WELCOME

A very warm welcome to Tadley Primary School. We are looking forward to getting to know you and your child. This page is designed to offer you all the information you will need to support your child starting school with us in September.

If you have any questions or queries please email the admin team on adminoffice@tadley.hants.sch.uk.

A day in the life of a Reception child at Tadley Primary School

We have one Reception Class  and we are looking forward to welcoming you to our school!

Reception is the final year of the Foundation Stage, where children work towards achieving their Early Learning Goals. 

Here at Tadley Primary, our children follow a play-based and child-led curriculum. We listen to your child’s curiosities and interests to plan our lessons. Along with having many opportunities to play, we also have more formal lessons that take place on a daily basis. Lessons include; Phonics, Reading, Writing and Maths.

Each foundation stage area is also incorporated within the areas we set up around our environment - the Discovery Room, the classroom and our fully enclosed outdoor space.

During Reception, your child will become increasingly involved in daily school life, such as having lunch in the school hall, participating in whole-school assemblies, trips, whole school events, Sports Day and being a part of a Nativity.

Each week, children take part in one P.E. lesson and one outdoor learning session in the school’s wooded area, supporting Physical Development, Personal, Social and Emotional Development and an understanding of the natural world.

A typical day in Reception:

This is an example of a typical day in Reception. At the beginning of the year, children spend a greater proportion of time accessing continuous provision, allowing them to settle into school, develop independence and build secure foundations through play. As the year progresses, the structure of the day is adapted in response to children’s development, ensuring progression across all areas of learning. 

8.40 – Doors open and early morning activities
Children enter the classroom independently, organise their belongings and engage in purposeful early morning activities. These routines support the development of self-regulation, independence and positive learning behaviours.

8.50 – Register and morning discussion
Children discuss the day ahead, choose lunch options and complete the calendar. Sharing experiences from home supports vocabulary development, confidence and attentive listening.

9.00–9.20 – Drawing Club 
Drawing Club supports development in Communication and Language, Literacy and Expressive Arts and Design. High-quality texts are used to stimulate discussion, imagination and storytelling. Adults model language, introduce ambitious vocabulary and support children to express ideas through talk, drawing and early mark-making.

9.20–10.20 – Carousel activities (This normally starts in the Spring term)
Children take part in focused activities that develop fine motor control, hand strength and early writing skills. Activities adapt throughout the year in response to assessment. Snack and milk is always an activity during the carousel and promotes independence and social communication.

10.20–11.30 – Discovery Time (continuous provision)
Children access high-quality continuous provision indoors and outdoors. Provision supports all prime and specific areas of the EYFS. Adults observe, interact and intervene effectively to extend learning and support sustained progress.

11.30–11.50 – Phonics
Phonics is taught through the Little Wandle programme, supporting early reading development. Sessions focus on listening, rhyme, blending and segmenting. Teaching is reinforced through continuous provision. In the Autumn and Spring terms, the children learn 4 new sounds a week. In the Summer term, the children start to learn spelling rules and to read longer words. 

11.50–12.00 – Story time and preparation for lunch
Children enjoy high-quality texts daily, supporting language comprehension, vocabulary and a love of reading.

12.00 – Lunch time
Lunchtime supports social development, independence and self-care skills. Children eat in the school hall and then access their own outdoor play area.

1.00 – Afternoon register

1.05 – Talk Through Stories
Talk Through Stories supports language comprehension, vocabulary development and narrative understanding. Stories are revisited and discussed in depth.

1.20 – Reading groups 
After the October half-term, children take part in small-group reading sessions. Books are matched to each child’s phonics knowledge to support decoding, fluency and comprehension.

1.50–2.45 – Discovery Time
Children continue to access continuous provision with opportunities for free-flow play and focused adult-led activities.

2.45–3.05 – Maths
Maths sessions develop number sense, counting skills and understanding of shape, space and measure. Teaching follows the Mastering Number programme by NCTEM. 

3.05 – Story time, reflection and preparation for home
The day ends with reflection on learning and achievements before children prepare independently for home time.