Westonzoyland Primary School ‘Embrace Opportunities, Choose Kindness, Value Everyone’
Merlin – Miss Stockford (Reception)
Autumn 2026
A huge welcome to Merlin Class. It is such an exciting time as your child begins their learning journey in school! We really look forward to working with you over the next year to support your child's learning.
Our first few weeks will be very much focused on making new friends, establishing routines and expectations, while exploring the school environment. We will be observing children within their natural play to assess and establish baselines in all areas, as well as conduct the national government-led baseline assessments within the first six weeks.
Our curriculum topic
We have a general topic of seasons, focusing on Autumn this term, as well as 'All about Me', where we provide opportunities for children to talk about their families and interests. This can be supported by uploading photos of events or celebrations from home. We love seeing your photos and children really enjoy talking about their photos. Scroll down and have a look at some of the books we will be focusing on this half term! Our curriculum centres around skill-based activities rather than specific outcomes. This enables children to pursue their own interests while practising a focused skill. It ensures children are progressing at their own level as well as unique to them!
PE & Outdoor Learning
At present, PE will be on a Thursday. However, the first few weeks we do not do formal PE sessions, instead we spend lots of opportunities outside, whether on the pirate ship and climbing net, or literally having a ball of a time on the field! Many of our gross motor skills can be practised in this less structured way, with children thriving in the outdoors. We will also be spending time in the forest area as part of our Physical development time.
Children need to come to school in their PE kit, with trainers, rather than daps, as these are more supportive and avoids wet feet when outside.
Our scheduled outdoor learning will be on a Monday, when children can wear black joggers/leggings with uniform jumpers/hoodies, again, with trainers. Named wellies should be kept at school for children to change into if needed. We will, of course, be spending additional time in the forest area as part of our learning, so please ensure children are prepared for the weather, particularly when the weather cools.
On the remaining days, children should always wear their full uniform, including school shoes. Hoodies are only allowed on PE and outdoor learning days.
Please feel free to see me at the door with any queries, though if they are not urgent, emails would work better which I can then respond to. Scroll down to complete the form below.
Many thanks for your support
Miss Stockford
Phonics & Reading
Our phonic adventure will continue on from Pre-school experiences, applying Level 1 skills, such as focused listening, to learning and applying knowledge of specific sounds. Phonics is a big focus in Reception, with the learning of sounds the very foundation of reading and writing. As we learn specific sounds, children will bring home an information sheet so you can support their learning at home. On a Friday, children will also bring home a Phonic minibook to read with you - these focus on the sounds covered that week and are essential for applying new knowledge and gain confidence and fluency for reading. Bookmarks focused on these sounds may also be sent home - these are helpful to practise reading for sight as well as using as a guide for spelling once correct letter formation is established. Magnetic letters are fun to use prior to this.
We follow the Twinkl Phonics scheme, a validated Phonics scheme, which is predominantly used in Pre-school, Reception, Year One and Two.
There is a whole school expectation that children read 5 times a week. Currently, most children will a storybook to share at home until a sufficient number of sounds are known and children can blend them together. Please record the book and date in your child's reading record. Storytimes at home, such as sharing a book at bedtime, count as your child's reading at this time. As children become confident with sound recognition and can blend letters successfully to read words, then we will send phonic books home. These must be read 5 times, though you obviously continue to share story books as well. These are crucial for developing vocabulary as well as a love of reading. Reading books, and their records will be kept in a plastic wallet, and this should be brought to school every day.
Phonic Soundmat Level 2
Fruit and snacks
Children in the EYFS are allowed water or milk as specified in the Statutory Framework (updated Sept 2026). Milk is free, and offered to all children as part of our morning snack. The government also provides fresh fruit/vegetables. These range from carrots, apples, bananas, pears, satsumas, peapods and tomatoes depending on the season. IF you wish to provide your child with snack, it must be fresh fruit or vegetables - not dried. In accordance to our Nutrition guidance and choking hazards, if cut up, fruit should be in battons, not chunks. Grapes, blueberries and other round berries MUST be cut longways. Dried fruit, such as raisins are not allowed. Children who bring fruits that do not follow the statutory guidance will not be allowed them, but will be offered an alternative. If you are not sure, please ask.
New starters Presentation 2026
Merlin's contact details
Please leave a message and Miss Stockford will be in touch.