcome book
TRANSCRIPT
West Oxford Community Primary School
Early Years Foundation Stage Statement
Welcome to the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) at West Oxford Primary School. Our
provision provides a strong foundation for the children’s future learning, including developing
a positive attitude to learning. In giving the children a broad range of knowledge and skills
we lay the foundation for excellent future progress throughout their school and life. To
make this happen, learning and development opportunities are planned around each child’s
needs and interests and regularly assessed and reviewed. Adults respond to individual needs
and interests, guiding their development through warm, positive interactions in an encourag-
ing, stimulating and a well-resourced indoor and outdoor environment.
In the Reception Year, it is the adult’s role to extend and provide further challenge to chil-
dren’s learning. Here we seek to initiate and offer great depth to the children’s experienc-
es. Adults skilfully interact and sensitively scaffold, support and enhance the children’s
knowledge, skills and understanding. In addition, we seek to help the children to develop
their thinking through their participation in activities and with the skilled involvement of
the staff.
Aims
We aim to meet each child's needs by:
caring for the whole child’s health, both physical and mental, their feelings and their
thinking and spiritual development
ensuring each child has the opportunity to develop the skills, knowledge and under-
standing to achieve success and to build a thirst for lifelong learning
teaching the foundations of reading, writing and maths that will develop basic
(essential) skills and to enable them to access the wider curriculum
providing a stimulating environment, indoors and out, providing many opportunities for
children to be curious, ask questions and to be eager to discover and learn
providing opportunities, time and space for children to pursue their own interests, and
time to interact and share with others
providing opportunities for each child to make choices and decisions to develop their
independence
providing ethnically and culturally diverse experiences including resources and stories
which reflect different cultures and values
creating a purposeful atmosphere, where teachers can focus on teaching and pupils on
learning
working closely with parents/carers and respecting the fact that they are experts in
the knowledge of their own child.
What children learn
The content of the Curriculum is planned in the seven areas of learning and development.
Three Prime Areas :
Communication and Language – children develop skills and confidence in speaking and
listening in a range of situations.
Physical Development – children develop their co-ordination, control, and movement
through being active.
Personal, Social and Emotional Development – within clear boundaries and expecta-
tions, children form positive relationships, develop social skills and respect for others
and understand appropriate behaviour.
Four Specific Areas
Literacy – development involves encouraging children to link sounds and letters and to
begin to read and write. Children are given access to a wide range of reading materi-
als (books, poems, and other written materials) to ignite their interest. Opportunities
are provided daily for developing fine motor skills and handwriting is formally taught
and practiced every day in reception.
Mathematics – involves providing children with opportunities to develop and improve
their skills in counting, understanding and using numbers, calculating simple addition
and subtraction problems; and to describe shapes, spaces, and measures.
Understanding the World – finding out about people, places, technology and the envi-
ronment.
Expressive Arts and Design – exploring a wide range of media and sharing their
thoughts, ideas and feelings through a variety of activities in art, music, movement,
dance, role-play, and design and technology.
How children learn
Children learn through:
Playing and exploring
Learning actively
Creating and thinking critically
In the Foundation Stage teachers make professional judgments about the balance between
activities led or guided by adults and those led by children. This balance shifts towards
more activities led by adults as children move from early years and towards Year 1.
Adult directed activities are those which are directed by the adult and are useful in the
teaching of specific skills such as demonstrating how to use tools or equipment. In our Re-
ception class, daily teaching of literacy and maths starts from the outset and is a key part
of our curriculum.
Adult guided activities are those which the adult initiates. These activities are often play-
ful or experiential. They are open ended and motivate a keen interest in learning.
Child-initiated experiences(5) take place within an environment the adult has set up and
planned but will be wholly decided upon by the child, based on the child’s own motivation and
remains under the child’s control.
Environments
Children have daily access to well-planned stimulating learning environments, indoors and out-
doors. These environments give children opportunities to be active and physical as well as qui-
et and reflective. Each classroom has sufficient chairs and tables for children to be seated
when appropriate, and also plenty of carpeted areas for children to engage in activities.
There will be periods of time each day when all children in reception will be engaged in learn-
ing activities at their tables as class teaching is gradually introduced and developed through-
out the Reception year.
The early years environment - inside and outside is viewed as a whole, providing different ar-
eas where resources, materials and activities are freely and easily accessible.
The areas of learning in the environment include:
role play area
book/reading area
mark making/writing area
mathematical area
construction area
small world area
music area
creative area
malleable area
ICT opportunities
sand/water areas
It is important to develop learning opportunities outside as outdoor learning provides oppor-
tunities for: the acquisition of gross motor skills, taking risks, fostering a love of nature and
the environment, large (and possibly messier) play which is not possible indoors, learning ex-
periences suited to the outdoor environment and physical fitness.
What you can expect to see during a week in Foundation Stage:
Daily maths and literacy lessons in reception
Cooking
Nature Detectives (outdoor learning)
Circle time – PSED/CL
P.E indoors/outdoors
Arts and crafts
Role play corner/activities
Sensory table
Carousel of activities in reception (to support focus work)
1-1 reading
Guided reading
Regular writing challenges
Exploration of technology
Regular maths and literacy opportunities
Additional activities/events
Class trips
Special event assemblies
Visitors (specialist)
Exploring local area
Parents should be involved in the assessment process on a regular, ongoing basis and be en-
couraged to participate in their child’s learning and development. At West Oxford we set
weekly homework so that parents can be involved in their child’s learning.
Homework includes;
Homework activity books
Sound books (reception)
Reading books (reception)
We all work in Foundation and are here to help you
settle and find your way around. As you begin your
new adventure we will be here to ensure that your
learning experiences are exciting and fun.
We look forward to meeting you!
Laura Cheeseman
Early Years
Foundation Stage
Leader
Carrie Cook
Reception Teacher
Hayley Hayle, N1
Nursery Nurse
Glory Christopher
Nursery Teaching
Assistant
Iria Suarez
Reception Teaching
Assistant
Sue Gibbling, Daycare
Coordinator
Caroline Meeks
Reception Teacher
Penny Tordoff
Reception Teaching
Assistant
Come inside with a
grown up and find your
peg. Can you hang up
your own coat?
You will have your own
tray where you can keep
your book bag and put
your drawings and paint-
ings in.
These are the toilets
which you can use when
ever you need to.
We have lots of
different things to do
inside . . .
In nursery there is always
fruit, milk and water, that
you can help yourself to.
Don’t forget to wash your
hands first.
...and out! We have lots
of fun outside, but make
sure you have the right
clothes!
You can keep your wellies
at school.
We also enjoy lots of trips
to local places, or have
special visitors.
Where do you like to visit
with your family?
Our names are Matt,
Ruth and Eve and we
work in the kitchen
cooking dinners for all
the children.
At lunch time we will take you to the canteen to eat.
You can bring a packed lunch or have one of our
delicious school dinners.
My name is Miss Bladen. I am the Head
teacher at West Oxford Community School.
We are looking forward to seeing you soon and
enjoying making special memories together.
Nature Detectives
Each week, in Reception, we put on our wellies and outdoor gear and head
out to explore and investigate our natural surroundings.
We aim to develop skills such as team work, our understanding of the world
and thinking critically and creatively.
Some examples of our sessions include making natural collections, searching
for evidence of fairies and elves and making ‘ice’ sculptures.
Nursery Admissions
The academic year runs from September through to August.
Applications for N1 and N2 places can be made direct to the school, please
come and ask us for a form.
Applications for reception places are made through Oxfordshire County Coun-
cil. Please see their website www.oxfordshire.gov.uk for further information. If
you require any further help you are welcome to talk to any member of staff.
The minimum entitlement to funded nursery education is 15 hours per
week, from the term after the child’s third birthday (based on a 3-term
year). We offer these free 15 hours in the following ways:
Morning place: 8:55am - 11:55am (inclusive of lunchtime)
Afternoon place: 12:10pm - 3:10pm
Children will either attend mornings or afternoons, sessions are not flexible
Admissions are three times a year, for as long as places are available.
Funding and entitlement are based on a three-term year, and places
therefore start in term 1 (September), term 3 (January) or term 5
(April).
Parents will be notified that a place is available for their child no later
than a term in advance (3 term year). Places are offered always for the
full free 15 funded hours.
We do NOT allow parents to split their free entitlement with a private or
voluntary sector provider.
Nursery places at West Oxford Primary School are in high demand and
there is often a long waiting list. Therefore, if a child is consistently late
or a place is not being used effectively it may result in the child loosing
his or her place. Decisions of such will be made at the Early Years lead and
Head teacher’s discretion.
When more applications are received than there are places available,
the following County Council criteria is applied.
Children with a statement of special educational need that names
the school in part 4 of the statement.
Looked after children, whom the Corporate Parent agrees should
attend the school, and „previously looked after‟ children.
Disabled children who need to be admitted to a school on the
grounds of physical accessibility. The definition of disability is
that contained within the Equality Act 2010.
Children who live in the designated catchment area. If there are
more applicants than places in this category, priority will be given
in the following descending order:
Those children who, at the time of entry, have a brother or sister
attending the primary school to which the nursery is attached.
Those children who live closest to the school by the nearest desig-
nated public route as defined on the Directorate for Children, Ed-
ucation and Families Geographic Information System.
Children living outside the designated area who have a brother or
sister attending either the foundation stage or the main school at
the time of entry. If there are more applicants than places in this
category, priority will be given within this group to children who
live closest to the school by the nearest designated public route as
defined on the Directorate for Children, Education and Families
Geographic Information System.
Children who attend day care or a voluntary or private sector pre-
school on site at the school. If there are more applicants than
places in this category, priority will be given within this group to
children who live closest to the school by the nearest designated
public route as defined on the Directorate for Children, Education
and Families Geographic Information System.
Home Visits In our setting we aim to provide a caring, happy and stimulating environment to
encourage and support children’s learning. We recognise the importance of staff,
parents, carers and children working together in partnership to ensure the best
possible start for the children.
Therefore before starting, there is an opportunity for all nursery aged children
to be visited at home by me, Laura Cheeseman, (Early Years lead and Nursery
teacher) and Hayley Hayle, (Nursery Nurse). This will help make transition into
Nursery easier and happier for your child and will provide another opportunity for
us to share information and for you to ask any questions you may have about our
provision and routines. These home visits will be approximately 20 minutes long
and will take place early September, January and April.
Open Mornings & Visits We are committed to ensuring all of the changes children go through during their
school life are seamless and successful. Moving to a new nursery or onto school is
one of the biggest transitions a child will make and therefore we aim to ensure
that children are prepared for this move by making this transition as smooth as
possible. In addition to ‘home visits’ we visit children in their current nursery
settings and set aside dates for new parents and children to attend one of our
open mornings in the month of July.
During an open morning:
Your child will be free to engage in play and take part in planned activities
Your child will enjoy meeting our current nursery class and their new peers
and friends
You will meet our team of enthusiastic teachers and support staff that will be
happy to answer any queries you may have.
You will be shown around the rest of the school
Meet the Head teacher
Information to make things a little easier.
School Office
The Foundation Stage Unit is part of West Oxford Community Primary School. Any queries
during the school day should be directed through the office:
West Oxford Community Primary School
Ferry Hinksey Road
Oxford
OX2 0BY
Tel: 01865 248862
E-mail: [email protected]
If for any reason we need to let you know about something urgently, such as school closures,
the office will phone, email or send out a text message. Please ensure that all important in-
formation, such as your contact details, or change in your child’s medical circumstances are
kept up-to-date.
Our Foundation Stage classes and staff
We have three classes within our unit.
Nursery (N1 and N2) Laura Cheeseman (N2 Teacher and FS Coordinator),
Hayley Hayle (N1 Nursery Nurse) and Laura Espejo (Teaching Assistant)
Reception Caroline Meeks (Reception Reacher), Linda Grace (Reception Teacher),
Lilina Licata (Teaching Assistant)
School Times
The school day for reception to Year 6 is 8.55am until 3.10pm.
Morning sessions for Nursery (N1 & N2) is 8.55am—11.55pm
Afternoon sessions are 12.10pm—3.10pm
We eat lunch at 11.30
Please ensure you adhere to these times to help make those transition times as smooth as
possible
Daycare is available in the afternoon at a cost of £15.00 per session. You can also use your
childcare vouchers to help fund this. Spaces are very limited and must be booked in advance
with Sue Gibbling, Daycare Coordinator.
All about me An ‘All about me’ booklet will be sent home once a place has been allocated for
your child. Please spend some time at home filling it in with your child. This
helps us to get to know your child a little bit before they start school and en-
ables us to provide activities they will enjoy.
Story Sacks Story sacks are available to children in our Foundation Stage and can be taken
home throughout the year. We would like to encourage all parents to read to their
children, whatever their age, to promote a love of reading. There are also books
available for the children to take home to share with you. If you have any free
time and would like to volunteer to come into school to listen to the children read
- please speak to one of the foundation stage team.
Clothing Children are not required to wear a uniform at West Oxford, however various items of school
uniform can be purchased from the office including PE kits. All reception children will need a
PE kit which should remain in school all week as sometimes spontaneous PE activities will occur.
Please label all items of clothing including footwear. The Foundation Stage children have con-
tinual access to the outdoor area whatever the weather so please ensure that they have suita-
ble clothing (including a change of clothes on their pegs) and footwear i.e. in winter weather
please send in wellies and a waterproof coat and in the summer please provide your child with
a sunhat. We would be grateful if sun-cream could be applied to the children before they
come to school. With your consent, we will reapply sun-cream at lunchtime.
If you intend to order name tapes, please order them from Easy2Name as they will give 20%
cash back to our playground appeal. Order name tapes online at www.easy2name.com and quote
West Oxford CP School OX2 to ensure the school get the cash back. When ordering craft
supplies from Yellow Moon quote SWE1443 in order for the playground appeal to receive 20%
cash back. www.yellowmoon.org.uk
Friends of West Oxford All parents/carers are automatically members of the ‘Friends (PTA)’ whilst their children are
at our school. A wide range of social and fund-raising events are arranged throughout the
year. If you would like to get involved and support the Friends with fundraising events such as
quiz nights bazzars and discos, please speak to a member of staff and we can introduce you to
the parent Friend representative in the Foundation Stage.
Every Friday after school there is a Produce Sale on the school playground, which
is run by each class in turn from N1/N2 to Year 6. Parents/carers are encouraged
to bake cakes or other goods at home, provide plants or other items to sell at the
class produce sale, proceeds raised go towards new resources for each class holding
the cake sale that week. Volunteers are always needed to help run the produce sale for
your child’s class.
Monies to School
The school holds a cashless system of payment called ParentsPay. West Oxford Community
Primary School prefers parents to pay for school dinners, trips and any other payments or
transactions using ParentPay.
Lunch times
Lunch is served at 11.30am in our canteen by our wonderful school cook, Ruth Lyster. She is
experienced in cooking for children with food allergies/specific dietary
needs and will be delighted to talk to you if you wish to know more. From
September 2014, school dinners will be free for children in reception and
years 1 and 2. However nursery children will still have to pay for their
school dinners at the cost of £2.10 per day.
Alternatively, you may wish to provide your child with a healthy packed
lunch. You may alternate between school dinners and packed lunches. The Foundation Staff
will take the children to the canteen and will help serve their meals. Please note that lunch is
not provided for children who only attend our afternoon sessions.
Collecting Children from School
At the end of the day, the Foundation Stage children remain in their class with
their teacher and are not allowed to leave unless accompanied by a known adult.
If there is a change in the collection arrangements, please inform the class
teacher or alternatively a message can be given to the office staff. Due to
safeguarding procedures, we are unable to let children leave with an unknown adult unless we
have been given prior notice.
Illness Please do not send your child to school if they are ill, however much they insist they want to
attend. West Oxford School adheres to the Oxfordshire County Council 48 hour exclusion
policy if sickness/diarrhoea has occurred. Please also look out for the head-lice notices that
will be displayed if an outbreak of head-lice occurs in the foundation stage.
Parents meetings
There are two formal parent/teacher evenings each year, but we are happy to talk to par-
ents/carers before and after the school day as time and opportunity permits.
And finally We hope you will enjoy sharing this Welcome Book with your child and familiar-
ising him or her with the staff and the things they might be doing. This will all help to ensure
that they have a happy and smooth start to their education. If there is anything you are un-
sure of, or that we have left out please don’t hesitate to let us know.
Thank you very much for helping us to make your child’s start in the Early Years
Foundation Stage as happy as possible.
Kind Regards
The Early Years Team