BUSY BEARS (Reception)
At the start of every academic year, each class meets their new teacher and as a team, they decide on what their class name is going to be for that year. We feel that giving the children collective ownership over their class name helps to foster a strong sense of belonging and pride in their team. This year, our Reception class are the...
Throughout the year, children in Reception follow a rich, carefully sequenced curriculum that blends play, exploration and direct teaching. Each term centres around an engaging theme, guiding their development across all seven EYFS areas while nurturing curiosity, confidence and independence.
In Autumn 1, the children begin with Marvellous Me, settling into school routines and building relationships by talking about themselves, their families and their new environment. They learn to listen carefully to others, join in with rhymes and stories, and start speaking in small groups. Early phonics begins through recognising letter sounds, clapping syllables and spotting familiar print. In maths, they explore early number by sorting objects, comparing amounts and recognising numbers to 5. Tasks like self‑portraits, autumn crafts and simple mark making help them develop fine motor control, while outdoor play supports balance, travelling and spatial awareness. The children also explore seasonal changes, beginning to notice how autumn affects the natural world. Personal, social and emotional learning focuses on classroom rules, recognising emotions, sharing, and beginning to see themselves as valued individuals.
During Autumn 2, the theme shifts to Once Upon a Time, where traditional tales spark imagination and language development. The children retell stories, join in repeated refrains, discuss characters and settings, and start understanding and answering “who”, “where” and “what” questions. Their vocabulary grows through storytelling, celebrations like Diwali and Christmas, and new seasonal experiences. Phonics continues with blending simple VC and CVC words, and they begin writing recognisable letters to label drawings. In maths, they deepen their understanding of numbers to 5, subitise small quantities and explore shapes such as circles, triangles and rectangles. Creative learning expands through making boats, winter artwork and junk‑model characters from stories. They learn to share resources more freely, use manners consistently and follow instructions with growing independence.
As they move into Spring 1, the children explore the theme Superheroes Are Real, learning about real people who help us in the community. They engage more deeply with non‑fiction texts, expand vocabulary around occupations and winter, and begin to ask their own questions. Their spoken language becomes more detailed as they link ideas using connectives such as “and” or “because.” In phonics, they learn more complex graphemes and start reading simple sentences. Writing progresses to words representing each sound they hear and simple dictated captions. In maths, they work with numbers 5–8, compare mass and capacity, begin doubling and combine groups by counting all. Creative projects include building “model villages”, using different materials to construct 3D structures and exploring sculpture. The children learn about winter weather, freezing and melting, and staying healthy, including dental care. Socially, they develop turn‑taking, resilience and confidence when asking for help.
In Spring 2, Super Space and Sparkly Stars inspires learning about planets, maps, journeys and the natural changes of early spring. Children practise listening attentively during group discussions and learn to respond with relevant comments or questions. They retell stories without pictures, explore the meaning of new vocabulary related to space and growth, and begin to use terms like past, present and future. They write short sentences with capital letters and full stops, forming letters with increasing accuracy. In maths, they explore numbers 6–10, counting backwards, number bonds to 10, 3D shapes and early addition and subtraction concepts. Creative work includes printing planets, making rockets, mixing colours and experimenting with texture and composition. Children learn about the Easter story, the arrival of spring, lifecycles such as chicks, and ways to care for the planet. Personally, they become more independent in managing their feelings, regulating behaviour and understanding online safety and healthy choices.
As the weather warms in Summer 1, the theme Commotion in the Ocean brings excitement around sea creatures, habitats and contrasting environments. Children become confident speakers, sharing ideas in full sentences and engaging in discussions about their reading and experiences. They read longer captions, decode adjacent consonants and begin writing longer, phonetically plausible words and sentences. In maths, they move beyond 10, estimate quantities, recall number bonds to 10 and compare size, mass and capacity. They also measure height and length using non‑standard units. Artistic expression develops through T‑shirt design, photography, weaving, using textiles and exploring colour, texture and pattern with more intention. Children compare seaside environments at home and abroad and learn about caring for sea life and understanding pollution. They also develop teamwork during class assemblies, continued PE progression and increasingly complex group play.
Finally, in Summer 2, Mad About Minibeasts brings together everything the children have learned as they prepare for Year 1. They grow in confidence when talking to unfamiliar adults, ask questions to clarify understanding, and use a wide range of topic vocabulary. They retell and create stories independently, write sentences that others can read, and read books with fluency that matches their phonics knowledge. In maths, they explore odds and evens, sharing and grouping, doubling facts and problem‑solving using all the concepts they've learned across the year. Outdoor learning becomes central as they investigate minibeast habitats, observe changes in nature, plant seeds, and deepen understanding of the seasons. Creative skills shine through detailed observational drawings, collage, printing and weaving projects. Socially and emotionally, children build strong friendships, work through disagreements, show empathy and prepare for the transition to Year 1 with increasing resilience, independence and pride in their achievements.
