Barley Hill Primary School

Welcome to Barley Hill

Primary School

Play is our brain’s favourite way of learning

Welcome to our Foundation Stage class page. We believe your child’s first year at Barley Hill Primary School will be filled with fun, exploration and a starting point for lifelong learning. Every day the children will be busy exploring the indoor and outdoor areas, both of which provide fantastic opportunities to discover and learn. Activities are carefully planned out and are taken from the children’s interests and these activities evolve throughout each week to ensure everyday offers enjoyment and challenge.

On this page you will find useful pieces of information about our learning, including activity ideas which you can try at home as well as the themes we will be covering in our classes.

Our School Day

Our school begins at 9am and finishes at 3pm. The children are encouraged to come into the classroom independently where they will find their named peg to hand their coats on, place their book bags in one of the named boxes and wash their hands. Lunch boxes and water bottles will be taken into the classroom and placed on the trolley. Throughout the day the children will take part in whole class or group teaching sessions including phonics, maths and literacy. They will also have plenty of opportunities to self-select activities in the classroom and the outdoor area. At home time your child will be dismissed from their classroom door. We ask that you make yourself visible to the class teacher and your child.

What your child will need

Your child will need to bring a book bag with them each day as this is where they will keep their reading book as well any letters which are handed out. A pencil case is also currently required which can be left in school.

Please ensure your child has a named coat with them as well as a hat and gloves when the weather turns colder. We encourage your child to leave a pair of named wellies and waterproof suit in school to enable them to access every part of our outdoor area in all weathers.

Please ensure your child has a named water bottle with them in school everyday (please fill with water only). We have a daily snack time where the children will be offered a piece of fruit. You are welcome to provide your own fresh fruit or vegetable from home (grapes should be halved lengthways please). Your child is entitled to a free school meal however if they bring in a packed lunch from home, please ensure it is in a named lunchbox. Please note, we are a nut free school.

Autumn Term 1 Theme

This term the children will be learning all about Nursery Rhymes. This overarching theme is the starting point of our daily teaching sessions and discussions however we always follow the children’s interests enabling each child to have ownership over their own learning.

Autumn Term 1 Topic Web

Working together

In our Foundation Stage we welcome the opportunity to work collaboratively with you. We believe it is essential to create positive relationships with families from day one so therefore we value and appreciate any information you can give us relating to your child. These may include their achievements outside of school or new skills they have learnt at home. We can then build on this where possible at school. If you would like to meet with your child’s class teacher throughout the year, we ask that this happens after school and can be organised through speaking directly to your child’s class teacher.

Reading in Reception

Once your child has settled into school, they will bring home a reading book. We encourage you to read this book with your child as often as possible and sign their reading diary after each read. The reading book will be changed once a week, on a Friday. Staff will also share this book with your child at school so please ensure it is in their book bag daily. Please note, if your child’s reading diary is not signed, we will assume it has not yet been shared at home and so therefore it will not be changed.

Home Learning

Alongside your child’s reading book, you will receive activities which you can complete at home with your child. These will begin being sent out once the children have settled into school life. The activities may include a game to play at home, an activity sheet where children can record their work and bring back to school or number games. We encourage you to take photographs of your child completing these activities which you can upload to your child’s profile on Tapestry.

COVID-19 Absence: Home Learning

From Monday 14th September, if your child presents with COVID symptoms and has to stay at home but is well enough to learn, they will be able to access weekly activities that mirrors what the children will be learning in school. Teachers will update the work by Monday morning for each week. The work can be found on the tab attached to our EYFS year group page.

Final Reminders

If your child is being collected by somebody different please ensure you have informed your child’s class teacher. Please be aware that it is our duty to make sure the children are safe. If we do not have confirmation that another arrangement has been made, we will not be able to release your child until we have spoken with you.

If your child requires an inhaler, please hand it directly to your child’s class teacher in the original box.

The staff in Foundation Stage thank you for your support and are always available to discuss any concerns you may have or answer questions. If you need any further support or have any questions, then please do not hesitate to get in touch with your child’s teacher on the allocated email address below.

Class Name	Teachers	Teaching Assistants	Contact Email Address
Ladybirds	Mrs Metcalf Miss Munro	Mrs Raja	Ladybirds2020@barley-hill.oxon.sch.uk
Caterpillars	Mrs Davies Mrs Boyle	Mrs Clarke Mrs Smith	Caterpillars2020@barley-hill.oxon.sch.uk
Tadpoles	Mrs King Mrs Cyna	Mrs Poulter	Tadpoles2020@barley-hill.oxon.sch.uk