Our Reception follows the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Statutory Framework, which sets the standards for the learning, development and care of children from birth to five years old. In Reception, children learn through high-quality play experiences that are carefully planned around exciting themes whilst remaining responsive to their individual interests, needs and stages of development. Through a balance of child-initiated exploration and adult-guided learning, children are encouraged to be curious, creative and confident learners.
Our curriculum takes children on an engaging journey throughout the year, beginning with All About Me as they settle into school life and develop a strong sense of self. Children then broaden their understanding of the world around them through topics such as Through My Eyes, Everyday Superheroes and We're on the Move, before exploring nature in Tiny Roots and Mighty Shoots and ending the year with At the Seaside.
Each topic is designed to build knowledge, language and understanding through meaningful, hands-on experiences. By following children's fascinations and interests alongside our carefully sequenced curriculum, we create a stimulating environment where every child can thrive, develop independence and foster a lifelong love of learning.
Our Reception provision consists of three classes and a large outdoor learning environment exclusively for Reception children. Carefully designed to extend and enhance children's learning, the outdoor area includes a climbing frame, sandpit, water area, digging area, mud kitchen, role-play area, stage, reading shed, construction area, art wall and bike track.
Children are encouraged to move freely between the indoor and outdoor environments during Adventure Time, allowing them to follow their interests, develop independence and apply their learning in meaningful ways. Whether creating, building, exploring, performing, reading or investigating the natural world, children have access to a wide range of rich learning opportunities that support all areas of the EYFS curriculum.
At Green Ridge Primary Academy, children learn to read and write through the Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised phonics programme. Daily phonics lessons provide children with the building blocks they need to become confident readers and writers, teaching them how sounds and letters work together to form words.
In addition to daily phonics teaching, children take part in a designated literacy session based around a high-quality picture book. These carefully planned sessions develop children's vocabulary, comprehension and love of reading, while providing meaningful opportunities to apply and embed their phonics knowledge in reading and writing activities.
Alongside these focused teaching sessions, children have many opportunities to further develop their phonics skills during Adventure Time. Whether reading stories, writing in role-play areas, exploring word games or engaging in mark-making activities, children are encouraged to practise and apply their learning in meaningful and enjoyable ways throughout the day.