Reception

Welcome to Reception!

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​​2025-2026

Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)

Vision

Castle Hill Primary School

‘Belong, Believe, Achieve & Grow’

Vision Statement:

At our school, we envision a nurturing environment where every child, regardless of their starting point, flourishes and reaches their full potential. We recognise the unique challenges presented by our children’s' baseline levels, particularly in communication and language, personal, social, and emotional development, and writing. With dedication and compassion, we aim to foster rapid progress and holistic growth in every aspect of their development.

Our Vision:

We envision a school where every child feels valued, supported, and empowered to thrive. Despite the challenges they may face, we believe in their inherent potential and are committed to providing the necessary tools and support to unlock it. Our vision is centred around the following principles:

1. Nurturing Environment:

· We strive to create a nurturing and inclusive environment where every child feels safe, respected, and valued.

· Through strong relationships and positive role modelling, we aim to instil a sense of belonging and confidence in each child.

2. Holistic Development:

· We recognise the importance of addressing all areas of development, including communication and language, personal, social, and emotional development, and writing.

· Our approach focuses on nurturing the whole child, fostering their social skills, emotional resilience, and academic abilities in tandem.

3. Rapid Progress:

· We are committed to accelerating the progress of our students, particularly in areas where they may be lagging behind.

· Through targeted interventions, tailored support, and high-quality teaching, we aim to facilitate rapid progress and bridge the gap between our students' starting points and age-related expectations.

4. Empowering Learning:

· We believe in the power of education to transform lives and empower children to reach their aspirations.

· Our curriculum is designed to be engaging, relevant, and inclusive, providing opportunities for children to explore, discover, and succeed.

5. Experiential Learning:

· We are dedicated to providing our students with enriching experiences that expand their horizons and broaden their perspectives.

· Through carefully planned outings, immersive activities, and guest speakers, we aim to expose children to experiences they may not encounter in their everyday lives, fostering curiosity, resilience, and a love for learning.

6. Collaborative Community:

· We recognise that achieving our vision requires collaboration and partnership between staff, parents, carers, and the wider community.

· By working together, sharing expertise, and supporting one another, we can create a nurturing ecosystem where every child thrives.

In summary, our vision is to create a nurturing school where every child makes rapid progress and achieves success, regardless of their starting point. Through dedication, compassion, and collaboration, we will empower our students to overcome barriers, fulfil their potential, and embark on a journey of lifelong learning and fulfilment.

Hi, I'm Mrs Holden and I am the Reception class teacher from Monday until Wednesday here at Castle Hill Primary School where I have proudly taught for the past 15 years! I am also the EYFS lead! I am passionate about creating a nurturing and inspiring environment in which every child feels valued, supported, and encouraged to achieve their very best. My goal is to ensure that all children make rapid progress and experience success, no matter their starting point, laying strong foundations for their future learning journey.

Hi, I'm Mrs Faulkner and I am the Reception class teacher from Wednesday until Friday! It is my first time working in Early Years as I have usually worked in Key Stage 2 but I am loving the new challenge! I have worked here at Castle Hill for for the last 5 years, previously teaching music across the school. In my early career I worked in schools in New Zealand and London before settling with my lovely family in Bolton. I can't wait to share this years learning journey with you all, making memories and having lots of fun! 

Hi, I'm Mrs Tordoff and I am the Reception class teaching assistant, supporting both Mrs Holden and Mrs Faulkner throughout the week!

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Weekly reviews are being uploaded each week, showing what your children have been doing in maths, phonics and topic! We also share certificate winners and wow moments for your children so be sure to check the APP so that you don't miss a moment! 🥰

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We are implementing the Brush Bus tooth brushing scheme in our EYFS in order to increase exposure to fluoride among the children at our school.  We are participating in this scheme and we are incorporating tooth brushing into our daily routines and use it as part of the curriculum.

Regular daily brushing with family fluoride toothpaste is highly effective in preventing tooth decay and gum disease. Good oral hygiene practice needs to be established at an early stage in life and become an integral part of normal daily hygiene. 

Let's work together to promote good oral health for our children! 

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As part of our Reception provision, your children will be offered milk and fruit every day! The fruits provided are often raisins, apples, tangerines, bananas, pears or pea pods. If you would like to send your children with anything extra, please may we request that drinks bottles contain WATER ONLY and that snacks are healthy and nut free. Crisps, sweets and cookies will not be allowed at snack time but fruit, crackers, cheese or yoghurts would make great choices for snacks! Also, as we have a few children in our school with nut allergies, we are strictly a nut free school. Unfortunately, anything that "may contain nuts", including birthday cakes, will not be allowed to be consumed in order to keep our children safe. Thank you so much for your cooperation with these matters! 🙂

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Please can you ensure that on Fridays, children have with them a T shirt, a pair of shorts or joggers and a pair of pumps or trainers in order for them to be able to safely participate in our PE sessions! Thank you!

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Autumn 1: Knowledge Organiser

Autumn 2 - Knowledge Organiser

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Helpful links for learning at home!

Maths

Phonics

Choose an eBook to share with your child from the 'Read Write Inc eBook's selection'. Try a 'Sound Blending' book or 'Red Ditty' depending on your child's reading ability.

Here is the link for you child to access Purple Mash from home:

 www.purplemash.com/castlehillprimar