Starting Reception
Starting school is an exciting milestone, and we want every child to feel happy, confident and ready to join our school community. This page explains what Reception looks like and how you can support your child as they begin their journey with us.
What is Reception?
Reception is the final year of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). It builds on your child’s earlier experiences in nursery or preschool and focuses on helping children learn through play, exploration and purposeful, guided activities.
How children learn
In Reception, children learn through a balance of:
- Play and exploration
- Adult-guided activities
- Short whole-class sessions, such as phonics or story time
- Indoor and outdoor learning
Our environment encourages curiosity, independence and creativity. Through play, meaningful interactions and carefully planned activities, children develop socially, emotionally and academically.
What children learn in the EYFS
The EYFS framework includes seven areas of learning.
Prime Areas
• Communication and Language
• Physical Development
• Personal, Social and Emotional Development
Specific Areas
• Literacy
• Mathematics
• Understanding the World
• Expressive Arts and Design
These areas are woven through daily routines, play opportunities and adult interactions to help children build firm foundations for learning.
Getting your child ready for school
You can help your child make a positive start by supporting them to:
- Use the toilet independently
- Put on their coat and shoes
- Use cutlery and open simple food packaging
- Look after their belongings
- Talk about feelings and ask for help
- Take turns and share during play
Reading together, chatting throughout the day and playing simple games also give your child a wonderful head start.
Supporting toilet independence (potty training)
Many children are still developing toileting confidence when they begin Reception. We encourage families to refer to the latest government-backed potty‑training guidance, which includes practical advice such as creating calm, consistent routines and helping children recognise when they need the toilet.
If your child needs additional support when they join Reception, please speak to our Early Years team. We are here to help and will work with you to support their needs.
What to expect in the first few weeks
The first few weeks are all about helping your child feel safe, settled and happy. Staff spend lots of time getting to know each child, building routines and supporting friendships. It’s normal for some children to feel unsure at first. Our team will work closely with you to help build your child’s confidence day by day.
A typical Reception Day
Although each school is unique, a reception day often includes:
- A calm arrival and settling‑in time
- Phonics, maths and story sessions
- Free‑flow play indoors and outdoors
- Small‑group learning
- Snack, lunch and rest periods
- Songs, circle time and reflection
This balanced structure helps children feel secure while enjoying plenty of purposeful play and exploration.
What your child may need each day
Your child should bring:
- A named water bottle
- A coat suitable for the weather
- Any comfort items agreed with the teacher (if needed during settling-in)
Assessment
To find out how we monitor and support your child’s progress in Reception, please visit our Assessment page by clicking here.
Working with parents
We value strong partnerships with families. You can expect communication and involvement through:
- Induction events and stay‑and‑play sessions
- Parent meetings
- Online learning journals or updates
- Opportunities to share achievements from home
Together, we can support a happy, confident and successful start to school. To help make the transition as smooth as possible, education and early years experts, including REAch2 Academy Trust, have created Starting Reception, a practical guide filled with expert advice, tips, and activities to support your child.
Find out more by clicking here.
Need More Information?
If you have questions about Reception or how we support children during their transition to school, please contact the school office or speak to our Early Years team. We are here to help your child settle in, thrive and enjoy their first year at school.