Information for students starting Reception in September 2016

1. Welcome to Reception

2. Staff
Miss Emery
Hedgehogs
Miss Williams
Squirrels
Mrs Oakenfull Mrs Southall
Miss Lewis
Hedgehogs
Miss Ponder
Squirrels
Miss Iles
Music
emeryj@simonballe.herts.sch.uk
williamsm@simonballe.herts.sch.uk

3. Timetable
• 8.40-8.50 – Doors open.
• 8.50-9.30 – Busy Fingers, Self-register, Calendar etc.
• 9.30-10 – Adult Directed Activity
• 10-11.15 – Child Initiated Learning, Snack
• 11.20-11.45 – Phonics
• 12-1 – Lunch
• 1.10-1.40 – Adult Directed Activity
• 1.40-2.40 – Child Initiated Learning
• 2.50- 3.10 – Story / Readers
• 3.15 - Home
• PE
• Library
• Spanish
• Wellywalk
• Assembly
• Music
• Handwriting

4. Drop off
• Daily drop off starts at 8.40am for 10 minutes.
This will be one member of staff (either Reception
or Year 1) on the corridor door to the playground
and one member of staff (either Reception or Year
1) on the Kiss and Drop.
• Any messages for class teachers must be passed on
through the member of staff. This includes when
someone different to normal will be collecting your
child.

5. Collection
• Collection will be at 3.15pm from the gate to the
Reception Outdoor Area. Both classes will be leaving
from this gate so please stand back and wait for your
child to reach the front of the line, when we will send
them to you when we have seen you.
• If you require a meeting with your class teacher,
please arrange through e-mail or the front office, not
at the door or gate.
emeryj@simonballe.herts.sch.uk
williamsm@simonballe.herts.sch.uk

6. Curriculum Overview
• All About Me
• Festivals / Celebrations
• People Who Help Us
• Pets and Animals
• Minibeasts
• Journeys

7. Topic Web
Each half term the new topic web will be uploaded to the school
website, please make sure you check it.

8. Home Learning
• Reading – Your child will read with an adult in class
once a week where they will be given a new reading
book if they have been read with at home and have a
clear understanding of the book and its contents. If
your child brings the same book home it is because we
feel they need more time to explore the text.
• Library – Every Monday afternoon the children will be
visiting the library in the Secondary building.
• Please make sure you look at parent letter, there may
be tasks for the children to do.

9. Handwriting

10. Parent Helpers
• If you would like to help listen to a group
of children read once a week, then please
e-mail us to express your interest, stating
which day you are available.
• Or maybe your interest is in Art,
Gardening or you have a skill you want to
share with us.

11. Contribution
• Parent pay.
• Consumables; playdough ingredients,
cooking equipment, paints…
• New kitchen.

12. Snack / Lunch
• Every day a piece of fruit is provided for the
children to help themselves to during their Child
Initiated Play. Water is also provided throughout
the day.
• The children select their lunch options during
morning registration. Red (meat) or Green
(vegetarian). Please revise the online menu and
discuss their preferences before school.

13. Tapestry
• Tapestry and Phonics workshops.
• Monday 17th October
• 2:30pm or 7pm.

14. What the children need
• Named wellyboots
• Named waterbottles
• PE kits
• Book bags – only 1 keyring allowed.
• Suitable clothes for the weather e.g. sunhat,
waterproof coat.

15. • Any questions?