Early Years Education continues into Reception the September following a child's 4th birthday. Reception houses two well balanced classes of children moving up from Kindergarten and new children who join the OPS for their first year of formal school.
Following the Early Years Foundation Stage with its emphasis on learning through play, our children are given daily opportunities to explore and investigate which allows them to learn about themselves and the world around them. The learning experience is balanced between teacher-led and child-initiated learning. Staff pupil ratio also allows the children to develop and be supported and/or challenged according to their individual needs; therefore teaching may be undertaken either as whole class, small group or individually.
Firm foundations are laid in the essential skills and the weekly timetable is structured to guarantee a varied and exciting programme offering a wide range of practical experiences intended to motivate and stimulate. The Early Years practitioners are supported in this by specialist teachers who offer their expertise in swimming, dance, music and physical education.
In Reception, we value the rapport gained from the daily contact with parents, siblings and wider family members as this helps us to establish an over arching approach to whole child care and understanding.
