Reception
A seamless move to your child's first formal year
Our Reception year comprises of three classes, many of whom seamlessly move up from our Nursery. Each class has a maximum of 21 children to enable effective and close teaching relationships lead by a teacher and teaching assistant. In this way, we can gain a better appreciation of your child’s evolving abilities, interests and need to build their individual learning plan, and of their concerns to ensure happiness and contentment. At this point we also welcome children from other Nurseries, bringing exciting opportunities to make new friendships. And like Nursery, each Reception class has direct access to a dedicated outdoor learning space enabling free flow learning between the two.
Progressing according to ability
In Reception, the school day takes on slightly more formality over Nursery whilst still providing ample free choice of activities. The emphasis is still on a wide range of practical activities with your child progressing at a rate they are comfortable with, always encouraged and challenged, never pressured. Continuous, structured assessment of your child’s progress is closely monitored and recorded, with learning directed towards recognisable and measurable outcomes such as independent writing, reading and number formation.
Reception sees your child building on the other basics introduced in Nursery too. This includes introduction to a wider range of arts, design and sensory materials. Our comprehensive Reading and Phonics programme, which begins in Reception, is a proven foundation in helping children to advance, typically, ahead of their age group in English. They also begin to learn cursive, joined-up writing.
Reception also sees more emphasis on the Hoe Bridge Way – our set of life values and system to recognise good behaviour, courtesy and hard work. Friday assemblies are a time to celebrate achievements, and at the end of term we hold a prize giving assembly to reward a wide range of achievements.
Our Early Years specialists work together to ensure that your child is fully engaged and inspired throughout every day, continuing to observe and record individual progress to ensure they are best prepared to move on to Year 1.
Reception School Timings
All children must be in by 8.55 am for the morning register. We also run a free early class which allows you to drop off from 8.15 am until 8.55 am. Children then finish at 3.20pm in Reception and 3.30 pm in Year 1 and 2.
Specialist Teaching
Specialist Pre-Prep staff lead specialist subject areas which increase in variety and level as children progress through Pre-Prep. For example, physical activities see the addition of different movements and skills such as skipping, and the start of our learn to swim programme in our pool. A more advanced Music curriculum now includes the exploration of dynamics, speed and pitch and songs related to class topics as well as school events and festivals. Choir and Performing Arts is added to broaden the specialist curriculum in Year 1 followed by the addition of Prep Games in Year 2 where children have a games lessons with our Prep Sports Teaching Team in addition to Pre-Prep PE in order to help them transition into the Prep department.
| PE | Music | Swimming | Choir | Performing Arts | Prep Games | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nursery Twigs | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| Nursery Acorns | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| Reception | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Year 1 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Year 2 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Other Specialist Areas
As well as having specialist teaching, children have dedicated time for other specialist subject areas led by their class teacher allowing them to explore and utilise our extensive facilities. Please see other specialist teaching areas that are offered by year group below:
| Library | Outdoor Learning | Computing | After School Activities (Optional) | French | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nursery Twigs | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| Nursery Acorns | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Reception | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | From the Summer Term | |
| Year 1 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Year 2 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Music Instrumental Programme
We also offer optional private lessons in piano and violin from Year 1 and group lessons in ukulele and recorder from Year 2. This leads into our wider programme in Year 3 and above where we offer over 20 different instruments.
Dance Programme
We have an optional dance programme in partnership with KV Academy of Dance that covers a range of different genres as children progress through Pre-Prep. Please see the different classes offered below that occur either during or after the school day:
| Ballet (RAD) | Street Dance | Modern Dance (ISTD) | Tap | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nursery Acorns | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Reception | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Year 1 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Year 2 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Dedicated Facilities set in 22 acres
Our facilities are unparalleled in the area. Within our estate Pre-Prep enjoys its own purpose-built building with assembly hall, fully equipped gym, well-stocked library, ICT suite, art and music rooms, as well as modern classrooms with indoor and outdoor learning areas. All classrooms have interactive whiteboards and we make extensive use of iPads. We share with the Prep department our heated open-air swimming pool, new 110-seat Performing Arts Centre and our stunning 22 acre estate which provides ample room and inspiration for play, exercise, relaxation and, of course, learning, where your child can take full advantage of the playground, sports fields and the Hideout outdoor classroom. Lunchtime is keenly anticipated not just for playtime but a choice of tempting and nutritious food and a wonderful opportunity to socialise in our family style setting where children are encouraged to try new foods and develop their best table manners.
The child - parent - teacher partnership
Your child’s successful learning journey is a triangular partnership involving the child, parent and teacher. Because the basis for this partnership is regular and meaningful communication, we encourage families to talk directly to Reception staff at drop off and pick up so that progress, achievements and any concerns can be shared informally and spontaneously. Our Head of Pre-Prep also greets families as they arrive at the start of every school day. Parent meetings in the Autumn and Spring term and school reports in the Autumn and Summer term allow for more structured feedback to parents.
Tapestry, our secure online information sharing platform, allows our Early Years staff to routinely post videos and photos of your child's learning journey.
Pre-Prep Fees
School fees include morning snacks for all children, lunch for full day children and are billed across three terms - Autumn, Spring & Summer.
To see all year group fees please click HERE.
Early Years Free Entitlement (EYFE)
All children are eligible for Early Years Funding in the term after their 3rd birthday. Eligibility ends from the start of the term after your child’s fifth birthday. Hoe Bridge School offers both the Universal 15 hours for all children and only the Extended 30 hours for children who are full-time with us. Universal funding is only applied for three hours per day between the daily attendance times of 9.00am to 12.00pm and Extended funding of six hours per day is applied between 9.00am and 3.00pm.
Details are shown on our termly bills, but as a guide at the current EYFE funding rate (which is £4.87 per hour) please see termly fees payable in 2022/23.
To see more information on Early Years Free Entitlement please click HERE.
Reception Admission Process
Apply Online
You are able to register for a place by creating an account on our admissions portal HERE after which we ask for a £100 registration fee which can be paid by card online and formally starts the admissions process. We have limited places in our Reception programme and so we recommend registering early.
Accept Your Offer
The offer of a place is sent to parents at the beginning of the Summer term, one year before the child’s entry to the school. You will be required to sign our school contract and pay a £750 deposit by the date indicated in the offer letter to confirm your child’s place.
Visit Us for Settling In Sessions
Children visit us with their parents throughout the year before joining. We have a settling-in session for one hour in the Autumn, Spring and Summer terms. In the Summer term we announce who your class teacher is so that you can all get to know each other better during the final settling-in session before the summer break and starting at Hoe Bridge.