Welcome to the Reception class page at St Bernard’s Catholic Primary School!

Starting Reception is an exciting milestone for children and their families. Our aim is to make this a happy, positive experience, helping every child feel safe, valued and ready to learn as they begin their journey with us.

Guided by our school mission, “You are precious in my eyes”, we want every child to know that they belong, that their contributions matter and that they can achieve great things.

Here you will find useful information about life in Reception, including our school day, what your child needs, our curriculum and important updates throughout the year.

We look forward to working in partnership with you to help your child flourish within our St Bernard’s school family.

Our School Day

Our school day starts at 8.40am and finishes at 3.10pm.

Children have lunch at 11.45am, with afternoon learning beginning at 12.45pm.

Throughout the day, children experience a balance of adult-led teaching, guided activities, purposeful play and opportunities to explore their own interests. We encourage children to develop independence, build friendships and grow in confidence as learners.

Learning Indoors and Outdoors

Our Reception classroom and outdoor learning environment provide a rich range of opportunities for children to explore, investigate, create and develop their understanding of the world around them.

Through carefully planned activities and purposeful play, children develop their communication, physical skills, creativity, problem-solving and independence.

Our outdoor provision is available in all weather conditions, so please ensure your child has the following items in school:

  • Named wellies

  • Named waterproof clothing

We encourage children to become as independent as possible. Practising putting on shoes, managing buttons and zips, and changing clothing at home will help your child feel more confident during the school day.

Please ensure all belongings are clearly labelled with your child's name.

Water Bottles

Children should bring a named water bottle containing water only each day.

Children have access to their water throughout the day, apart from during carpet inputs, which last approximately 15 minutes in the morning and afternoon.

Please ensure bottles are brought into school each day and can be opened and closed independently wherever possible.

PE

PE takes place every Tuesday morning at present.

Your child will need a named PE kit containing:

  • A plain red T-shirt

  • Black shorts

  • Sensible black or white-soled trainers with Velcro fastenings

  • A named drawstring PE bag

PE kits are sent home at the end of each term to be washed.

We encourage children to develop independence when changing for PE. Practising putting on and taking off T-shirts, shorts, socks and shoes at home will help your child become more confident and ready to participate.

Morning Snack

Toast and milk are offered in the morning.

Milk is provided free of charge until your child turns five. Payment arrangements for toast and/or milk are communicated through the school office.

If your child does not have toast, you are welcome to provide one piece of fruit for their morning snack.

Please ensure any food brought into school is suitable for your child to manage independently.

What Are We Learning?

Our Reception curriculum follows the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and is designed to give children the knowledge, skills and confidence they need for the next stage of their education.

We provide a balance of adult-led teaching, guided learning and child-initiated experiences, allowing children to develop essential skills while exploring, investigating and following their interests.

Our curriculum covers seven areas of learning:

  • Communication and Language

  • Personal, Social and Emotional Development

  • Physical Development

  • Literacy

  • Mathematics

  • Understanding the World

  • Expressive Arts and Design

Through stories, phonics, mathematics, creative activities, outdoor learning and purposeful play, children develop their understanding of the world and become increasingly independent learners.

Our curriculum also reflects the values of St Bernard’s. We encourage children to show compassion, develop resilience, experience joy, care for their wellbeing, act with integrity and strive for excellence.

Curriculum Intent

Our intention is to provide every child with a confident and successful start to school through a nurturing, inclusive and ambitious curriculum.

We build on children's individual starting points and provide carefully planned learning experiences that develop knowledge, vocabulary, independence and positive learning behaviours.

We want our children to leave Reception as confident communicators, enthusiastic readers, developing writers, curious mathematicians and thoughtful members of our school community.

Our EYFS Principles

Our EYFS provision is built around strong relationships, purposeful learning, high expectations and the belief that every child is precious.

We recognise the importance of knowing each child as an individual and working closely with families to support their development. Through meaningful interactions, carefully planned teaching and opportunities for independent exploration, we help children develop the foundations they need to flourish.

Keeping Children Safe Online

We want children to develop the knowledge and understanding they need to stay safe as they grow and learn.

Online safety is an important part of helping children understand how to use technology appropriately, recognise trusted adults and begin to learn simple ways to keep themselves safe.

We encourage parents and carers to talk regularly with their children about using devices safely and to ensure that children's online experiences are age-appropriate and supervised.

Please refer to our online safety information and resources for further guidance.

Mathematics

We place a strong emphasis on developing children's understanding of early mathematics, particularly number sense.

During Reception, children explore numbers, patterns, counting, subitising, comparing quantities and the relationships between numbers. They develop their understanding through practical activities, mathematical talk, games, songs and carefully planned adult-led teaching.

We want children to develop a secure understanding of number rather than simply memorising number facts. This helps them build the foundations needed for future mathematical learning.

Understanding Early Number in Reception

Early number sense is about understanding what numbers mean, how quantities relate to one another and how numbers can be represented in different ways.

Children have opportunities to count objects accurately, recognise small quantities without counting, compare groups, explore patterns and explain their mathematical thinking.

Early Number Sense

Families can support mathematical development at home through simple everyday activities, such as counting steps, comparing quantities, spotting numbers, sharing objects equally and talking about shapes and patterns.

Watch the video below to find out more about developing early number understanding in Reception.

Keeping Up to Date

We want families to feel informed and involved in life at St Bernard’s. Important information, reminders and updates are shared throughout the school year.

Our Friday Newsletter is sent to families through Arbor. It contains important school news, upcoming dates, reminders and information about events and activities.

Please check Arbor regularly so that you do not miss important updates.

Latest News

Keep up to date with the latest news, celebrations and events from across St Bernard’s through our school website and regular communications.

We love celebrating the children's achievements and sharing the exciting things happening throughout our school community.

Contacting the Reception Team

If you need to speak to your child's teacher or teaching assistant, please contact the school office to arrange a suitable time.

We ask parents and carers not to rely on conversations at the beginning or end of the school day, as staff's priority at these times is ensuring that children arrive and leave school safely, calmly and with the correct adult.

We value positive communication with families and will always aim to work together to support your child's wellbeing and learning.

Useful Information

Please use this section to find important information to help your child settle into Reception and enjoy a successful school year.

If you have any questions or need further support, please contact the school office. We are always keen to work in partnership with families to ensure that every child feels happy, safe and supported.

Our St Bernard’s Reception Class

At St Bernard’s Catholic Primary School, we want every child to feel a sense of belonging, develop a love of learning and grow in confidence as they discover their unique strengths and abilities.

Guided by our mission, “You are precious in my eyes”, we celebrate every child and encourage them to live out our school values of Wellbeing, Joy, Resilience, Integrity, Excellence and Compassion.

Thank you for being part of our school family. We look forward to sharing a wonderful year of learning, discovery and achievement with you.

Every child is precious. Every child belongs. Every child can flourish.