Oak: Reception and Nursery
Welcome to Oak Class - Reception and Nursery. Oak Class teacher is Mrs Wheeler.
Welcome to Oak Class! The children have all settled well into school life and we are really getting to grips with our learning, especially phonics. The children have been really excited to bring their book bags to school this term, ready to start taking books home.
Our theme this term is Space. We have a fantastic outdoor role play area set up as a space rocket and have including some props from the book Whatever Next. We have space playdough, moon sand and sensory rice in our sensory tray and have enjoyed using our slide. We have also started Forest School this term on a Tuesday afternoon and are having lots of fun exploring.
Celebrating Term 2 so far:
All about Oak Class
Purposeful play is at the heart of our unit. Friendships are formed and basic skills are learned through play based activities and social skills are developed at every opportunity. We welcome each child as an individual and look forward to celebrating their successes and achievements whilst working with families to help them meet their full potential.
In Oak Class we have reception and nursery aged children creating a wonderful Early Years Unit. The age groups are named as the following:
Children who turn 3 from September onwards, who won’t start reception until 2021, are known as Acorn 1s.
Children who are pre-school age and will be starting school in September 2020, are known as Acorn 2s.
Children who are in reception this year, are known as Acorn 3s.
Acorns 1 and 2
Nursery children can begin in Oak Class when they are 3. The sessions available are:
9-12pm
9-1pm (this includes lunch time)
9-3pm
12-3pm
Children receive Early Years Entitlement Funding (15 hours per week) the term after their 3rd birthday. Children may also be entitled to 30 hours funding. If children are not in receipt of funding the hourly rate is £5 per hour. More information about funding can be found here: BANES Funded Childcare for 3 and 4 year olds.
Children can attend our breakfast club (£2.50), this is available Monday and Friday from 7.45am. If your child is staying for lunch you can order a cooked lunch at a cost of £2.80 or they can bring a packed lunch. A morning snack is provided.
To ensure a smooth transition all children have settling-in sessions, these will be discussed once confirmation has been given that your child has a space within the nursery. To come and visit us at the school please contact the school office to book an appointment.
Our Curriculum in Oak Class
Our curriculum is based on the interests of children and relevant events and occasions, through planned, purposeful play and through a mix of adult-led and child initiated activity. Whilst learning, children are encouraged to access all areas available to them throughout the day – the classroom and the two wonderful free-flow outdoor spaces. Forest school takes place one afternoon per week.
Al children in Oak Class follow The Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage – a stage that caters for all children under 5 years of age. Learning and development is categorised into the following areas of learning:
Prime areas of learning: Personal, Social and Emotional Development; Communication and Language; Physical Development.
Specific areas of learning: Literacy; Mathematics; Understanding the World; Expressive Arts and Design.
Achievements of these areas of learning is through the characteristics of effective learning: Playing and Exploring; Active Learning; Creating and Thinking Critically.
More information about the Early Years Foundation Stage can be obtained here:
