Dragonflies

Welcome to Dragonflies Class Page

What you need to know about dragonflies...

“We can do anything if we believe we can!”

We are a hardworking, polite, friendly class who are ready to learn.

At Willowcroft Community School Foundation Stage we are proud of our caring, creative and happy environment where all individuals are valued equally and encouraged to achieve their full potential. We are a kind, friendly, hardworking and generally an amazing class.

Our lovely Teacher is called Miss Day and our wonderful Teaching Assistant is called Miss Franklin and our amazing Interventions Teaching Assistants are called Miss McCann and Miss Dye.

This term our topic is......

Animals

We will be starting our new topic this term and have lots of exciting learning planned. In the Early Years Foundation Stage, we plan our teaching alongside the children’s interests. If the class is really interested and engaged in a particular topic or an activity spurs them on to want to find out more, we adapt our teaching and what we are doing to match their enthusiasm!

Dates for your diary

Monday 7^th may – Bank holiday

Thursday 17^th May – No gold book

Thursday 24^th May – Stay and Play

The Early Years Curriculum (EYFS)

The Reception class provides a broad and balanced curriculum which embraces the seven areas of learning in the Early Years Foundation Stage. In Reception we focus on the development of the individual child and, during your child’s time in Dragonflies class, he or she will experience a great variety of activities based on these seven areas of learning through structured activities and carefully planned play:

Prime Areas:

Personal, Social and Emotional Development

Physical Development

Communication and Language

Specific Areas:

Literacy

Mathematics

Understanding the World

Expressive Arts and Design

Our Indoor Environment

The indoor curriculum provides a stimulating learning environment and opportunities for the children to experience a quiet reading corner, interactive whiteboard, role play area, writing area, construction area, creative area, maths area and an understanding the world area. There is a wide range of resources available to the children.

Our Outdoor Environment

The outdoor environment mirrors the indoor learning environment within Reception and it is used daily within the daily routine. Children will be able to access resources to develop the seven areas of learning. Outdoor learning is key to developing children’s independence, physical development and to offer exploration and investigation opportunities.

How can I check my child’s progress?

Miss Day will assess your child regularly using the Foundation Stage Profile which enables us to track your child’s development. Continual assessment is carried out on every pupil through observations, annotating their work, questioning and monitoring reading. Assessments are recorded in a number of ways in each child’s individual profile including short observations, learning journey weeks and photographs.

Your child’s progress will be discussed at a Parents Evening in the

Autumn and Spring term.

Our Ethos

A Safe and Secure Place to Learn: Clear boundaries and rules are explored with the children so they understand why they are in place promoting confidence and security. ‘If a child feels security and love they can be happy. If a child is happy they can learn’. Willowcroft EYFS staff 2015.

The Adults: The staff are facilitators for learning, where adults and children learn alongside each other. Adults listen to children and work together. We do this through Sustained Shared Thinking.

Parents as Partners: We understand the importance of parents in their role as prime educators and work with parents to build on home experiences to help facilitate learning. We hold information/teaching session so that parents can understand our strategies and policies.

Forest School: A wealth of outdoor learning opportunities. A choice for every child to play, explore and make sense of the world around them.

Key Worker Approach: The key worker approach is an effective way of enabling you and your child to develop a strong relationship with a significant adult in the setting. The adult is responsible for your child’s development including emotional welfare as well as their next steps, which you have access to at any time.