Welcome to Robins

Robins is our Reception class at Gretton and is made up of 15 children. We strive to ensure a smooth transition from nursery/pre-school settings to give children the best possible start at school. We achieve this through home and setting visits and a staggered start in September. 

Meet our Team:            ​ ​

EYFS Lead and Robins Class Teacher: Mrs Patterson
Robins Class Teaching Assistants: Mrs Woolston 

Our Curriculum:

We provide an ambitious, carefully sequenced curriculum that is shaped by children's interests, developmental needs and experiences of the world around them. Our aim is to equip every child with the knowledge, skills and understanding they need to become confident, curious and successful learners, while laying strong foundations for their journey through school.

At Gretton, learning is carefully planned around clear progression points in children's development. We consider what children already know and can do, and identify the knowledge and skills they need to develop next. This enables us to provide appropriate challenge and support, ensuring that every child can make progress from their individual starting point.

In Robins, we explore the seven areas of learning through a balance of whole-class teaching, small-group experiences, adult-led activities and child-initiated play. High-quality texts are at the heart of our curriculum, providing rich opportunities to develop language, vocabulary, knowledge and understanding. Carefully chosen books are used to hook children's interest, spark curiosity and provide meaningful contexts for learning. 

We recognise that the environment is the 'third teacher'. Our indoor and outdoor environments are purposeful. Our provision is thoughtfully designed to inspire curiosity, encourage independence and invite children to explore, investigate and make connections. Resources are carefully selected and positioned to support children's developing knowledge and skills, with opportunities to revisit and deepen learning. The environment evolves in response to children's interests and learning, while providing appropriate challenge and encouraging children to become increasingly independent in their choices and problem-solving.

Children's interests, questions and fascinations are used as a springboard for learning, while adults ensure that important knowledge and skills are intentionally woven through these experiences. We make authentic links to our local community and the wider world, helping children to understand that their learning has a purpose beyond the classroom.

Our continuous provision is carefully designed to give children opportunities to revisit, practise and apply their learning independently. Adults observe, interact and intervene purposefully, extending children's thinking, introducing new vocabulary and supporting them to make connections between their experiences. Through the interaction of children, adults and the environment, learning is continually extended and deepened.

Robins are fortunate to experience a weekly Forest School session at our local Forest School site. Forest school sessions for the Autumn term are on a Thursday with Mr Bridges and Mrs Woolston. During our sessions, children are encouraged to develop independence skills, improve their decision-making and raise their self-esteem through small, achievable tasks. These include activities such as bug hunting, den building, mud painting, hide and seek and toasting marshmallows on a campfire.

Through our curriculum, we want every child to develop a love of learning, a growing sense of independence and a deepening understanding of themselves and the world around them.

Phonics:

Our chosen SSP (Systematic Synthetic Phonics) is Little Wandle. We provide daily Phonics sessions to provide the children with the skills and knowledge to become confident early readers and writers.  The Little Wandle website has some wonderful resources for parents. 

Literacy:

In Robins, we use Drawing Club to inspire a love of stories, language and writing. We are passionate about immersing children in a rich world of stories, where imagination and creativity provide a meaningful purpose for writing. We share a treasure trove of vocabulary, giving every child the language they need to express their ideas, understand the world and unlock the playground of language.

Maths:

Maths is taught through small, carefully sequenced steps using the Mastering Number programme of study. This approach supports children to develop a deep understanding of number, mathematical vocabulary and reasoning, building secure foundations on which future mathematical learning can flourish. Children are encouraged to explore, explain and apply their mathematical thinking through both adult-led teaching and purposeful play.

Useful Information:

Phonics books are sent out every Friday and will need to be returned to school the following Friday. Sharing books are handed out every Monday and will need to be returned, ready to receive a new book, the following Monday. 

PE will take place on a Wednesday so children should come to school dressed in their PE kits on this day. 

Autumn Term
Here is our Curriculum Web for the Autumn Term: