A Typical Day

 

Time	Activity
8:35am- 8:55am	Welcome to Class /Free flow/ Early Morning Writing
8:55am -9:05am	Register/ Daily Calendar
9:05am-9:15am	Phonics
9:15am-10:15am	Focus activities/Free Flow/Garden
10:15am-10:30am	Numeracy Session
10:30am-11:30am	Focus activities/Free flow/Garden
11:30am-11:45	Literacy Story Focus
12:00-1:00	Lunch Time
1:00pm-1:15pm	Specific Area of learning Focus
1:15pm- 2:30pm	Free flow/Garden
2:30pm-2:45pm	Story/ Plenary/ Celebrations
2:45pm-3:10pm	End of the Day

 

Every day we have whole class teaching sessions as above and time in which children are free to choose which areas to use. In this ‘free flow’ time, adults will run focus activities that children will access at some point throughout the day. Children are encouraged to explore all areas, share equipment, and play with other children. They are encouraged to be active independent learners. Children develop skills and self-confidence to be able to make their own choices.

Children are also encouraged to become responsible for themselves and will help tidy up at the end of the session.

 

Activities are planned against ‘The Early Years Foundation Stage Guidance’. We plan work around weekly themes and topics, incorporating the children’s interest. There are seven areas of learning, which are:

The daily planning for each area means that the children have constant opportunities to explore, discover, experiment and talk. We design our planning to foster excitement and interest in all the children. If they become interested in a particular topic, we are happy to facilitate their learning experience. 

In addition, children have access to many different activities each day including some of the following:

All children are given the opportunity to play outside throughout most of the day whatever the weather. These experiences provide positive opportunities for active learning, promoting skills of enquiry, problem solving, communication, co-operation, creativity, and evaluation. Children can get wet, muddy, and messy when they play outside. Please provide waterproof protective clothing for them to wear, including wellington boots. You are welcome to leave these things in school in a clearly labelled bag.

We teach children how to minimise how messy they get, and they do get better at this as they get older, but it is a vital part of their learning and development - so please understand if your child comes home a little bit messy.

Please make sure your child comes in a waterproof coat with a hood when it is cold and wet. Please also bring a sun hat and sunscreen for your child in warmer weather.

Children gain so much from playing and exploring outdoors. Children must be allowed to experience the world around them fully if they are to make useful meaning of it.

The iPads have been invaluable in both home learning and helping us to further lessons in class. Independent research work has really improved as a result of using them and we can expand our lessons to incorporate so much more because all children have access to them.  Oasis Academy Shirley Park Primary Teacher

Each child will have their own learning journey where teachers will collect significant evidence or pieces of work. We share targets with parents, along with ideas about how you can support your child at termly parents’ evenings.

We are always happy to speak to you about your child’s development and aim to keep you well informed about your child’s progression at school.

In addition, we ask parents to support the children with their homework, which we give out at the beginning of each term.  The homework is different short activities that build on the children’s learning and encourages them to learn or practice skills which enhances what we do at school. In addition, we send out a weekly newsletter which informs you about what we will be teaching in the week ahead and provides ideas about what you can do to prepare your child for the new topics.

Responsibilities

Attendance: We monitor attendance and absence carefully. It is a legal requirement to do so and we liaise with our Education Welfare Officer over long-term absence. Excellent attendance (99% or above) helps your child to make progress, make friends and settle into our routines.

If your child is ill, please telephone on the first day to tell us. Persistent and unexplained absence may result in prosecution.

Punctuality: We expect that your child arrives punctually and is collected promptly at the end of the session. Telephone us if you are delayed, so that we can reassure your child that he/she will be collected soon.  Again, we have strict systems requiring that we report lateness.

Collection of Children: Please ensure a responsible person brings your child to school and collects your child at the end of the day. Please inform us if someone other than the normal parent or carer is to collect the child. It is helpful to provide them with a password.

Please telephone the school if there are difficulties in collecting your child from school.

Attendance Officer Primary Phase:     020 8656 0222 ext 78373

 

Toileting and Clothing: We expect the children to be toilet trained before starting school. Please provide a full set of clothes in case your child does have an accident. It is helpful if children wear clothes and shoes that they can manage themselves. We are very proud of our uniform. You can order uniform from Hewitts.

Jewellery is not permitted, for health and safety reasons. The only exception is a pair of stud earrings.

Please label your child’s clothes clearly, so lost items are returned quickly.

 

PE Kit: Please do not purchase a full PE kit for September. Instead, we ask that from September that you provide plimsolls, and then from October half term a full PE kit consisting of black shorts/joggers and a white t-shirt.

Milk: All children under 5 years old are entitled to free school milk free of charge, but parents must formally apply for the milk in order for it to be provided at school.  Please let Reception staff know if your child has any allergies (i.e. to dairy products). We have drinking water available in all classrooms as well as a selection of fruit that is provided daily. We promote healthy eating at all times so please do not send any drinks, sweets, crisps or chewing gum to school with your child.

Birthdays: When children celebrate their birthdays at school sometimes parents like to provide cake or a packet of sweets for children to take home. We are happy to give these out at school. However, you must bring the cake in cut and wrapped in individual portions. We do not cut or wrap at school!

Parental behaviour: All adults on the school site should conduct themselves in a calm and polite manner. There is no excuse for any rudeness while on the school site. Please refer to the parent code of conduct included in your pack.

Mobile phones: Unless you are watching a school event, such as an assembly or Sports Day and are using your phone to take photographs, then all mobile phones should be turned off while on school premises.

We hope that most of your questions have been answered on this page but if there are any other queries please contact us with any question however small it may seem.  Although we have experience of introducing children to a new environment, we never forget that this may be your first time. To help with this transition we suggest some things that may help:

·        Sharing the pictures in this with your child so they can become more familiar with the pictures of school and adults. Also, explain what will happen during the day. Talk through each part of the daily routine.

• Talk about the enjoyable activities he or she will be able to do at school.  If s/he enjoys doing something at home, reinforce the message that they will be able to do that at school “you’ll enjoy building a tower,” or “they’ll be lots of new friends to play with.”
•  Make links between things you do at home and school, “we’re having a snack now – you’ll have a snack at school too.”
• Practise social skills, for example, responding using short sentences, turn taking games, following directions and making choices.
• Singing number rhymes and learning how to hold a crayon, paintbrush, pencil.
• Teach simple chores that will be useful at school such as tidying away things to where they belong, hanging an apron up and carrying objects safely.

Be positive about your child’s experience.  If you feel anxious, your fears could pass to your child

We always have water for you to drink. Your grown up can order you milk to have at school. Every day we have fruit to eat. 

You have toilets in your classroom and an adult is always there to help you. 

You will have lunch at school. You can have a school dinner or bring your own lunch in a lunch box. 

At Oasis, we are very proud of our school uniform, and we know you will be too!

When you play outside it is really important that you have the correct clothing to keep you safe and warm. Please bring your hat, coat and wellies during the colder months.