Welcome to Reception

We are delighted that your child is joining our school.  We very much look forward to getting to know you and your child and working together in partnership. Southborough is a welcoming, exciting and successful school and we hope your child will quickly feel happy, confident and secure in their new environment.   

This page of our website has been written for the parents and carers of new Reception children. It aims to answer some of the questions you may have so that you too will feel confident and well prepared when your child starts school. 

Key Adults in Reception

Mrs Savage – Headteacher 

Mrs Robertson – Assistant Headteacher, Head of Early Years and Inclusion 

Mrs Crumly – Deputy Head of Early Years 

Mrs Brewin – Pupil Wellbeing Manager 

We have an enthusiastic, skilled and experienced teaching team in Reception.   In addition to the class teacher, your child will be taught by and interact with the Reception support team. 

What to expect in out inside and outside classrooms 

Class learning environment – “Our classrooms are a safe space”  

We encourage the children to get to know the classroom as soon as possible, so they feel safe and confident.  The classroom will evolve throughout the year, reflecting the learning which is taking place, and the children’s interests and personalities. To make sure that children always have the tools to learn in the best way possible, throughout the year, each classroom has: 

• A role-play area/home corner easily accessible using real objects – bake cakes, prepare a teddy bear’s picnic or look after babies – it's the children’s space and if they can imagine it it happens! 

• Open ended block play and construction area – playdoh, junk modelling, blocks, fabrics etc., to create anything and everything! 

• Opportunities to share and develop vocabulary – books, songs, rhymes, stories, role play, new words and new worlds! 

• Open ended and easily accessible resources in Expressive Arts and Design, maths, and literacy – lots of opportunities to drawn, create, make, write, play and learn! 

• Welcoming reading areas with phonically decodable books and picture books and story books to share with adults and older children, our Reception children even make their own books! 

Outside learning environment – We learn just as much in our outside classroom as we do inside, and it is used throughout the day. We are lucky to have such a large and varied outside classroom, no two days are the same and as part of our day, children always have access to:  

• sand and water 

• role play 

• construction 

• writing and mark making  

• gross motor activities such as bikes, climbing frames etc. 

Throughout the environment, planned provocations are used to stimulate and deepen learning and fill each area with fascination and intrigue.  Provision are linked to class texts, teacher directed learning or respond to the fascinations and interests the children have shown. The learning areas are continually reviewed, refreshed and enhanced for children to extend their learning through play.   

So that children feel safe and happy and understand their own and other’s feelings, the Zones of Regulation https://zonesofregulation.com/   is used in throughout the school, along with the Characteristics of Effective Learning – where children reflect on what they have done and how they will learn.  As a Nurture UK accredited school, https://www.nurtureuk.org/   we use Nurture UK principles to support all areas of learning and wellbeing.  Enhancements are also targeted to meet the needs of all children, whatever their next steps in learning. 

How will your child learn at Southborough?  

The children are greeted at the door by their class teacher, and are welcomed into a safe, friendly environment.  To build their independence and ensure they can get straight to their activities, uninterrupted, the children are encouraged to hang up their coat, put away their water bottles and self-register.  Immediately after this, the children can start their child-initiated learning, by self-selecting resources in any area of the classroom or one of the exciting activities which are set up on a daily basis. 

As part of a short whole class welcome, the teacher will explain the day’s timetable to the children, using visual symbols. The visual timetable will be referred to across the day to help children to understand what is coming next and prepare for any changes that may occur.  

To reflect our ethos as a Church of England school, the daily timetable always includes collective worship, including listening to stories from the Bible, learning songs and reflecting on how we feel or respond.  We are lucky enough to be supported by the team at Christ Church, Southborough and we even visit the church for our Easter Service. 

The interaction between our adults and children is a crucial part of our daily learning, whether it be encouraging independence, developing communication, thinking and problem-solving skills, or learning whilst having fun.   

Adventure Time is a significant part of our learning time.  During this time, as well as playing with and supporting the children, adults lead small learning groups based on observation and assessment to provide focused support to ensure that children can develop their skills and knowledge from their own level.  In September, this might even be based on our visits to see your child in their nursery setting so we can use our knowledge of the children right from the start.  Resources that support our teacher lead learning sessions are also available during Adventure Time to enrich the children’s learning and allow them to deepen their knowledge and interest. 

Children quickly develop independence as we want every child to “think and do for themselves”.  They organise their own belongings, change into their outdoor clothing and take care of their environment.   In the lunch hall, they are encouraged to clear up after themselves, though of course, there is adult supervision at all times to ensure safely and to teach the initial skills needed to go on to be independent. 

The children experience a busy and fulfilling day, where they learn together, led by a strong team of adults who are passionate about Early Years and children developing skills and knowledge at the start of their primary school journey. 

A sample timetable for a typical day in Reception is available on your child’s Class Page of the website https://www.southborough.kent.sch.uk/class-pages/.  This page will also include weekly updates and photographs and information about the curriculum and topics taught in class. 

What should my child be able to do before starting school?

We know that each child is unique and there is no ‘one size fits all’ for what they can or should be able to do.  However, it would be helpful if they were able to put on and take off their school shoes, wellies and coats to enable them to access our fantastic learning environments, both inside and outside more speedily. Ideally children starting Reception should also be able to use the loo, wash their hands, and eat with a knife and fork independently. 

Here is a link to BBC Bitesize which has some useful resources for your child to support them during this transition.    

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/collections/starting-primary-school/1   

And here are more useful resources.  

https://startingreception.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Starting-Reception.pdf