Design an ideal Reception Class!

[happyclass]

A colleague has the opportunity to start a Reception Class totally from scratch as the school is expanding. If you had the chance to start all over again what would you do differently? What really works for you? What do the children love to do?
We've talked about making the outdoor area as unstructured as possible with a muddy area, sticks, water, drain pipes, etc and as few big plastic things as possible, so the children can really explore and develop their learning.
Regular changes to areas of provision in the classroom so children are inspired to learn through play. Trips to expand the children's knowledge and understanding of the world, etc, etc.
Please help to create a dream classroom that children, parents and staff will love but will be a fantastic learning environment!

I'd start by taking a look at Alistair Bryce-Clegg's stuff.

Particularly the stuff on Outoors, continuous provision and role-play.

abcdoes.typepad.com/

As long as it's the opposite of anything Michael Gove has suggested.

An empty one at the end of the day!

Agree with the anti-Gove comment!

We love ours. Large bright room, activity tables, dressingup, roll play area, big activity table with changing themes.

Covered outdoor area, tables for working, roll play area, sand and water.

Large ouraide area - space for trikes, wooden climbing frame, play house, stepping stones,grassed area.

I'd love to be a reception child!

sitting - that sounds a lot like my ds's classroom. And, yes, he loves it. He came home the other day and said: "mummy, I absolutely love school. And Mrs x and Mrs y are the best teachers EVER". Awww!

This is a good resource and includes some bits on classroom setup.

I''m a p1 teacher (NI). I'd love storage-lots of it! Both inside the room and outside. I'd also love hot and cold running water and-if it could be organised safely-I'd like easy access to fridge with freezer compartment, microwave and oven! Sounds mad but it'd be great to be able to cook, bake, freeze, melt etc with the kids without the whole fuss of moving microwaves from staff room or taking kids down in wee groups to watch gingerbread men baking in school kitchen etc!

DS' classroom is pretty awesome.

Role play area that changes regularly

Paint table, craft table, water table

A couple of tables set out with writing equipment, words/sentances to copy. Computer table

A music area with headphones, a cosy reading area with cushions etc. A quiet area with a voile curtain around it so children can have a rest.

Outside they have a sand table, a big table to paint on, and a little veg patch and flowerbeds. They also have access to the Y1 playground with a playhouse and trikes.

They fit a lot into the space they have but have still managed to have pkenty of room to roam

I'd think about the design of the room and where the doors are (if it's not too late) as what you need in a classroom are nice corners!

A large conservatory that can be used as a transition indoor/outdoor space with a wall of glass doors that can be opened fully in the summer and is snug in winter. My dream.

An outside tap - a must!

If you have a high ceiling, gantries across so that mirrors and soft furnishings can be hung without fear of the alarm going off. Creates a Reggio feel.

Boot room for wet stuff.

A dias/low stage outside for 'productions'.

I could go on and on .....

Dais not dias obvs

Can't really advise on curriculum/ etc... but as a parent....

Good communication/ welcoming atmosphere critical

Early information to parents - if problems are presenting themselves - don't wait until parents' evening in 3 months time. 3 months is a long time at this age. You should have e-mail & most parents can be e-mailed/ texted - so really a quick note/ e-mail/ text is all that is needed (please catch me after school tomorrow/ today). Doesn't take a huge amount of time does it?

INFORMATION on EYFS: what it is/ assessment criteria/ how you will explain how children are progressing against this to parents.

INFORMATION on early maths - how to support it at home/ what is learned when/ resources parents might find helpful (webpages/ APPS)

INFORMATION on early reading/ phonics - how to support it at home/ what is learned when/ resources parents might find helpful (webpages/ APPS).

PLEASE don't presume parents know what happens at the school. MUFTI day may make sense to you, but usually there are a group of children which have no idea that meant non-uniform day. Why not just send a note explaining that to new children (YR or otherwise) what to do (or post it on the school diary - just add a line - children can come to school in costume or ordinary clothes - uniforms are not required). Sports Day may mean come in your PE kit or ordinary shorts & a t-shirt - but if you don't tell parents that - how are we to know and saying you told all the 4/5 year olds to pass on the message is pretty cr** frankly. (50% of Year R in DD1s class didn't understand that and certainly my DD1 was in floods of tears - fortunately I could nip home and get her some shorts & a t-shirt).

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Finally on the first day of school - don't hide in the classroom - come out and introduce yourself to parents/ children (and I include HTs in this).

For many parents the first day of school is a big deal - let them take a picture of their child with you or in front of the school gate (don't run to them shouting they're not allowed to - saw that approach reduce one parent to tears).

Our school may be the problem, but I've weathered years (7 now) of watching Year R children sobbing before going into their class - and teachers/ TAs don't even attempt to comfort the child. I know some of this behaviour is attention seeking (either of parent/ teacher) but a bit of compassion would not go amiss.

HTH

Covered outside play area, so that they can play outside in the rain, yet also protected from the sun.

Library corner, with lots of book boxes and comfy seating and/or rugs.

indoor, sand, water, painting, craft table (help themselves from resources)
small world imaginative play, book area, role play changed regularly, timetables and stuff at children's height, not above the board.
maths table,(activities to do, changed regularly) writing table with different pens, pencils, crayons and paper. lots of construction toys.
messy mat to catch sand/water. dressing up, (charity shops are your friend) plenty of display space for paintings as reception work is quite large.

outdoor:sand/water, garden, bikes and large toys area. (eg access to main ks1 playground) climbing equipment (shared with ks1?) large constructuon, tyres, boxes, balancing equipment, covered area so can use in rain. rain clothes and wellies so children can play outdoors. tree would be good (possibly cheap fruit trees from aldi etc) role play outside. secure storage. tables and chairs. space for children to dig and explore the mud. outdoor tap is a yes!