Welcome to Reception
Welcome to Reception Butterflies, where children are supported to make a happy and confident start to their school journey. Reception is a special year focused on settling in, building relationships and developing a love of learning through play, exploration and meaningful experiences.
In Reception, we provide a safe and nurturing environment where children feel secure and valued. Our expectations are guided by our Bee Rules, which are introduced in a child-friendly way to help children be kind, be safe, be respectful and be inquisitive as they learn and play together.
Reception Butterflies is taught by Miss Boocock and Mrs Grant-Muller, supported by Miss Longley and Mrs Bartlett, who work closely together to ensure every child feels encouraged, supported and confident as they grow and learn.
The Best Bits of Butterflies
“We love the Spring term in Butterflies! The weather picks up and we can extend our outside learning, opening the allotment and starting to grow our own produce.
All the hard work we have done in phonics during Autumn term starts coming together and we find we are able to start writing captions and sentences to share our fantastic stories and ideas with our friends. We start to write each other little notes, cards and messages.
Our independence grows massively and we find we can now dress ourselves, keep ourselves safe and lead our own learning.
Come and join us on our Spring adventure!”
– Miss Boocock
Curriculum Overview – Spring Term
Our topics: ‘What Makes a Plant Happy?’ and ‘Do all superheroes wear capes?’
| Area | Spring Focus |
|---|---|
| Personal, Social and Emotional Development | We will be using the text Barbara Throws a Wobbler to identify and moderate our own feelings socially and emotionally. We will begin to understand the difference between feelings and actions, using ‘kind hands’ and managing big feelings. Through our group work, we will learn how to recognise when a situation is going wrong and seek adult support to solve it. Through our work in provision, we will get better at listening to the ideas of other children and agree on a solution and compromise. |
| Communication and Language | Through whole-class discussions, we will use how and why questions to find out more about our topics. We will use carpet sessions and small group work to listen to and directly respond to what is said by adults and children. During Language for Literacy group activities, we will begin to use conjunctions (and, because) to join ideas when talking. In free play, we will practise using conjunctions confidently when speaking to adults and peers. |
| Physical Development | We will practise walking in different ways and directions, develop control when jumping and landing, and learn how to step, hop or skip. We will improve ball skills through throwing, catching, rolling and dribbling activities. To improve writing, we will practise using a tripod grip consistently and hold scissors correctly to cut along curved lines. We will continue practising RWI letter formation daily. In provision, we will complete 10–20 piece puzzles and continue developing independence with coats and zips. |
| Literacy | Our reading and writing progression follows the small steps of Read Write Inc, including reading books matched to phonic ability, recognising digraphs and split digraphs, reading double letters and recognising taught red words. We take part in daily Drawing Club sessions exploring classic texts, traditional tales and animation. Children practise reading with a teacher daily and continue letter formation practice. Provision includes a wide range of writing opportunities linked to our topics and daily experiences. |
| Maths | We follow a spiral curriculum, embedding maths awareness and applying learning in provision activities. We will subitise within 5, match numerals to quantities, compare sets and use comparison language (more than, fewer than, equal to). We will explore numbers 7 and 8, introduce odd and even, combine groups and take away objects. We will order days of the week, measure height and time, recognise o’clock times, explore 3D shapes and introduce money through role play. |
| People and Communities | We will explore Chinese New Year, Ramadan and Easter, comparing celebrations and identifying what is special about them. |
| The World | We will observe signs of Winter and Spring, learn about melting and freezing, plant seeds and grow crops in our garden area. |
| Expressive Arts and Design | We will learn songs, rhymes and dances linked to our topics and explore a variety of mark-making tools and joining techniques. We will create props and costumes for role play, including Jack and the Beanstalk, and produce observational drawings of plants and flowers. |
Key Dates
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Every Friday | Book change day |
| 5th March | World Book Day |
| 25th March | Parents’ Evening |
| 10th June | Trip to Eureka |
| 27th June | Fundraising – Wear Red Day |
Photo Gallery
Useful Websites
- https://fyi.bradford.gov.uk/ – Free, impartial advice and information for children, young people and families in Bradford.
- Airedale NHS Children’s Therapies – Speech, language and communication support services.
- Phonics Play
- Topmarks
- Oxford Owl
