Welcome to Reception – the best possible start

At St Christopher’s, our Reception year is a joyful and inspiring step in your child’s learning journey.

Building carefully on the strong foundations developed in Nursery and Pre-Reception, we ensure every child settles quickly, feels confident, and thrives both socially and academically. Thanks to our nurturing environment and high-quality teaching, many of our children begin Reception already working beyond national expectations – and we are proud to continue challenging and supporting them to achieve their very best.

What Makes Our Reception Special?

A smooth transition

Moving into Reception feels natural and exciting, with familiar routines and supportive staff helping children flourish from day one.

Theme-based learning that inspires curiosity

Each term is built around engaging, imaginative themes that bring learning to life while extending well beyond the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum.

A strong academic foundation

Our curriculum covers all seven EYFS areas, with particular focus on the three prime areas: Communication and Language, Physical Development and Personal, Social and Emotional Development, alongside the four specific areas of Literacy, Mathematics Understanding the World and Expressive Arts and Design.

Engaging Learning Every Day

• Daily Phonics: Tailored daily phonics support for each child to enhance their individual learning.
• Dynamic Teaching: Whole class teaching introduces and consolidates learning, followed by small focused groups to ensure optimal progress.
• Guided and Independent Activities: Engaging, practical, and fun activities cater to both guided and independent learning opportunities.

Learning Through Play, Exploration and Discovery

• Children enjoy choosing from a wide range of purposeful activities, including, role play and storytelling, writing and mark-making, Maths challenge, creative junk modelling and art projects.
• Our outdoor learning spaces are used daily and refreshed regularly to reflect current themes, keeping learning exciting and active.

Building Confident Writers

Children are gently introduced to cursive handwriting three times a week using a range of multi-sensory tools to develop strong fine motor skills and early writing confidence.

Celebrating Every Child’s Learning Journey

Each child has their own Learning Journey, capturing key achievements, teacher-led activities and self-initiated learning. This is supported by a ‘Ready to Write’ book and an Art Sketchbook.

Parents are warmly encouraged to share special moments and milestones through ‘Wow’ milestones, strengthening the partnership between home and school.

Working in Partnership with Parents

We believe communication is key. Families receive regular updates on progress through Parents’ Evenings, mid-year targets and comprehensive end-of-year reports.

Specialist teaching and enriching experiences – from trips and visitors to exciting after school clubs – are also a huge part of every day life.

Building Confidence, Curiosity and a Love of Learning

Years 1 and 2 form an exciting and nurturing stage in your child’s school journey, where strong foundations are built in reading, writing, maths and wider learning.

Transitions between year groups are carefully supported, with opportunities for children to meet their new teachers, explore classrooms and feel confident about the year ahead. Teachers work closely together to ensure continuity of learning and a smooth, happy start each year.

Parents are invited to transition meetings to learn about the curriculum and expectations, with families also receiving guidance on future schools pathways, including the 7+ process.

What Makes Learning So Special?

Engaging Topic-Based Learning: Exciting termly topics bring learning to life across the curriculum, encouraging curiosity and creativity.

Strong Academic Progress: Interactive, well-planned lessons support rapid development in English and Mathematics, with key skills naturally embedded into everyday learning.

Personalised Learning: Small class sizes allow teachers to tailor learning to each child’s needs, offering additional support or challenge where appropriate.

SENCO Guidance: Our Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator works closely with teachers to provide targeted programmes for children who benefit from extra support.

Subjects Taught by Class Teachers

• English & Literacy (Reading, Writing, Phonics, Handwriting, Speaking, Listening and Spelling)
• Mathematics
• Science
• History & Geography
• Art and Design Technology (in addition to dedicated lessons with our Specialist Art Teacher)
• Personal, Social, Health, and Education (PSHE), including Relationships and Health

Specialist Teaching

Children enjoy specialist-led lessons in French, Music, Art, Physical Education (PE) and Forest School to further enrich the curriculum and help children discover new interests and talents. Learn more here.

Learning with Technology

iPads are thoughtfully integrated across subjects to support creativity, research and topic work using carefully chosen educational apps.

Enriching Experiences

Educational trips, classroom visitors and experiences and a wide range of after-school clubs make learning exciting and memorable. This culminates in Year 2 with the eagerly-anticipated Year 2 residential. Learn more here.

Growing into Leaders in Year 2

In Year 2, every child takes on a leadership role of responsibility such as Head Boy and Head Girl, House Captains and Music Captains, alongside Future Leaders lessons.

They also enjoy special performance opportunities including the Year 2 Pantomime, starring roles in the Summer Production, learning a musical instrument and performing in termly concerts. Children who play instruments outside of school are also invited to perform and celebrate their talents.

Working in Partnership with Parents

We believe that strong communication between home and school is key to every child’s success. Parents are kept well informed through regular parents’ evenings, mid-year progress updates with clear targets and detailed end-of-year reports, alongside open communication and ongoing support throughout the year.

Families are also warmly invited into school for book looks and a rich calendar of events, giving opportunities to celebrate children’s learning and achievements through assemblies, Harvest Festival, Christmas performances and Summer productions.