Starting school is a big step for both children and their families. It’s natural to feel a mix of excitement and nerves as this new chapter begins. At our school, we understand how important this transition is, and we’re here to make it as positive and smooth as possible.

From the very first day, we aim to create a welcoming, supportive environment where every child feels safe, valued, and ready to learn. Our team works closely with parents and carers to help each child settle in happily and confidently, building strong foundations for their learning journey ahead.

Our learning environment

Our early years learning environment has been designed to inspire, delight and create intrigue, both inside and outside.

The environment is carefully crafted around the children to provide them the opportunity to follow their own interests, rehearse taught skills and deepen existing knowledge through challenge.

The classroom is positive and nurturing. They are where your child will feel confident to tackle challenges and will not be afraid of making mistakes.

Your child will have the opportunity to flow between the classroom and outdoor area, allowing them to access multiple areas.

The outdoor area has a natural feel and will encourage your child to explore their learning focuses in a practical and tactile way. For many children, these are the environments to stimulate their learning growth and development.

We place a huge importance on the benefits of physical activity within young children and how the outdoor environment can support physical and also emotional wellbeing for many.

 

Starfish is the first class the children join when they start their exciting journey of learning through Mevagissey School. Our learning is fun, engaging, challenging and encouraging. Our teachers are Mrs Hoare (class teacher) and Miss Gibson (TA)

This year, the Reception children are mixed with Year 1, so are fortunate enough to have some older role-models to help and guide them on their learning journey.

Learning

Reception (EYFS)

Spring 1

Alive in 5 – 2 weeks

Growing 6,7,8 – 3 weeks

Building 9 and 10 – 1 weeks

Spring 2

Building 9 and 10 – 2 weeks

Length, Height and time– 2 weeks

Mass and capacity – 1 weeks

How many now? – 1 week

 

Consolidation

Each day, we will talk about the date and temperature. The children will begin applying our understanding for numbers to identify whether the date/ temperature more or less than the previous day. They will pay for their fruit each starting at 1p initially. 

 

Year 1 

Spring 1

Place Value – 3 weeks

Addition and Subtraction – 3 weeks

Spring 2

Addition and Subtraction – 3 weeks

Place Value – 2 weeks

Length and Height – 2 weeks

Mass and Volume – 2 weeks

 

Early Reading and Writing

Reception

The children will continue learning their Set 1 and Set 2 sounds. We will be focusing on continuing to develop our fine motor skills to support letter formations when writing labels, captions and sentences. 

 

Year 1

Children will continue in their RWI groups each day and use their knowledge of Set 2 and 3 sounds to develop their reading and writing. They will apply and develop these skills when writing in sentences independently building a knowledge for writing in different genres, as well as continuing to develop an understanding for adjectives and verbs. The children will begin to understand similes and conjunctions in their writing. 

 

Novel Study/ Drawing Club

Being a 'Novel Study School', we will develop a love of books through Drawing Club. We hope this will allow the children to develop a love for familiar texts and develop using a range of new exciting vocabulary, as well as beginning to apply their phonics skills taught in RWI. Children will be continue the 'joy' of writing through carefully chosen books/ animations that will enhance and develop their vocabulary during each 1 week focus. The books chosen for Drawing Club will also be carefully selected to allow the children follow their interests whilst exploring themes such as; healthy relationships, cultures and the wider world. 

Children will continue to choose their favourite story (choice of 2 books a day) at the beginning of each day, which we will listen to before lunch. We will also listen to 3 other stories from our familiar text pallet, during the day, to again develop a love for familiar books and enjoy more new exciting vocabulary as well as embedding the British Value: Democracy

We will continue to visit the school library once a week, so the children can carry on making independent selections for the pictures books they wish to take home and share with an adult. 

 

Sharing achievements

Seesaw - We use Seesaw to communicate and share amazing moments in class, but you can also use this to send us 'WOW' moments from home too! 

Homework - Starfish Class

With an adult

Reception

Sharing a library book with an adult

Reading and writing red 'tricky' words

Watch RWI videos sent from the Virtual Classroom

Reading our RWI books 4 times a week at home

 

Year 1

Reading and writing red 'tricky' words

Reading RWI books 5 times a week at home

Practicing weekly spellings

Completing Maths homework (Hand in on Wednesday for marking)

 

Independently

Dressing and Undressing

Putting on and doing up our coats

Putting our shoes on the correct feet 

Using cutlery to eat out dinner independently 

Cleaning our teeth 

Asking for help when we need it

 

Ready, steady, school!

Parents and carers have an important part to play in preparing their children for school. If parents and carers feel positive about their child starting school, this will quickly translate to their child.

There are a few things that can make your child’s transition into school a little easier. Below you will find key transition dates that will help them build relationships with staff and become more familiar with the school environment.

You will also find some guidance about ways to prepare and support your child in the build up to September.

If you have queries or worries about your child starting school, do not hesitate to contact us. A member of our early years team will be happy to support you and your child. We want to ensure that the move to Mevagissey Community Primary School is an exciting and positive experience for every child.