Early Years
We believe that the early years of your children’s education are crucial and we strive at Orley Farm to provide a well-balanced educational curriculum so that we have happy and motivated children. We have a dedicated staff who are consistently aiming to provide a rich, exciting and challenging curriculum to nurture each child’s independence and stimulate their learning. We want to develop their initiative and promote a happy and healthy child.
Our classrooms are purpose built and have their own toilet and cloakroom facilities. Each class has a Reception teacher and a full time Nursery Nurse. We place great importance on settling our children in a calm, caring and positive environment to ensure a smooth transition from their nursery. The children have daily access to our landscaped and richly resourced covered outdoor area through patio doors which facilitates indoor/outdoor learning.
A day in Reception would consist of practical hands on activities with independent activities occuring alongside more structured ones. A typical day starts with assembly followed by classroom based activities. Before playtime the children change into tracksuits, have a drink and go out to morning break where they have a healthy snack. Another teaching session follows before the children go for their hot lunch in the dining hall. Lunch is a family service where staff eat with the children encouraging correct use of a knife and fork and polite table manners. The afternoon session of school is of a more practical and physical nature until the end of the day at 3pm.
We aim to encourage fun through our integrated learning approach, encouraging all the children to mix between the classes for certain activities. Art, Music, ICT, Drama and Gym are taught by specialist teachers and are part of the weekly timetable. In addition swimming lessons take place in the summer term in our heated outdoor pool. Throughout the year we have visitors into school to support our themed topics as well as a school trip in the summer term. We are very aware of each child’s individual needs and abilities and our curriculum works towards achieving the Early Learning Goals flowing into KS1 when appropriate. We place great importance on pastoral care. Through our school values and circle time we aim to encourage our children to develop a sense of awareness of others, to be polite and to grow in self-esteem and confidence.
We recognise that each child is special and unique and we aim to provide a beginning to their school life that is happy, individual, challenging and exciting and one that will give them the solid foundations they will need to prepare them for the rest of their life.
A Year in Reception 2011-2012
