PRE-RECEPTION AND RECEPTION (AGE 3 TO 5)
Our Early Years classrooms are in their own safe and secure building on the Junior School campus and look out over our wonderful grounds that the children can access for outdoor lessons and break times. Each year group has its own large and extremely well equipped, light and airy classrooms with sliding doors that can divide the space into seated learning areas, a breakout space for reading, play areas and arts and crafts zones.
In their own dedicated playground, children can romp around the grass, cook mud pies in the outdoor kitchen, race on the trike track, explore the climbing frame, make castles in the sandpit and experiment with water play. Early Years children can then venture out into the 14 acre campus to play among the beautiful woodlands and numerous play areas in the grounds and even take visits up to the School Farm to visit the lambs, calves and piglets.
NURTURING HAPPY CHILDREN
Our aim is to make learning fun so that the children feel free to experiment, explore and grow in confidence; forming good social relationships with adults and their peers.
We encourage a sense of curiosity and experimentation so children build their independence. We understand that children learn in different ways so our child centred approach focuses on wellbeing and differentiated development levels of learning.
The Early Years curriculum is delivered using a range of visual, auditory and kinaesthetic teaching styles within a thematic approach. Structured mornings with Maths and Phonics/Literacy lessons are followed by a creative afternoon programme. Individualised learning plans are created by our specialist Early Years teachers to meet the development needs of each child. Detailed observations are made and tracking is available online through each child’s learning journal.
Every class has a dedicated teacher and teaching assistants, ensuring a high staff to child ratio. This enables us to get to know the children really well and understand how to nurture and stimulate their learning.
MUSIC
Children benefit from two music lessons each week delivered by specialist Music teachers. All children have the opportunity to perform on stage to a large audience in the Harvest Celebration Assembly, the Christmas Nativity and Summer Concert.
Instrumental tuition is available from Reception to Year 6 on all standard orchestral and band instruments, singing, piano and guitar.
LANGUAGES
Pupils in the Early Years department are taught French and German as part of our GREAT Friday programme (see below) and as pupils enter Reception they also begin to learn French twice a week, taught by a specialist French teacher.
SPORT
Our extensive outdoor facilities and our sports hall allow children to be active and improve their skills of co¬‐ordination, control, manipulation and movement in rain and shine. From Pre-Reception, children will be taught Sport by our specialist PE teacher once a week, as well as by the Pre-Reception teacher daily and in Reception they will receive 4 specialist PE lessons a week.
Our Sports team hosts a Sports Morning in the Summer Term, where parents can come and enjoy the occasion and see the benefits of the specialist tuition.
GREAT
Our pupils love GREAT Fridays which provide children with the opportunity to explore a carousel of subjects in small groups, in short burst sessions, taught by specialist teachers. These can include German, French, Science, History, Music, Art, Forest School, and Sport.
These activities follow the philosophy of our GREAT programme which is so successful in KS2. Find out more about GREAT.
MEET OUR EARLY YEARS TEAM
PARTNERSHIP WITH PARENTS
A strong partnership with parents and families is central to a child’s wellbeing and we recognise the importance of sharing information and offering support. We have an ‘Open Door’ policy for anything that needs mentioning briefly before or after school on most days. For a longer discussion it is best to make an appointment. Parent academic consultation evenings take place in the Autumn term and Spring term. A final written report is made in the Summer Term.
In our busy world we know how important flexibility is for parents so Kent College Junior School offers 50 weeks provision a year for children in Pre-Reception and Reception as well as extended day wrap around care.
EXTENDED DAY
We provide flexible sessions within the whole day between 8:00am and 6:00pm. Early care is 8:00am-8:30am and late care is from 3:30pm-5:00pm and 5:00-6:00pm (including tea). Staff will be happy to discuss which sessions work best for you and your child.
MOVING FORWARD TO YEAR 1
Reception is the final year of the Early Years Foundation Stage and teachers spend time during this year readying pupils for their onward journey to Year 1.
The Early Years building also accommodates Year 1 classrooms so children are already familiar with this space when they move to the next stage of Prep School. The Early Years team prepare a detailed handover for each child and meet with their colleagues in Year 1 to ensure the transition is as smooth as possible.
CONTACT
Mrs J Goodman
- Early Years Senior Leader
Mrs R Brown
- Pre Reception/Early Years
