Miss Conway, Miss Hamilton, Mrs Holmes, Mrs Atack and Mrs McMahon and the children from Attenborough and Jemison classes would like to welcome you to the Reception year group page.

Here you will find our curriculum overview, useful websites to help with your child's learning and school/class information. Enjoy!

What will the children need for school every day?

• Please ensure the children always have a coat in school as we aim to go outside even if it is drizzling for playtime each day.
• Spare knickers/pants and socks in their book bags please.
• The children need a freshly-filled water bottle in school each day. These can be refilled by the children at school if required. Water bottles, if full in the morning, should NOT come in in their book bags as they may leak.
• Book bag, reading record book and contact book.
• On hot sunny days, the children should come into school with sun screen cream already applied and a peaked hat for their protection.
• Please ensure that all clothing must be named and don't forget to name any new items that you buy. If your child's coat has a detachable hood, please also write your child's name in the hood too. For more information on the school uniform expectations, please click on the link below:

Meet the Teacher

How to write the sounds at home

Phonics Teaching at Meopham Community Academy

For lots more information on how we teach phonics to your children at Meopham Community Academy, please visit our 'Phonics' area here:

The 'Oxford Owl' website has plenty of eBooks which are completely FREE!!

If you follow this link:

Follow the link and click on the 'Series' tab then select 'Read Write Inc'. To read the books you will need to register which doesn't take long at all. Once registered and logged in, you can choose from the selection of Read Write Inc books should you have finished reading your child's current book that they took home.

I have been informed by Read Write Inc that they will be adding more free ebooks to this page over the next few days and weeks.

This is excellent news as it will enable the children to continue to read through the scheme at home.

Tapestry at Meopham Community Academy

What is Tapestry?

• Tapestry is a secure online Learning Journal used to record photos, observations and comments, in line with the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum in order to build up a record of your child’s experiences during their time with us.
• This system allows us to send notifications of observations to parents so that they can access the journal and comment on observations that are made.

How does Tapestry Work?

• Tapestry provides each individual child with their own Learning Journal held online. Parents and carers are given their own log-in using their email and password (which is pre-set by us but can be changed by you to make it more secure).
• All our staff are given a secure log-in. They can then upload observations, photos or videos; recording childrens' achievements and assessing their learning in reference to the EYFS curriculum.
• Parents can change their settings so that an email is then automatically generated informing them when an observation has been added so they can have a look and add any comments of their own.

Who can access Tapestry?

• As parents/carers you both can access Tapestry by letting us know any e-mail addresses that you wish to link with the system (limited to 2 per child).
• You can choose to share your log in details with extended family if you wish, so they can see your child’s Learning Journal.

How can I view my child's Learning Journal?

• Once logged in, you will see your child’s observations on your home screen in a list – selecting any one of these will open up the observation for you to look at. You may add comments in the box at the bottom of the observation if you would like to – please do not expect a response.

How do I know that my child's Learning Journal has been updated?

• The system will automatically send you an email when an observation for your child has been added.

Where do I start?

• Once you have given us an email address, we will set up an account for you. Go to

• Or if you have an iPhone/iPad visit the iTunes store and download the Tapestry app from the Education section (search for Tapestry Mobile). If you have an Android Smartphone/Android Tablet, search for Tapestry Learning Journal and download.

Online Safety Considerations

• The school has access to all of the children’s Learning Journals. The only other people that can see your child’s account will be yourselves and anyone that you share your log in details with, such as Grandparents etc.
• If your child is featured in a group observation, their photo may appear in another child’s Learning Journal. If you do not want your child’s photo to be visible in anyone else’s account then please let us know.

Note from the Year R teachers

We do hope that you enjoy using Tapestry and that it helps to keep you feeling informed about your child’s learning throughout their very first year at school. If you have any questions or problems using Tapestry then please let us know.

Playdough, the gym, the disco and beyond

As a teacher, I have always been interested in the possible/probable link between the low literacy attainment of children and their under-developed gross and fine motor skills. So, in the last year I began to investigate how I could influence pupil progress positively.

• Alistair Bryce-Clegg is (self)credited with 'inventing' the Dough Gym. A quick internet search will yield masses of detailed information on the concept (and endless playdough recipes) and a YouTube search will provide you with any number of super-enthusiastic session leaders (see our personal inspiration, the wonderful Shonette Bason and Dough Disco) and session playlists.

• However, in essence, Dough Gym is a daily physical intervention that combines the use of pieces of playdough with a series of hand and finger exercises. These strengthen and develop children’s fine and gross motor dexterity, hand-eye co-ordination, proprioception (moving the body effectively within its given space), balance (while still and in motion), low load control (your shoulders’ ability to support your arm and hand as you write) and grip.

• Each session can last as little as 3-4 minutes (the length of any upbeat pop song chosen) or as long as 10 minutes and is led by an adult who calls out instructions (roll a sausage, make a ball, pinch, flatten, squeeze, take your fingers on a walk, walk your fingers down the catwalk, dance your fingers on the dance floor...). The children all stand up with adequate space around them to move freely, the dough remains in their hands at all times (using the table is not allowed!) and they follow using their fingers, hands and/or dough.
• Obviously, given the fantastic possibilities it presents for developing motor dexterity and therefore early mark making and writing, YR are extremely excited that the Dough Disco is now incorprated into our daily timetable at MCA. It takes place from 8.35-8.55 and the children absolutely adore it! Just ask them!

Year R - Maths

Year R - Useful Websites