EYFS Reception

Welcome to Reception!
Our Grandparent’s afternoon tea party
Welcome to our Early Years Foundation Stage Reception Class
Meet the team:
Mrs Leech - EYFS Manager (Teachers Reception 1.5 days)
BSc(Hons) Psychology & Education Studies, PGCE Primary with Early Years Specialism.
I love leading the Early Years at Willaston Primary Academy. I am an extremely experienced Early Years teacher, I have enjoyed a varied and fulfilling career teaching children from Pre-School age up to Year 6 over the past 20+ years, but my real passion is for the Early Years. I am a very creative teacher with a love for the Arts. I believe that children learn through a rich creative curriculum and they learn best when they are having fun and exploring. Outside of school, I have two children and a cheeky dog, we enjoy spending time outdoors exploring nature, being creative, baking and playing board games.
I love being a teacher and am passionate about children’s learning. Willaston’s Early Years classes will provide a fun, loving and supportive environment for your little ones to develop, grow and follow their dreams.
Miss Wakefield - Reception Class Teacher
BSc(Hons) Childhood and youth & Early years Education Studies, Level 3 Diploma in Children's Learning and Development (Early Years Educator), HLTA, PGCE ongoing
Hello everyone, my name is Miss Wakefield and I am extremely excited to be part of the Early Years team. I have a genuine passion in understanding the different ways that children learn; I find the opportunity to assist them in their path to knowledge a real privilege. I am forest school trained, with this specialised approach to outdoor learning I will be able to develop children’s confidence and self-esteem through hands-on learning in the great outdoors! We aim to make a positive impact on all children’s learning, increase their desire to learn and enable them to become independent lifelong learners.
I have embraced the challenge of finding effective ways to encourage each individual child to engage their learning through the process of continuous provision and adapting interventions to meet all children’s needs. Whilst working within reception I have realised my talent at creating stimulating, exciting and inclusive environments within in the classroom, I have become adept at using thematic planning considering it a powerful tool for building and maintaining the children’s interest during their learning. I understand the need to provide outstanding meaningful continuous provision and have been able to see the benefits of this first hand.
Mrs Cooper - EYFS Teaching Assistant / After school club
Miss Basford - EYFS Teaching Assistant Level 3 / Breakfast club
We are looking forward to supporting your child through their first year at school. Within our Reception class we have a balance of children learning through play and then more formal lessons towards the end of the reception year, so they are ready for the Year 1 curriculum.
EYFS Curriculum
We deliver our curriculum through the 7 areas of learning;
Prime areas
- Expressive arts and design.
- Communication and language;
- Physical development;
- Personal, social and emotional development;
Specific areas
- Literacy;
- Mathematics;
- Understanding the world;
We implement these areas through the children’s interests. Through sharing what they want to learn we will plan topics and lessons around them, allowing the children to take ownership of their learning.

What to bring each day:
- A waterproof coat.
- Sunhat and sun cream on warm days.
- Hat and gloves on cold days.
- Spare underwear socks/tights etc.
- Lunchbox.
- Reading bag
- Water bottle.
- A smile!

Please come and ask if you have any questions, no matter what it is. If you are unable to come to school then please send us a message on tapestry, ring or write a note.
Starting school is a daunting prospect for parents as well as children and we are here to help make the transition as smooth as possible for everyone.
Tapestry- Online learning journey

Here at Willaston, Tapestry is one of the methods we use to record your child’s reception learning journey, as well as their Maths and English work books. Your child has been set up with their own account which we will upload photo’s and videos of your children’s learning. You will also be able to upload photographs of any special events and wow moments that occur outside of school with your child. In Tapestry you will be able to comment on the observations made at school but unfortunately we are unable to reply to them. Tapestry will also provide you with next steps for your child so you can see how you can support their learning at home.
If you are having issues logging onto Tapestry please speak to a member of the team.
Useful information:
Development Matters 2021 framework

Early Years Statutory Framework 2021
