Reception
This is an exciting time to be in South Wellfield Reception as we have just created our brand new open plan space with easy access to the Outdoors. In Reception children can continue to develop their own interests in their play as well as taking part in adult led activities and being exposed to a range of learning opportunities set up both inside and out. Children will begin to take part in more formal lessons including daily lessons in phonics, literacy and maths, as well as other sessions to develop a broader range of skills and knowledge about the world around them. Our Reception space is split into 5 different areas:
The Reading Nook - Links to the Well Read strand of our vision. A designated area to relax with your favorite book.
The Bay - Links to the Well Connected strand of our vision. An opportunity for our children to explore sand and water.
The Playhouse - Links to the Well Nurtured strand of our vision. The children can play in our home corner, perform on the stage using the instruments, dress up or explore the small world.
The Gallery - Links to the Well Rounded strand of our vision. To help develop our children's fine motor skills they will be able to exercise their fingers in the malleable area or pick up paints or pencils in our mark making area.
The Workshop - Links to the Well Equipped strand of our vision. From block play to large construction, wood work to the investigation station, children can build and create to their hearts content.
In addition to these areas our Reception benefits from the Nest which is a calm, sensory space where children can relax and regulate whenever they need to.
In Reception our children will also visit our new Forest School every week and will have access to our new space designated to physical development.
Our Outdoor Learning Environment
Nursery and Reception children share a fabulous outdoor learning environment that has been carefully designed to support all areas of development. A key feature of our provision is the Adventure Zone, which provides exciting opportunities for physical development through climbing structures, balance equipment, trikes and bikes. These experiences help children develop their strength, coordination, balance and confidence while encouraging active play and exploration.
We also have a dedicated Outdoor Classroom, organised in a similar way to our indoor environment so that children can access familiar resources and engage in purposeful learning outdoors. Our philosophy is simple: what is outside is there because it cannot be done inside. Outdoor learning offers opportunities that are bigger, messier and more suited to the natural environment. Whether children are building, investigating, creating, moving or collaborating, the outdoor space provides rich, meaningful experiences that extend and enhance their learning in ways that can only happen outdoors.
If you would like to know more please follow the links below:
English Curriculum
Drawing Club in Reception
In Reception, we have combined our much-loved Drawing Club approach with our book-based curriculum to bring stories to life in exciting and meaningful ways. Through high-quality texts linked to our learning themes, children listen to stories, develop their imagination through drawing, and build their speaking, language and early writing skills. Drawing Club encourages children to talk about characters, settings and events, create their own ideas, and begin recording them through mark-making and writing.
We have also extended Drawing Club beyond narrative writing. Alongside exploring story characters, settings, problems and resolutions, children use the same creative approach to learn a range of non-fiction text types, including instructions, recounts and non-chronological reports. Through drawing, discussion and purposeful writing opportunities, children learn how to share information, explain processes and communicate facts linked to their wider curriculum learning. This approach helps develop a love of reading and writing while nurturing creativity, communication, knowledge and confidence.