At Christ Church and Holy Trinity Primary schools we recognise the importance of the early years of a child’s development and fully appreciate the vital role that you as parents play in your son’s or daughter's early education.
You are, and will continue to be, your child’s first and most important teacher, and we aim to continue your good work by providing a safe, secure and nurturing environment in our Reception Class.
The transition from home or nursery to a fulltime school is a massive step for both you and your child and we seek to ease this transition via the provision of a rich curriculum and a team of staff which are sympathetic the to the needs of pupils and of their parents. We take care to offer a gentle induction into school life and place a huge emphasis upon home school links and effective communication with parents. In practical terms this means you and your child will always be greeted with a friendly face and a listening ear, even in a busy Early Years classroom.
In the spirit of the Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum our approach is a holistic one, meaning that our first concern is the social and emotional well-being of the children in our care. As a Church School we place much value upon a school community that is harmonious and caring; from Reception Class to Year 6 all pupils and staff are expected to treat one another with kindness and respect.
At the beginning our children’s school life there is much to be learned and some social skills need to be taught explicitly-for example the need to share and respect school equipment, to listen carefully to friends and adults and to learn self care skills and independence when becoming familiar with daily routines.
The children are sensitively led through new experiences and given ample time to get to know the many new people in their lives – adults and children. Games and activities are planned to help encourage communication skills and to model appropriate behaviour; it is a testament to our talented team of Early Years Practitioners that the majority of children settle quickly and happily into school life.
The younger children are lucky enough to have their own dedicated out door space and much use is made of this; it is proven that children are happier, more creative and more open to learning experiences when outside. For this reason, the children in YR are given an opportunity to learn outside daily, come rain or shine! Our outside classroom is an important part of our school day and experiences there provide long lasting and happy memories for your child as he or she moves through the school.
As the children prepare to say goodbye to Reception Class, the class teacher ensures that they are prepared for the transition into Year One; again this is managed sensitively and gently, so ensuring that the children are happy to take their seats in a new classroom and embrace an equally exciting range of brand new experiences in Year One.