Rode Heath Primary SchoolReception 2026 - 2027
Mrs Adams
I have been working with young children for over 20 years and am passionate about giving them the best possible start to school life by learning through creative and meaningful contexts. As a Forest School teacher I love taking learning outside the classroom and introducing children to new skills, such as den building, tree climbing, campfire cookery and caring for our woodland environment.
Mrs Barnett
I have worked at Rode Heath School for many years now. I thoroughly enjoy being part of all of the exciting learning opportunities which Rode Heath has to offer. Outside of school, I love to go exploring outdoors with my two children.
Miss Street
I have worked as a TA at Rode Heath for the past 8 years, working in Key Stage 1, specialising in EYFS. I thoroughly enjoy working with the new starters, supporting them as they start on their new journey of school life. I believe all children should be treated as I would wish my own to be treated.
Welcome to Reception! Doors open at 8.45am and we will collect you from the Key Stage 1 playground. We finish at 3.15pm and will let you out from the Pre-School door - please do not block access to the Year 1 door whilst waiting. Our first topic of the year is 'All About Me' and the topic web is available in the Files to Download section at the bottom of this page. Our Reception Class page is updated every week, so please check in regularly to keep up to date with messages, news and information about our learning.
We know the first few weeks can be a bit daunting (for grown-ups too!). Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any queries, concerns or worries - we want your child to be happy, settled and have a fantastic year in Reception and we are really keen to work with you to make sure that happens.
We are holding an EYFS Open Day on Friday 23rd October from 9.30 - 11.30am. If you (or anyone you know) are looking for a Pre-School or Reception place for September 2027, please feel free to drop in. We look forward to seeing you.
Routines, Reminders & Messages
Reception Curriculum Drop-In - Our Reception Curriculum Drop-In event has been rescheduled for Wednesday 14th October 4.00-6.00pm. Please pop in at any time during the session to find out more about learning in Reception, explore examples of the children's work, and chat to the class teachers. Please note that, as this is an informal, in-person drop-in event held in the classroom, we will not be able to discuss confidential information or your child's individual progress. Our first Parents' Evenings take place after the half-term break (see below), providing an opportunity to discuss your child’s development and learning in a private appointment. We look forward to welcoming you.
Parents' Evenings - Our first Parents' Evening will take place on Wednesday 25th November and Wednesday 2nd December 2026. Further information, including how to book your appointment on Scopay will be sent out shortly.
Book Bag and Reading Diary - Your child will be given a book bag and reading folder on their first day. The folder contains their reading diary and phonics reading books. Please look through the diary and complete the permissions pages as soon as possible (we can't put any lovely photos on our webpage until we have your consent).
Please record in the diary each time you read with your child. We will make a note of when we have read in school too. You can use the diary to pass notes to us but please remember that they are not checked daily. If your message is urgent or very important then please telephone or email the school office instead.
Phonics Reading Books - Your child will initially bring home one book per week, Our first books have no words to build confidence in talking and discussing what is happening in the pictures. Later on this half term we will send home two books, that match the sounds learned in phonics lessons. It is important for the children to re-read the books - at least 3 times at home - to help them become more fluent, begin to recognise words and to feel successful as a reader. We encourage the children to read once to sound out and blend the words, a second time to remember and begin to read a little more confidently and a third time to help their understanding of the book and be able to talk about it.
Please ensure all books and the reading diary are kept in your child's folder in their book bag and brought in to school every day, as we also read these books in class. Books are changed on Mondays - we have very limited supplies so please ensure they are in school and availiable to be passed on to the next child.
'Reading for Pleasure' books - Your child will choose a Reading for Pleasure book during their first week. These are books for you to share with your child at home. Your child is not expected to read these for themselves but they are wonderful as a bedtime story or snuggled up on the sofa to read together. These books are also changed on Mondays and again we have a limited supply, so would appreciate your support in ensuring they are returned on time to be available for another child.
P.E. - Our PE day is on THURSDAY this term. Children should come to school in their PE kits (House t-shirts, school or plain black/navy shorts or tracksuit) and velcro pumps or trainers - no laces please!
Home Learning is sent home on Fridays from Week 2. This will be a mixture of activities in Home Learning books, online or via Tapestry. Please ensure it is completed and,books are returned by the following Wednesday, when we collect them in.
Tapestry - we use this to share highlights of your child's learning, send messages and set some home learning tasks. If your child attended our Pre-School then your existing login details are still valid. If you are new to Rode Heath then you should have received an email with instructions on how to get started (check your junk folder if you don't receive an email). As always, please let us know if you have any problems.
School Spider - Please ensure that you have downloaded the School Spider App. We use this for communicating general school messages and information such as head bumps and changes to arrangements for clubs.
Ensuring that our children are happy, safe and secure in school is very important to us. We follow our Hearts and Minds curriculum to ensure children's personal, social and emotional development is central to our practice. More information about our Hearts and Minds curriculum and the weekly Hearts and Mind planning can be found using this link: Hearts and Minds.
To find year group expectations for Maths, please click here, scroll down and click on the overview.
For year group expectations for English, please click here, scroll down and click on the overview.
The expectations for Science and the Foundation subjects can be found by selecting the relevant heading from here.
Our Learning Journey: Monday 5th October 2026
Your home learning will be in your Home Learning Books this week. Supporting resources will be sent on Tapestry
Phonics
This week we are continuing Phase 2 of our Phonics scheme and will be learning 'g' and 'o'. We will also continue to practise the tricky word 'no'.
Tricky words are words that cannot always be sounded out using the phonics children have learned so far. Instead, children need to learn to recognise these words by sight and remember what they look like. We practise tricky words regularly in school through games, reading and writing activities. The more often children see these words, the more confidently and fluently they will be able to read and use them in their own writing.
When children begin phonics in Reception, they start by learning individual letter sounds. They will learn to:
- Recognise and say the sounds (phonemes) that the letters make in words.
- Identify the letters (graphemes) that represent these sounds.
- Form the letters correctly when writing.
- Listen for the sounds at the beginning, middle, and end of words.
- Begin blending sounds together to read simple words as they learn more letter sounds.
Through songs, games, stories, and practical activities, children build confidence in hearing and using these sounds, laying the foundations for reading and writing.
Pure Sounds - We teach the children to use 'pure' sounds (the sounds that letters make in words) Click on the pictures below to hear the 'pure' sounds for Phase 2 and Phase 3 phonics.
Phase 2 Graphemes - s a t p i n m d g o
Phase 2 Tricky Words - I no
Literacy:
This week we will continue to focus on writing our names, the letters we have learned in Phonics and short words containing letters we know. We will be holding our pencils effectively and forming the letters correctly.
Letter Formation - We work very hard on developing a good pencil grip and forming our letters correctly in Reception. This is important because it reduces strain on the hand muscles and prepares children for joining letters and writing at greater length in Years 1 and 2. The pictures below show the correct formation for each letter and the rhymes we use to support the children to recall them.
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Maths:
This week we will continue exploring measure and pattern by creating, copying and extending repeating patterns using colours, shapes, objects, movements and sounds. The children will practise spotting what comes next in a pattern and explaining how they know. We will also revisit and apply the measuring skills we have learned throughout this block, comparing size, length, weight and capacity through practical, hands-on activities. These activities will give children opportunities to demonstrate their understanding and confidence in using mathematical language while solving simple problems.
Personal, Social & Emotional Development:
This week we will learn how to recognise and describe our feelings using a range of emotion words. The children will explore feelings such as happy, sad, excited, worried, calm and proud, and begin to talk about how these emotions make them feel. Through stories, discussions and role-play activities, we will encourage children to express their feelings confidently, listen to the feelings of others, and understand that all emotions are normal and important.
Understanding the World
This week we will learn about different types of homes and talk about the houses we live in. The children will explore how homes can look different, such as houses, flats, bungalows and terraced homes, and discuss some of the features they may have. Through stories, discussions and creative activities, we will help children understand that everyone’s home is unique and special, while developing their awareness of the world around them.
Physical Development:
We will continue developing our throwing and catching skills through a range of fun games and activities this week. The children will practise throwing with greater control and accuracy, as well as catching different types of balls and equipment using both hands. We will focus on improving hand-eye coordination, balance and concentration while encouraging the children to work safely, confidently and cooperatively with others.
Expressive Arts & Design:
This week we will continue to create pictures and models to represent our families. The children will talk about the people who are important to them and use a range of resources to express their ideas creatively. We will celebrate that every family is unique and special.
In Music we will explore the different sounds that instruments can make. The children will listen carefully to a variety of instruments, describe the sounds they hear, and experiment with making their own instrumental sounds. Through games and musical activities, they will develop their listening skills and enjoyment of music.
Engineering:
Don't forget to visit our Think Like an Engineer website regularly to see what we're all busy doing:
https://thinklikeanengineerproject.com
Our door is always open, please contact us for help at any time.
At busy times, please telephone to leave a message or email and we will respond as soon as we can.
If you are worried about how to keep your child safe online, please follow the following link:.
https://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/parents/articles/keeping-your-under-five-safe-online
