Reception

Children age 4 and 5 complete the Early Years Foundation Stage in School

Ladybirds

Our youngest children are housed in a large purpose built space in the 2017 extension, including an outdoor classroom with facilities for up to 45 children. The phase is led by Mrs Karen Cotton. While Mrs Cotton is the notional key worker for all our youngest children, parents and carers can be confident in approaching any of the EYFS teaching team should they have a query or concern.

A welcome from the headteacher - Mrs Rutter-Brown

Welcome to Kingsmead! While with us hopefully for the next seven years, our children only start school once. We hope to work in partnership with every family to make their first year of school a strong and supportive foundation. One from which they develop into a generation of lifelong learners, useful and kind global citizens.

The Early Years Curriculum in our reception class is the end of an early years provision that for most children will have started in nursery, play group or with a registered childminder. The team meet with childcare providers throughout the year and in the Summer term to ensure effective transfer of information and assessments from children's first educational settings.

Children are taught the EYFS curriculum, aiming to achieve 17 Early Learning Goals (ELG) at the end of the academic year. All areas of learning are considered equally important in the early years. If children have achieved the ELG in the first 11 areas they are considered to have achieved a 'good level of development' for their age and be able to make a smooth transition to Key Stage 1 without additional support.

Assessment in the EYFS is part of teachers' daily teaching which will be shared with parents and carers at regular meeting and opportunities to come into school throughout the year.

Laura Cottam

BEd (Hons) with Modern Languages

Mrs Cottam works as a teaching assistant in class Monday-Wednesday and on Thursday and Friday is Sarah Peacock's job share teacher. Laura worked as a teacher in Key Stage 2 before joining our EYFS team - the youngest children are her real passion. She leads additional support for pupils in the Reception class.

Karen Cotton

BEd (Hons) Primary Education with Mathematics, Outdoor Learning Practitioner (level 2), NPQML, NASENCo

Mrs Cotton is the SENDCo and EYFS class teacher on Wednesday - Friday. She is also the team leader for the forty five children and staff in the Reception phase. She takes responsibility for parent partnership and family engagement and brought Parenting sessions into school.

Mrs Cotton has taught throughout the primary phase, in a Middle School and as a leading Mathematics teacher for Cheshire.

Debra Fielden

BSc (Hons) Biomedical Sciences, PGCE Primary

Mrs Fielden has taught in LKS2 and KS1 before moving to Reception, Monday and Tuesday. She co leads Design/Technology with Mrs Abi Newbury.

Sian Woods

BA (Hons) Primary Education,

Mrs Woods joined the team in September 2022 as an ECT (early career teacher) having done the schools direct PGCE with Chester University. She has since taught in KS1 and supported our teaching assistant team.

Natalie Plumbley

BA (Hons) English Literature, PGCE Primary specialism in Early Years

Mrs Plumbley joined us as a teaching assistant in September 2019. Before joining us in September 2019, Natalie has worked as a teacher in Key Stages 1 and 2 with a specialism in early years. Natalie has a particular interest in the environment and education for a more sustainable world. As well as working with us Natalie is a farmer on a mixed farm in Cheshire.