Autumn Term 2026

Welcome 

Welcome to Reception!  

We have really enjoyed getting to know you all and welcoming you to Dunalley. 

Now that your child has started school, we thought it might be useful to share some further information. 

Reading / Phonics 

At Dunalley we use the scheme Essential Letters and Sounds to teach phonics. Once a week your child will bring a reading book home with their yellow reading record book. Please fill in your child’s yellow reading record book and we will then be able to send a new book home. We encourage children to re-read their book daily before returning it, to develop fluency and confidence. 

Library books  

We have a class set of library books which your child will be able to choose from on a Friday. This picture book is for you to read to your child and they will keep it until the next Friday. When they return their book they will be able to choose another book to take home. Picture books provide opportunities for your child to describe the characters and setting, discuss what might be happening and what might happen next. Do encourage your child to use the sentence starters ‘Once upon a time’, ‘One day’, ‘Unfortunately’, ‘Luckily’ and ‘Finally’ to retell the story in their own words at the end. 

Writing 

We use books to inspire our oracy and writing work. In the first half of the Autumn term we will be using the books Toys in Space by Mini Grey, Goldilocks and the Three Crocodiles by Michael Rosen, Owl Babies by Martin Waddell and The Dragon With the Blazing Bottom by Beach. After October half term we will focus on the books Jonty Gentoo by Julia Donaldson, That Rock is Mine by Kaye Umansky, Yeti’s Don’t Exist by Kate Thompson and The Christmasuarus Night Before Christmas by Tom Fletcher. This is supported by using the sentence openers listed in the reading section above. 

Handwriting 

A very important part of our learning is to develop skills of writing therefore we place emphasis on developing fine motor control and then getting the children to learn how to hold a pencil correctly and form letters in the correct way. We encourage children to sit with their feet flat, back straight and paper tilted and help them to hold their pencil correctly by developing a tripod grip when they write. We teach them how to start forming  letters in the correct way and move their pencil in the right direction.  

Maths  

During Reception we aim to build the strong foundations required to excel in maths with a deep focus on the numbers 1-10, how they are made up and addition and subtraction facts within 10. Being able to subitise to 5 (recognise quantities without counting) is very important and playing dice games at home will help to develop this skill.  

Routines and equipment needed 

At the start of the day, we encourage the children to be as independent as possible, by carrying in their belongings and putting them away. Our timetable is flexible but we often start with phonics, followed by learning activities inside and outside. We then tidy up for handwriting and to listen to a story, before we start to get ready for lunch. In the afternoon we often have a maths or literacy input, followed by more activities to support our learning both inside and outside. We then tidy up and come back together as a class before home time. The children mix as a cohort of 60 during activities inside (using both classrooms) and outside.  

Food and drink  

Please send your child in with a named water bottle as they are allowed to drink from these throughout the day. Bottles must only contain water. For those parents who have requested, milk is provided. Reception children are provided with a morning snack of a fruit or vegetable. Please pre-order your child’s lunch at home or send in a packed lunch.  

Uniform  

We strive to provide the children with opportunities to learn in both the indoor and outdoor environment. We go outside even though it is sometimes wet and muddy, particularly during our OPAL lunchtimes. Therefore, please send your child in with named waterproofs and a pair of named wellies. Please avoid school shoes with laces until your child can do them up independently. Please name everything that your child wears or brings to school. It would be useful if you could also name their shoes, as many of the children have the same ones. Please also put some spare trousers, pants and socks in their bag. We ask that children do not bring toys into school, as it can be very upsetting when they get lost. 

Collecting your child  

In order to ensure your child’s safety, we only let the children out as we see the parent/carer who is collecting them. As we are still getting to know you, this may take a little time at the beginning of the term, so please bear with us. If your child is going home with someone other than yourself, you must always let us know who will be collecting them, as otherwise we will be unable to let them go (unless they have been named as an approved person to collect on your forms to the office). If it is an emergency situation, please phone the school office.  

Inhalers and medication  

If your child is asthmatic, please ensure that you bring in a named inhaler to be kept at school. If your child requires medicine, this must go via the office and a form will need to be filled in.  

Birthdays  
We love celebrating special occasions but kindly ask that children do not bring sweets into school to share with their classes. With 30 children in each class, this can quickly become overwhelming, and we also understand that some families prefer to manage when and how their children have sweet treats. If your child is celebrating a birthday or another special occasion and you would like to share something with the class, we suggest considering alternatives that can be kept by the class at school to enjoy. These include items like an indoor or outdoor plant or a book.  

  

If there are ever any questions, please feel welcome to ask a member of the team. The best time to catch your child’s teacher is at the end of the day, once the last child has been dismissed.  

Other useful information relevant to your particular year group.  

Tapestry  

Please make sure that you are signed up for Tapestry. We use Tapestry regularly to share wow learning moments and to keep you updated. We also love to celebrate wow moments from home, so please do send through photos to us as well. The children are often very proud and excited to tell their friends about their achievements.  

 

Thank you for your support!  

Mrs Buckley (EYFS lead and RB class teacher) and Mrs Steele (RS class teacher)  

Mrs McSorley (RB) and Miss Fitzsimmons (RS)  Teaching Partners 

Mrs Hadad covers Reception classes on Wednesdays