Reception

New Parents’ Meeting May 26

• • New RSE Whole School Scarf Coverage.pdf
  • Reception Letter.pdf
  • New RSE Letter to Parents

Reception baseline assessment: information for parents

Reading

Children will be sent home with a reading diary and a reading book. Please try to read with your child for 5 minutes, 3-5 times week. It will also be beneficial for you to share stories with your children as well as reading their school book. Your child’s book will be changed once a week. There is further information in the letter below.

As children progress with their phonics, videos will be shared via Dojo related to the sounds they are learning. Please watch these with your children and help the practice their sounds. Further on in the year, children will have access to Oxford Owl, where activities will be set linked to the book they have been reading in phonics that week. Children need to re-read the book and complete the quiz. Dojo’s will be rewarded for those who complete their Oxford Owl.

Reading in Reception.pdf

• Class Dojo
  At Northern we use Class Dojo. This platform allows us to share information about what your child has been learning and about any upcoming events. We also use Dojo as part our behaviour policy. You can message via Dojo if you need to tell us something or have a question but if you have any concerns then it best to speak to us face to face or over the school telephone. We might not always see the messages straight away so if it is important then please call the school office. All absences must be reported via the school office. I may not respond outside of my working hours which are Monday – Friday, 8:30am -4:00pm

What’s in our classroom?

• 

  Which book will you choose to read in our reading corner?

• 

  Explore maths using all the different resources in our Maths area

• 

  Enjoy mark making, writing letters and other things at our mark making station

• 

  Come and create some amazing art at our painting station

• 

  Feeling wobbly? Come and find your calm again in our chill out zone.

• 

  I wonder what you will create in the workshop?

• 

  Explore and investigate at our topic table

• 

  What will use build in the construction area?

• 

  Imagine and play in our small world area

• 

  Stregthen your finger muscles and develop those fine motor skills at the finger gym.

• 

  Explore different skills in our sand area.

Loading...

• Name
• Size
• Modified
• Date of creation
•  
• Ascending
• Descending

• No options...

Our outside area

Loading...

• Name
• Size
• Modified
• Date of creation
•  
• Ascending
• Descending

• No options...

On Friday 28th March 2025 the NHs team will be in school to do a vision screening check for Reception children.

Vision Screening in Lancashire Schools

What is vision screening?

Vision screening is undertaken by a specially trained person who looks at your child’s vision to assess whether they can see without any problems. It takes place at reception class age because visual acuity, eye alignment and binocular vision continually develops from birth up to the age of 7. Early detection and treatment of any defects found can often prevent some of these developing into visual impairment. Young children rarely complain about having reduced vision. If only one eye is affected it is even less likely to be noticed by the child, parents or teachers. The test aims to detect reduced vision early, before it becomes a problem.

What is involved with vision screening?   

We will assess your child’s vision using a letter matching test. The test is fun and your child does not need to know their letters to complete it. During the test an eye patch will be placed over one eye, or a pair of glasses with one eye blanked out will be used. The test is entirely safe and children enjoy playing the letter matching game. It takes approximately five minutes and the screener is trained to make this fun for the child.

Who does the screening?

East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust provide the vision screening service for Lancashire. Specially trained screeners go to every school in Lancashire and see children in the reception class. As NHS staff they are all DBS checked, (Disclosure and Barring Service. This check was previously known as CRB, Criminal Records Bureau). The vision screener will see the children in small groups or two at a time and this only takes a few minutes.

Does my child have to be screened?

No. A letter will be sent home with your child informing you about the screening and the date it will take place.  This is an Opt-out letter and only needs to be returned if you do not wish your child to be tested.  If you do not receive a letter please ring the school for a copy.

What happens if my child is absent on the day of screening?

If a child is absent on the day of screening or unable to perform the screening test, you will be sent a letter inviting your child to attend an appointment at a health centre near to you.  The appointments take approximately 15 minutes.

What will happen during the visual screening assessment?

During the school lesson, a couple of children will go to the room where the vision screening is being held. One eye will be covered and the child will be asked to identify shapes or letters held by the screener. This will then be repeated with the other eye. The screeners are trained to make this fun for the child. The screening only takes approximately 5 minutes then the children return to their lesson and the next couple of children go to be screened until everyone in the class has been seen.

What happens if my child passes?

We will send you a letter to inform you that your child has passed the vision screening. The results are recorded in a secure electronic system and this information is then sent to your child’s GP and school nurses so they know your child has been screened and no issues found.  No one else can access this information.  

What if a child does not pass the assessment?

Sometimes a child does not pass the screening. This may be because they are tired or not able to concentrate on the day of screening. If the screener is unsure if there is an issue with your child’s sight, they will send you a letter to ask you to attend another appointment at a health centre nearby to double check and be sure.

If your child does not pass due to sight problems, they will be referred for further tests. These could be carried out by an Orthoptist, who treats issues with the muscles of the eye, an Optometrist who prescribes glasses, or a hospital eye Doctor, depending on the results of the screening. You will be sent a letter informing you of the screening results and a further appointment will be arranged.

Contact details

If you live in the Blackburn, Burnley, Pendle, Rossendale, Ribble Valley, West Lancashire, Chorley and South Ribble areas please contact:

Lancashire Vision Screening Lead:  Stephanie Smith.

The Orthoptic Department

St Peter’s Health Centre

Church Street

BB11 2DL

Tel: 01282 805568

Email address: lancashirescreening.elht@nhs.net       

1. NEW Opt Out Vision Screening Consent letter to Parents – ELHT