Welcome to Reception at Holmwood House School
A letter from Miss Ashton, the Head of Pre Prep and Reception
Our Reception classroom, with its gardens and play area, sits within our EYFS department on the 25 acre Holmwood House campus near Colchester in Essex. In Reception, our vision is to create an environment where every child can reach their full potential. With our small classes and friendly atmosphere, we are able to recognise each child as an individual learner and take each pupil on a bespoke educational journey through this exciting first year of school. We understand the importance of this time in a child’s development and that each child is unique. We are proud to offer a curriculum that establishes strong foundations for our earliest learners, building their confidence and stimulating their interest. We offer them a plethora of opportunities to learn through inquiry and investigation, developing their literacy and numeracy skills so that they can succeed at Holmwood.
Our experienced Reception team is highly trained and incredibly passionate about what they do. We pride ourselves on inspiring the children to be excited by their learning and the world around them through sparking their curiosity and igniting wonder. Our school day is both busy and enriching, featuring a mix of teacher-led activities aimed at fostering rapid academic growth and child-led continuous provision that allows us to respond to the children’s interests while encouraging independence and resilience. We understand the significance of thoughtfully designed activities that enable our children to learn through play.
At Holmwood House, we value the way specialist teachers enrich the Reception experience and are able to provide our children with Swimming, Languages, Music and Movement and forest school lessons allowing for the development of the whole child. In addition to this, our stimulating curriculum provides the opportunities for a great variety of off site trips, shows and visitors that provide unforgettable experiences!
We pride ourselves on establishing strong connections with our parents, sharing with them their children’s progress and achievements ensuring that they are part of their child’s learning journey. We love working with our confident little people and know you play a crucial part in this development, supporting reading at home and answering the many questions they have.
Miss B Ashton
Head of Pre-Prep & Reception
First Class Hons, BEd Primary
Our Curriculum Philosophy
At Holmwood House, we believe that the early years form the cornerstone of a child’s lifelong learning journey. Rooted in the principles of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) statutory framework, our philosophy champions a holistic, child-centred approach that nurtures each child’s curiosity and creativity, alongside the introduction of routines and the expectations of school.
We view every child as a capable, unique individual who thrives in an atmosphere where they are challenged, encouraged and supported. Our curriculum is designed to foster a love of learning through a balance of structured learning, purposeful play, rich language experiences, and meaningful relationships with adults and peers.
Our setting places a strong emphasis on the characteristics of effective learning, encouraging children to be active explorers, resilient thinkers, and independent learners.
Beyond the classroom: An Enriching Start at Holmwood
At Holmwood House, our Reception children are fortunate to enjoy our expansive 25-acre rural campus, which includes exceptional facilities and specialist teaching from day one, which provides an extraordinary learning experience beyond the traditional classroom.
We leverage our unique environment and expert staff to provide experiences that truly enrich development including:
- Weekly Swimming Lessons: Children gain confidence and essential water safety skills in our onsite swimming pool under expert guidance.
- Specialist PE & Sports: Led by professional instructors and coaches, physical education and sports sessions take place on our extensive sports grounds, sports hall and courts, focusing on enhancing gross motor skills, including fundamental ball and racket skills.
- Creative & Linguistic Growth: Our Reception children enjoy diverse learning opportunities with specialist teachers. They develop early linguistic skills through weekly French lessons and explore expression, communication, teamwork and rhythm in music and movement sessions.
- Outdoor Exploration: Our extensive grounds are a living classroom. Through regular Forest School sessions, and by taking learning outdoors whenever possible, children explore, discover, and learn in our natural environment, fostering curiosity and resilience.
