Reception - Ducklings and Chicks 2024 - 2025

Useful Information for the Ducklings and Chicks Class

Welcome to Reedley Primary School. We are so excited that you are starting school with us and we can’t wait to have lots of fun and learn new things with you!

We understand that every child is unique and our team will support them on their individual learning journey. All adults aim to be available to answer questions or queries so please do not hesitate to approach a member of the team.

Please see below for more information and FAQs.

The Teachers in Reception are Miss Hume (Phase Leader and Ducklings classteacher) and Mrs King (Chicks classteacher)

Other staff that work with us are Mrs Mehmood Teaching Assistant and Miss Taylor (Teaching Assistant Apprentice)

Mrs Jaleel will be working with Reception on Thursday mornings

UNIFORM

Boys - Black or grey trousers, white polo shirt and a royal blue sweatshirt (Y6 NAVY)

Girls – Black or Grey dress or skirt, white polo shirt, blue checked dress, blue sweatshirt or cardigan. Girls can wear leggings or trousers.

The children need to wear black school shoes with no logos. Trainers are not part of the school uniform.

HEADSCARVES

Girls can choose to wear a headscarf if they wish to. These should be plain black, blue or white and should

have no decorations, and must not be fastened by pins. They should not be longer than shoulder length and must

be removed for PE.

PE

Our PE day will be on a Friday

Children need to have a red polo t shirt, black shorts and black pumps. Kits and PE bags (not pumps) can be bought from

the school office.

Children can have plain black tracksuit bottoms for outside PE when the weather is colder.

The PE kit should be brought into school and remain here until the end of each term, when it can be taken home for washing.

JEWELLERY

Jewellery is not allowed in school expect for a small pair of stud earrings and a watch. For PE lessons, the earrings must be

covered over with plasters (provided by the parent) or removed. For swimming lessons earrings must be removed. The children

must be able to remove them themselves. Please keep all other jewellery at home at all times for safety purposes. If I have to

take it from your child, it could get lost.

READING BOOK AND BOOK BAG

Children need a school bookbag – not a rucksack as we do not have the space to store these in the day.

They need to bring this to school every day.

PROCEDURES FOR CHANGING BOOKS inc State what you need parents/cares to note in the diary.

We ask that all children read with an adult at home for around 10 minutes every day.

WATER  - Children should bring a clear, plastic water bottle everyday with their name on. This should not have juice in.

·       In our class we put our bottles ….CLASS procedures for drinking water eg after playtime, at designated times, not on tables

HOMEWORK  -

·       We will send a list of Homework activities to do over each half term. These are to be done in the homework book. On

Tuesday they will be collected and then sent home on a Thursday.

·       Homework is usually to consolidate something we have already learnt in class and it is really important that it is completed.

·       If your child is not able to complete the work, please let us know

We recommend that they try to do around 10 minutes each day on this at home to support their work in school.

If the work is not done, we will chat to you on the playground or give you a call to check that everything is ok.

KNOWLEDGE ORGANISER 

We will send home knowledge organisers throughout the year so that you can be aware of what your child will be learning and

you can start to discuss the topic and key vocabulary with your child.

READING FOR PLEASURE

There is a Reading For Pleasure Scheme that takes place each year, The children are asked to complete tasks related to

different animals, working their way through the alphabet.

We expect them to complete one per fortnight on average. There are certificates for those children who complete them.

CLASS TRIP/VISITORS

Later on in the year we will be taking a trip to a farm.

PLEASE BE ON TIME

It is important that children arrive at school on time as learning in my class starts at 8.50am. This is when we start our new

learning and we do not want children to miss these important times.

HANDWRITING

In school we use the following handwriting formations. It would be really helpful if you ask you child to help you do some

writing at home. Maybe they can write the shopping list or a list of jobs that you need to do in town.

Additional Information

We have found useful links with online resources which are useful to read. They can support you to prepare your child for school,

helping them with home learning, develop crucial communication and language skills.

• Please click the following link for useful information about how to support your child with school readiness. www.lancashire.gov.uk/children-education-families/early-yearschildcare-and-family-support/family-support/getting-ready-to-startschool/
• Bitesize and CBeebies have some activities and games linked to starting school. Play this fun game it’s all about going to school: https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/topics/zhtcvk7/articles/znc9vk7 
• On the CBeebies website you can watch Topsy and Tim on their first day at school and there’s lots of advice for both
• children and parents: https://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/curations/starting-school-curation
• Book Trust is the UK's largest children's reading charity. Their website has lots of ideas for families: https://www.booktrust.org.uk/
• Tom Hardy reads a bedtime story, Don't Worry Little Crab by Chris Haughton. It's all about a little crab overcoming his
• worries with a little help and encouragement. https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m000hs1y/cbeebies-bedtime-stories-753-tom-hardy-the-problem-with-problems
• Book trust has information about supporting bedtime routines. https://www.booktrust.org.uk/books-and-reading/tips-and-advice/bath-book-bed/
• CBeebies have a story time app that can be downloaded for free; https://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/apps/cbeebies-storytime-app
• Music activities with young children support their physical and mental wellbeing by encouraging movement and providing
• a means of expression. The songs on CBeebies music time are varied and fun for everyone. https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p05532jj
• Try out some yoga and mindfulness to help your child to relax and soothe any anxieties  https://www.youtube.com/user/CosmicKidsYoga
• Characteristics of effective learning – information for parents. https://famly.co/blog/the-child/sue-allingham-characteristics-effectivelearning/
• Hungry Little Minds is a fantastic website which was launched by the Department for Education to encourage parents and carers to engage in activities that support their child's early learning and help set them up for school and beyond. www.hungrylittleminds.campaign.gov.uk/
• The National Literacy Trust’s new project, Small Talk, aims to support the language development of 30,000 children under
• the age of five by equipping parents with the skills and confidence they need to chat, play and read with their child every
• day. www.small-talk.org.uk/
• Tiny Happy People helps parents to develop their child's communication skills. It offers simple activities and play ideas to
• help parents find out about their amazing early development. www.bbc.co.uk/tiny-happy-people
• Here are some ideas of how you can support your child with their home learning. www.lancsngfl.ac.uk/curriculum/early_years/
• And another couple of useful websites, which might help… www.easypeasyapp.com/       www.new.phonicsplay.co.uk/

At Reedley we instill a love of reading. Please support us by reading regularly at home. Here are some easy ways you can make reading a part of every day:

• Don’t worry about how long you read for. Every minute spent reading makes a bigger difference than you realise!
• Don’t worry about what your kids are reading: recipes, cereal packets, magazines… It’s all useful! Keep books and other reading materials close by.
• Reading to children of all ages is helpful. If your little one isn’t reading by themselves yet, read with them.
• Ask lots of questions: Who, what, where, when and why and ask them to summarise when you’ve finished.

Tips on doing jobs or playing with your children – the TRUST approach. Here is a tool to help your child think and talk about the

world around them. The TRUST approach can be used when you are talking with your child, such as when you are reading,

doing jobs together or playing:

• Take turns to talk about what you are going to do. Say things like: “I’m going to wear my red jumper today. What colour
• jumper would you like to wear”
• Recap the plan as you are working. Say things like: “Why do you think that happened?”
• Use lots of encouragement. Say things like: “What great ideas… Let’s see what happens!” Share what you know to help
• your child.
• Say things like: “Have you learnt about…at school?”
• Tune-in and be interested. Say things like: “I didn’t know you knew so much about…!”

Here are a few tips for how you can support maths learning every day:

• Board games like Snakes and Ladders or other games with numbered spaces can be great for maths learning. You can
• even make your own!
• Meals and snack times can be great to teach lots of concepts, like sharing, talking about time, counting how many carrots
• you have, estimating the number of beans or comparing sizes of potatoes.
• Use maths words in conversation and play. This can include talking about size (“Which is bigger?”), order (“Which is first?”), shapes and more.
• Stories can be great opportunities for maths learning. One great free resource for maths stories is https://www.mathsthroughstories.org/recommendations.html but you can use other books too!
• Use manipulatives like bricks or toys of different sizes or amounts. Measuring items, scales, construction materials,
• puzzles, sorting and pattern materials are also great sources for discussion! Check out these other resources from the EEF
• for more helpful tips. Here are some easy steps to help you build a great home learning routine with your child.

Helpful tips for positive behaviour:

• Point it out when your child is doing something right and say well done!
• Talk with your child about each other’s learning struggles and coping strategies. Don’t be afraid to be open about getting it wrong and trying a different strategy.
• No one knows your child as well as you. Speak to your child and trust your judgement about what works for them above any general advice.
• Regular routines help support positive behaviour and learning.

CONCERNS

If you have any concerns or questions at any time, we are happy to chat to you. You can catch us on the playground at the end of the day or you can book an appointment or telephone call with us.

Call Mrs Iqbal on 01282 693688 if you require an appointment.