Open Evening for September 2026 on 15th October 5:30-6:30.

In Reception, the curriculum is designed to consolidate and extend children's learning, preparing them for a successful transition to Year 1 while ensuring they meet the Early Learning Goals (ELGs) and build their cultural capital. This phase strategically blends continuous provision with more guided groups and carpet sessions.

The curriculum is not rigid but "casually designed" to be responsive to children's needs and interests while systematically covering necessary content. This ensures children are exposed to the "essential knowledge that children need to prepare them for their future success". The ELGs are the end-point measures for the Reception year, defining the expected level of progress across the seven areas of learning. The curriculum ensures children have ample opportunities to demonstrate their learning and development fully in relation to these goals.

Enabling Environments 

In the EYFS we take great pride in providing a stimulating and enriching learning environment. Reception classrooms feature designated zones (e.g., Creative, Maths, Writing) where children can engage in exploratory learning at their own pace. This approach instils autonomy and independence, allowing children to deepen their understanding of concepts taught in more formal sessions. It also promotes peer learning, collaboration, and strengthens communication skills.

We enhance provision on a regular basis to reflect the children’s learning. Our aim is to provide opportunities for the children to explore, engage and discover. Our areas are set up with a variety of resources so the children can be creative learners and use the resources in their own unique ways. We also have activities set up for the children to complete and these reflect their learning so they can apply new skills they have learnt.

Phonics

At Alkrington Primary School we use Twinkl Phonics, a fully comprehensive, synthetic phonics teaching programme designed to be used with children from nursery to year 2. Delivered through the stories and adventures of Kit, Sam and the Twinkl Phonics family, the scheme builds and develops the skills and understanding children need to become effective, independent readers and writers.

We start children off with mini-books taught in the week’s phonic lessons and after three weeks, if children are reading fluently, we will move them onto reading books.