Welcome to Early Years Foundation Stage at St John's School!

Classroom organisation in EYFS

At St John's we are very lucky to be able to have two smaller than normal Reception classes, with no more than 23 children in each class. The classes are organised as two parallel classes, with two Teachers and additional Teaching Assistants, however, the two classes share one large classroom and outside area, allowing for the children to play and learn together.

Within the classroom, the children have access to all areas of learning, including a book corner, role play area (which changes on a regular basis), construction area, creative area and investigation area. They also have access to a wonderful outside area, which is well resourced. This allows the children to have access to all areas of learning outside as well as inside.

We have an adventure playground, bikes and large construction materials to encourage gross motor skills, as well as a sand tray and a water tray for exploration. The children spend a lot of time exploring our garden area, which includes a mud kitchen, flower garden, digging area, minibeast hotel and musical forest, and there are also always opportunities and resources to encourage the children's literacy and maths skills through their play outside.

Induction sessions

At St John’s, we recognise what an important and exciting time it is when your child first starts school. Therefore we aim to ensure that your child’s transition to school is as smooth as possible.

Prior to meeting your child, we will contact their nursery to find out a little about them, and try to visit as many nurseries as possible. To support you and your child with starting at school we organise a series of informal induction sessions during the Summer Term (June to July).

These sessions allow you to meet members of the staff, PTA and pupils and will ensure that your child’s first experiences of school are enjoyable, relaxed and happy. During these sessions your child will have the opportunity to visit and play in the reception classes. These ‘Stay and Play’ sessions will allow the children to meet each other and begin to make friends. These sessions also give you the chance to meet other parents.

We also organise a Parents’ Information Evening, to allow you to meet the EYFS staff and find out more about life at St John’s. You will be provided with a comprehensive induction pack, which will include information about the school and hopefully answer any questions you may have. This includes our detailed AtoZ guide to EYFS at St John's.

On the final transition day, your child will attend either a morning or afternoon session in their allocated class.

September Induction

For the first two or three weeks in September, your child will attend either a morning or afternoon session every day in their allocated class. Over the course of these induction weeks, they will attend a mixture of morning and afternoon sessions, including lunchtimes, so that they experience all aspects of the school day. This gradual entry ensures that they learn the classroom routines and get to know the members of staff as part of a smaller group, before the whole class attend together on a full time basis.

Parents’ AtoZ

Please click here for an AtoZ of information about everything you could possibly want to know about Reception at St John’s!