Apple Class - Reception/Year 1
Apple Class Staff:
Miss Cannon – Class Teacher
Mrs Szydlowski – HLTA
Mrs Elwes – 1:1 Teaching Assistant
Miss Stevens – Student Teacher
Welcome to Apple Class! We are the youngest class in the school and the Reception and Year 1 children learn here. We provide a happy, safe and caring environment where children feel secure, giving them a strong foundation for learning. We encourage children to become independent and confident learners, to explore and discover things for themselves, whilst supporting them to make connections in their learning. The children work with adults, their peers or independently, to access their learning environment, both indoors and outdoors. We provide high quality teaching, organise school trips and offer enrichment activities, in order to encourage our children to become life-long learners and good citizens in the wider world.
Reception
In Apple Class, the Reception children follow the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum. The EYFS framework sets out the key learning for your child’s early development and provides the foundations for all later learning and successes. The EYFS curriculum is divided into two main areas: the prime areas of learning and the specific areas of learning. Each area is divided into subcategories. The prime areas of learning are vitally important as these provide the basic systems and foundations which are essential to support learning in all the other areas.
The 3 prime areas are:
- Communication and Language
- Physical Development
- Personal, Social and Emotional Development
The 4 specific areas are:
- Literacy
- Mathematics
- Understanding the World
- Expressive Arts and Design
We also promote ‘characteristics of effective learning’ in Apple Class. These are the ways in which children engage with other people and their environment, through ‘play and exploring’, ‘active learning’ and ‘creating and thinking critically’. The characteristics of effective learning and the prime and specific areas of learning and development are all inter-connected and support your child in achieving their end of year ‘Early Learning Goals’.
Year 1
In Apple Class, the year 1 children study the National Curriculum. We teach core subjects: English, Maths and Science. We also deliver foundation subjects: Art and Design, Design and Technology, Computing, Geography, History, Music, RE, PE and PSHE.
The children in Year 1 take part in the national phonics screening check during the summer term. The screening check was introduced in 2012 to all Year 1 pupils. It is a short, statutory assessment to ensure that children are making sufficient progress in the phonics skills to read words and are on track to become fluent readers, who can enjoy reading for pleasure and for learning. The check is not about passing or failing but checking appropriate progress is being made. If children do not reach the required standard, then we will be in touch to discuss plans and offer additional support, to ensure that your child improves their reading skills. Children progress at different speeds so not reaching the threshold score does not necessarily mean there is a serious problem. Your child will re-sit the check the following summer term. In our school, we already identify individual children who need extra support and provide early intervention, tailored to their needs.
Apple Class and Outdoor Area
