Pukekohe Hill School

Reception Class At Hill School

At Hill School, a Reception Class has been established as an innovation to better prepare children for
formal learning and the routines and expectations of school life.
The class is based in Room 9 and it is our aim for the class to have a roll of less than 20 students at any one time.
Two very experienced and talented teachers, Mrs Poirier and Mrs Cotter, lead the Reception Class.
Both have a real passion and commitment to ensuring your child has a successful transition to learning at Hill.

In the Reception Class, clear strategies for meeting the diverse needs of students have been identified and implemented.
The process of identifying needs and strengths includes:

*On Entry Formal Testing -
Oral Language, Maths, Concepts.
*Half hour interviews with parents to gather information about development from birth, and student interests.
*Checklist of criteria for leaving the Reception Class.
*Discussion with the Perceptual Motor Programme teacher aide.
*Teacher interaction and observation.

A feature of the Reception Class is a planned and scaffolded learning to develop the skills needed to function effectively and happily in a Year 1 class with formal learning opportunities including Reading, Writing and Numeracy.

Students with special needs are referred
for support through the systems the school already has in place.
The Reception Class programme innovatively offers a combination of opportunities including opportunities for directed play through which children develop motor and social skills.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This combination of teaching styles enables each child's learning disposition to be
catered for.
There is a timetable framework, which is flexible in order to meet clearly identified individual needs. Students transition to their Year 1 class as they become developmentally ready. Some children transition after a minimum of 3 weeks while others benefit from a longer stay.
There are opportunities for transition into some programmes e.g. Reading, before full transition, so that the best decision is made to meet each individual's needs. There is a full discussion about individual students between; Reception Class teachers, Assistant Principal, families, and Year 1 teachers, before a final decision is made.
 

The Reception Class has been a resounding success and we are pleased to give children this start to their learning at Hill.

The following is a summary of criteria against which each child will be measured when deciding on readiness.
If you have any questions, please contact me at Pukekohe Hill School,
phone (09) 238 6374.
Wendy Ritchie
Assistant Principal Junior School

Summary of Criteria

Self Management
* Can manage own possessions - shoes, sweaters, school bag, lunch box, drink bottle etc
* Can use the toilet independently.
* Can blow own nose

Social Skills
* Can share equipment
* Is happy and settled in the playground

 

 

Literacy and Numeracy
* Can read and write own name
* Can recognise colours, some shapes and some numbers.
* Knows which way up to hold a book, where to start etc
* Can verbally respond to the teacher and classmates

 

 

Classroom Behaviour/Skills
* Knows and follows the limits and boundaries of acceptable behaviour.
* Can follow routines for book bags, readers, poetry books, notebooks, and home box.
* Can follow a task board of activity rotations.
* Can sit appropriately on the mat and contribute and listen to discussions.
* Can listen to and follow instructions.
* Can listen to a story as told or read.
* Can return equipment to the correct place.
* Knows location of Office, Hall and lunch room.
* Can stay at a defined set task.
* Demonstrates interest in activities.
* Treats equipment with respect.


Home page