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Our Early Years

We aim to provide a happy and exciting environment where your child is encouraged to become independent, to be able to mix with other children and adults. 

Our curriculum is based on the new EYFS document based on seven Foundation Stage areas of learning: 3 'Prime Areas' (Communication and Language, Personal, Social and Emotional and Physical) and 4 'Specific Areas' (Understanding the World, Expressive Arts and Design, Mathematics and Literacy). The children have a ‘Wow’ book which records their journey in Reception. We also outline next steps needed to ensure that your child continues with their progress. 

During each session the children choose for themselves which areas they wish to work/play in. As the children use the resources they will be developing their knowledge, extending their vocabulary and improving a wide range of skills. 

Staff in the Reception classes play alongside the children to develop their thinking, valuing their achievements and encouraging them to explore new ideas. The children are also given the opportunity to take part in specific activities that may be either Literacy, Numeracy or theme based. These activities are always noted within our planning where the aims/focus of the activity are clearly stated. We have certain times during the day where the children sit in groups. At these sessions we do the register, read stories and poems and have Literacy and Numeracy activities ongoing.  

Reception Class 

Children join our Reception year in the September of the year that they turn five, for example for entry to Reception in September 2023 their birthdate must be from 1st September 2018 to 31st August 2019. Places are allocated by Kirklees Local Authority. 

School times - 8.50 - 3.15 

Early Phonics 

At SHARE MAT we use ‘Little Wandle Letters and Sounds’ to teach phonics. We teach phonics daily and within the lesson the children are reviewing words already learnt, learning a new sound, reading words with the new sound in, learning tricky words, reading a sentence and spelling some of the words learnt.  

The websites have some fun interactive games that will help your child with segmenting, blending, applying and improving their phonic knowledge.  

The games will also be useful for Year 1 children as practice for the National Phonics Screening in June.  

We aim to cover Phonics phases 2, 3 and 4 in Reception and phases 4 and 5 in year 1.  

Access to Phonics at home:  

www.phonicsplay.co.uk has some free games that help children practise Phases 2, 3, 4 and 5. Picnic on Pluto and Buried Treasure are excellent games that will help your child read real and non-words. The games allow your child to use their phoneme knowledge and not just guess the word. Also in each Phase there are games on sentence substitution and these help your child with reading the words and creating sentences that make sense.  

The website has a section for Parents which you may find very useful. In addition, many other games are available for a small subscription fee.  

Phonics is so important because it helps your child understand how words are put together. This in turn helps to improve their reading, spelling and writing.  

If you have any questions about reading or phonics please do not hesitate to contact your child's class teacher.  

Early Reading  

All children are encouraged to join Kirklees online library  

Maths 

Topmarks  

Doodle maths