Welcome to Reception at Shefford Lower School

Reception is an exciting milestone and marks the beginning of your child's full-time school journey. Children attend school each day from 8:40am to 3:15pm, where they are welcomed into a caring, stimulating and inclusive environment in which they can thrive.

We are also pleased to offer our Reception children the opportunity to attend our free Breakfast Club, which runs from 8:20am each morning. Breakfast Club provides a calm and friendly start to the school day and can be booked through the school office.

Our Reception curriculum follows the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Statutory Framework, providing children with a rich balance of play-based learning, carefully planned experiences and high-quality adult-led teaching. Through these experiences, children develop confidence, curiosity and a lifelong love of learning.

Meet The Reception Team

Starting Reception 

Children are invited to visit the setting before they start. Home visits or meet the teacher meetings take place during the Summer before children start. These help staff get to know each child and support a calm transition into the setting. We also stagger the children starting in September, enabling us to support the children in a smaller group when they first enter the setting. 

For information regarding our uniform by clicking HERE 

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Our EYFS Principles

A Unique Child
Every child is valued as an individual. We celebrate each child's interests, strengths and achievements, supporting them to reach their full potential at their own pace.

Positive Relationships
Children flourish when they feel safe, secure and valued. We build strong, trusting relationships with our pupils and work in close partnership with parents and carers to support every child's learning and wellbeing.

Enabling Environments
Our welcoming indoor and outdoor learning environments are carefully designed to inspire curiosity, encourage exploration and promote independence through meaningful, hands-on experiences.

Learning and Development
We recognise that every child learns in different ways and at different rates. By providing a thoughtful balance of child-initiated play, adult-guided activities and focused teaching, we help children develop the knowledge, skills and confidence they need for the next stage of their education.

The Early Years Foundation Stage allows Children to learn through a combination of whole class sessions, small group teaching and independent exploration. Children will learn through seven areas of learning.

These are: 

• Communication and language 
• Physical development
• Personal, social and emotional development
• Literacy
• Mathematics
• Understanding the world
• Expressive arts and design 

 The Continuous Provision consists of the classroom environments and the outdoor area. Areas have been carefully designed to ensure that children have the opportunity to fulfil the seven areas of the curriculum through play, exploration and collaboration. We teach the children a range of skills, which they are then able to apply during their play.  

Food & Drink 

All Reception children receive free school meals until the end of Year 2. Meals must be pre-ordered through Parent Pay. Children may bring a packed lunch from home if preferred. Lunches should be healthy and must not include nuts, nut products or sweets. Free fruit and milk are provided each day.

Home Learning 

In Reception, home learning is most effective when it is playful and part of everyday life. Sharing stories, singing songs, spotting numbers on doors, counting steps, talking while cooking, playing games, drawing, building, mark making or practising sounds in a fun way all help children to grow in confidence. These small moments give children the chance to revisit what they have been learning in school without it feeling pressured. Thank you for supporting your child through play, talk and encouragement at home.

Each week via our closed Facebook group and on our website we will let you know what we are focusing on with the children in school and ways in which you can support your children with this at home. After the first October half term children will start to bring reading books home and we will provide information about these through parent workshops. More information about these will come out via parent mail closer to the time.

Physical Education In Reception 

In Reception, we build the foundations for PE through our physical development provision. Children have lots of opportunities to develop their strength, balance, coordination and control through climbing, running, jumping, digging, carrying, building, dancing, mark making and using tools. These skills are developed through our indoor and outdoor provision, as well as through games, movement activities and daily routines. As the children grow in confidence, we support them to listen to instructions, move safely in a space, work with a partner or group, and begin to understand how their bodies move.

In the Summer term, we introduce PE lessons to help prepare children for Year 1. Children will not need a PE kit in Reception, but they will need a pair of trainers in school for these sessions. You will be told your child's PE day later on in the year.

Working Together 

We value strong communication with families. Parents are invited to review meetings in autumn and spring terms. In addition to this, you receive a mid term review as well as an end of year written report in the summer. Regular updates are shared through Parentmail and our closed Facebook group. If you have a general enquiry, feel free to ask staff during drop off or collection, but do let us know if you would like to discuss something in more detail. We will be happy to give you a call or book in a meeting with you. You can also email the school office with any enquiries. 

Our ‘Scrapbooks’ are used to help children talk about their family and home life. These are sent home at intervals across the year and help build connections between home and school. 

If you have a question or concern at any time, staff are available to talk with you. 

Supporting your child's learning

 We really look forward to welcoming you and your child to our school. 

To make any general enquiries, discuss admissions, arrange a visit or find out more:  

email: schooloffice@shefford.cbeds.co.uk 

Phone: 01462 629123 

Email: schooloffice@shefford.cbeds.co.uk 

Phone: 01462 629123