If your child has recently been in Reception in England, how was their day structured?

[LibrariesGaveUsPower]

This is kind of a thread sparked by a thread, but hopefully not the naughty 'thread about a thread' kind.

I was talking on another thread with an early years teacher about the structure of the Reception day (in English state schools). We were both surprised by the experiences each other had had in the schools we knew. So, in best MN fashion, I thought I'd ask others what their experience was. It fascinates me that things can vary such a lot (especially since it seems to be the case that a lot of local schools will be similar, so people really have very little choice).

So, here goes:

1. Does your school have free flow for any part of the day, and if not, why not?

1. Do Reception children have a morning and/or afternoon playtime, or just lunchtime?

1. Is milk something they all sit down for or 'help yourself'?

1. Do Reception children do PE lessons?

1. Do Reception children have assembly (either by themselves, or with any/all other year groups).

Thanks!

[moab]

Run the whole time*

[LibrariesGaveUsPower]

I think that's probably important Moab - if you have a smaller free flow area maybe the need for a break time and big spaces is greater. I mean, ours is plenty big enough for all the activities, just not the charging around type stuff.

[blink1552]

Yes
Yes
Sit down just before break
Yes
Yes, from about Oct half term

[louisejxxx]

1. Yes lots of free flow but the amount decreased in summer term in preparation for year 1.
   

1. 3 play times
   

1. I honestly have no idea about this one as despite all my best efforts my ds point blank refuses to drink milk :(
   

1. PE was twice a week on Mondays and Fridays...In summer term that had an extra session called "multi skills" which I think focused on developing their coordination.
   

1. Every Thursday for celebration assembly with the whole school; I'm not sure about other days.

[FairyPenguin]

Yes to free flow. At the same time the teacher will work with a small group.

Morning and lunchtime playtimes.

Sit in a circle and two children are helpers each day, one hands out the milk and the other hands out the fruit.

PE lessons twice a week.

Assembly once a week, sometimes just Reception (90 children), sometimes with Y1 and Y2.

[Spartans]

1, yes but less free flow as the year progressed
2 all 3
3 they sit down together
4 yes..twice a week (and yes spend more time getting changed)
5 yes. At least once a week and sometimes for extra things. Ds has been having assemblies since he was in nursery. But usually only for the special occasions.

[musicinspring1]

Yes they have free flow play.
They have morning play and lunchtime play.
They have cards with their name on. Milk and fruit are help yourself and you post your name in the milk box or fruit box when you have taken it.
PE is when their teacher have PPA (I assume) as they have a specialist gymnastics teacher in (she runs the after school gym club).
can't remember the last question!!

[musicinspring1]

Ok, assembly. DD isn't sure. She says 'sometimes'.

[Sallyhasleftthebuilding]

Children had 5 groups and 5 activities on rotation. So 20 mins in each. 2 teacher lead ... one on writing, one roll play one sand/water one craft ... all story based for literacy. Maths similar with sorting shapes drawing shapes blah ... so a concentration on a topic with out too much structure as far as the kids are aware.

[Cedar03]

Yes to free flow (unless its changed as my daughter is now in Year 3)
Yes to morning and afternoon play
Milk - sit down with their morning snack.
PE - they do it but don't get changed for it (or they never used to but its the same teacher)
Assembly - yes, all year groups (its a small school), several times a week.

[Jayneisagirlsname]

Both school I teach in and my child's school do the same
1 yes to free flow
2 yes to 3 play times
3 yes to sit down snack time
4 yes to PE
5 yes to assemblies - sometimes in the classrooms, sometimes key stage and 1 whole school in summer term.

As a parent I like free flow, but I also like play times. From what I see and hear the children love mixing with the older children, and the older children love them being out too.
I like sit down snack times for social reasons and digestive ones too!
Assemblies I can take or leave - I think there's benefits such as feeling part if the whole school community, seeing the older children as role models, and experiencing different styles from different adults. Wouldn't cry into my pillow if they didn't have them though!

[RueDeWakening]

1. Yes, all afternoon afaik. Might be some of the morning, too.
   

1. Morning playtime, not afternoon (years 1 & 2 only since Reception are free flow outside/inside/etc and juniors get a longer lunch instead). Morning playtime to start with is within the enclosed Reception area, then they are unleashed on the "big" playground after a few weeks.
   

1. No idea, DS won't touch the stuff.
   

1. Yes - uniform is joggers & polo for girls and boys, so they don't change for PE until the summer term.
   

1. Yes, they attend all infant assemblies afaik, and some whole school ones. And presented an assembly about dinosaurs themselves to the parents :o

[catkind]

1. Does your school have free flow for any part of the day, and if not, why not?
   

Yes, most of the day was free flow.

1. Do Reception children have a morning and/or afternoon playtime, or just lunchtime?
   

Just lunchtime I think, as they were free flow indoors and outdoors anyway.

1. Is milk something they all sit down for or 'help yourself'?
   

I think they collected their fruit and those who had milk collected that and they sat down for snack time.

1. Do Reception children do PE lessons?
   

Yes, twice a week.

1. Do Reception children have assembly (either by themselves, or with any/all other year groups).
   

Yes, twice a week.

They also had a few other set pieces - one afternoon was forest school, another afternoon they had a music session, later in the year phonics/maths/guided reading in groups.

All a bit vague though as DS didn't communicate that much!