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DITCHAM PARK SCHOOL |
| Where every child is known and valued |
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Open Morning Saturday 2nd October 10am-1pm
Click Here for Inspection Report for Early Years Provision .PDF
Welcome to Reception Class The Reception Class at Ditcham Park offers a happy, warm and caring atmosphere where children can be free to relax and learn at their own pace. We have a beautiful big classroom but small class numbers so we can offer the children a high level of individual attention. Our teacher is an Early Years Specialist and is also Cluster Teacher for the local area. This means that she liaises regularly with the Early Years Advisors and is heavily involved in planning meetings, conferences and exhibitions for teachers within the area-helping us to keep up to date with new ideas and initiatives. We also have a full time classroom assistant who has a wealth of experience and is actively involved with the children’s learning. |
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The Curriculum Our syllabus is wide and varied. We follow the Foundation Stage Curriculum through topic based work-some topics decided by the teacher….and some decided by the children! It has been known for us to deviate from our plans due to a child’s fascination with birds or space that has rubbed off on those around him …this is what learning should be about. Children should be nurtured and motivated to want to learn and should be given the confidence and security to pursue their interests. The children are encouraged to attain high standards and all efforts and contributions, however big or small, are welcomed, celebrated and shared. By providing a stimulating and motivating environment, we make learning FUN!
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Our School Day We operate our class on a free-flow, continuous provision basis. This means that from the moment the children come into school in the morning, they are able to choose and set up their own activities, both inside and outside. Parents are welcome to stay and play with their children, talk to the teacher/teaching assistant, and generally, it is a calm and welcoming time enjoyed by all!
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Number hunts in the garden |
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Number hunts in the sand pit |
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How We Learn
In the Reception Class, the curriculum is broad and balanced and is based on the Early Learning Goals of the Foundation Stage leading on into Key Stage 1 of National Curriculum. It is topic-based around themes that are relevant to young children.
In general, our mornings are structured and are taken up mainly with literacy and numeracy. Learning takes place through a variety of methods: child-initiated, teacher-directed, individual, small group/whole class – and is largely play-based both inside and outside.
The children also have four weekly P.E sessions with well-trained and specialist teachers, and 2 music session a week with a music specialist.
The children attend Drama once a week, again with a specialist teacher, and are also able to make use of the ICT suite.
These lessons are all well-planned and are related to our classroom topic, so that we can ensure a structured, well-balanced and relevant curriculum.
The afternoons are activity-based, with a strong emphasis on both directed and free play. We believe that children learn by doing, by being involved and immersed in their learning experience.
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Practising our letters in shaving foam and making signs outside! |
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Ditcham is set in the most beautiful surroundings and we take our learning outside as much as possible! We are particularly thrilled with our Key Stage 1 play area/outside classroom. We are able to work outside, even in the pouring rain, and this it is fantastic that Reception Class is able to share this facility with Years 1 and 2 also.
We go for long seasonal walks in all sorts of weather, looking for bluebells in the Spring, hunting for minibeasts in the Summer, painting leaves of green, orange, red and yellow in the Autumn, and of course, making snowmen in the Winter! We also enjoy a visit to the Blue Reef Aquarium in Southsea in the summer-when we have a picnic lunch on the beach and enjoy a paddle in the sea!
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Parents We welcome and encourage parental help within the Reception Class. We believe our team includes the children, parents and staff-we all want to learn together. Parents come in on a weekly basis to help with cookery and art and craft. They play with us in the home corner, join us on walks, and help us in our garden and join in with all our activities. We also welcome parents who can only help now and then, or perhaps just once on a rare day off! |
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Our Chitty Chitty Bang Bang...
“Where shall we go to?”
“Africa!”
“Where’s Africa?”
“Over there-by the shed!”
“Are we nearly there yet?”.................Magic Moments!
We have a school garden that the Reception and Pre-Prep classes are very proudly “in charge” of ! Many of our mums and dads have been roped into helping us – even our teacher’s mum and dad leant a hand! |
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Senior School Links
Ditcham is renowned as being a family school and we are lucky to have strong links with the senior school which means we all benefit from each other. As part of their G.C.S.E. coursework, the senior Design and Technology students often visit the Reception children to talk about toys and equipment as part of their research studies. They made us our beautiful Hungry Caterpillar book box, as well as our book trolley based on the characters from our reading scheme. We have also enjoyed poetry workshops in the past that have been run by the senior school students during our bi-annual Book Week celebrations. |
"Cutting with Samuel" |
Early Years Inspections
We have had 2 Early Years OFSTED Inspections, for which we were delighted to receive a judgement of ‘Outstanding’.
We have recently also had an ISIS Inspection and again, the Early Years received a judgement of ‘Outstanding’.
Thank You!
Thank you for taking the time to read about our class.
We love our school and our class and would be happy to welcome you for a visit. Children are welcome to accompany parents on a visit –indeed, they often choose to stay and join in our fun whilst their parents look around the rest of the school! We also have a Foundation Stage Booklet which we would be happy to send you if you wish.
If you would like to visit us, please contact the school office for an appointment.
We look forward to meeting you!
Jane Langdon-Shreeve
Foundation Stage/Key Stage 1 Co-Ordinator
Contact Information:
Telephone 01730-825659 Postal Address Ditcham Park School, Ditcham Park, Nr Petersfield, Hants, GU31 5RN, England