Reception
INFORMATION FOR PROSPECTIVE PARENTS
Thank you for considering West Thornton Primary School as a school for your child starting in September 2026.
West Thornton Primary School is a split-site, five form entry inclusive primary school situated in Croydon, with the space to welcome 120 children to our Reception setting each year.
Our vision and values underpin all that we do, and we ensure that through our teaching, learning and provision, every child is given the best possible beginning to their education in order to make great strides in their learning. We work closely with outside agencies to meet any additional needs of the pupils, and partnerships with parents are crucial to us in supporting pupils' learning, progress and happiness. We have a ‘limitless minds’ approach to our learning and strongly believe that all children have the potential to achieve well when provided with rich learning opportunities, experiences, care and guidance. We challenge our children and ourselves to be the best we can be in a safe, creative, rich and purposeful environment.
Our learning is planned around a skills based global curriculum that we feel is relevant for life and learning in the 21st Century, and critically important for future success. We believe that global learning helps pupils make sense of the increasingly complex and rapidly changing world in which they live. Each half term we plan the pupils learning in depth using a core-text approach, engaging the children high quality texts and rich and meaningful learning experiences which ensures they feel connected to their learning and the world around them.
In our most recent Ofsted inspection in October 2024, West Thornton was judged ‘Outstanding’ for our Early Years Provision. Ofsted said:
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Children get off to a great start in Reception. There is a relentless focus on developing language and vocabulary. All staff understand this is vital to enable access to the rest of the curriculum, and all future learning. Precise vocabulary is identified and delivered sequentially. Children are also taught how to respond when answering questions and talking with each other. Consequently, they learn to communicate effectively. This, alongside the well thought-out and delivered curriculum, means children have the foundations they need to be very well-prepared for future learning.
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Reading is given high priority. All staff are well-trained and deliver the phonics scheme with precision. This is monitored closely by leaders to make sure their high expectations are maintained. Children start learning letter sounds as soon as they start school, with books carefully matched to the sounds known. As a result, pupils have the practise they need to become fluent readers as quickly as possible. Those at risk of falling behind are identified and supported through carefully planned interventions to catch-up. A love of reading is evident across the school.
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in early years children have learning journey as ‘roadmaps’, they also recall stories using ‘story maps’. This prepares them for more complex mapwork, in geography, later on. Similarly, in mathematics, Reception children learn to recognise numbers, count and make different amounts. This supports children’s early understanding of numbers to 10, assisting automatic recall and more complex calculations later on.
For more information please call the school office on 020 8684 3497 or email us at office@inspirewestthornton.co.uk
HOW TO COMPLETE YOUR PRIMARY SCHOOL APPLICATION
All schools in Croydon have a single point of entry for reception and admit children in September. Please visit the Croydon website for further details and an online application form at croydon.gov.uk/admissions
Please click here to view the Croydon Primary School Admissions Booklet.
We consider every member of our school community to be a life-long learner and value all contributions to the continued improvements to our school.
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT US
Curriculum
At West Thornton, we believe in shaping and educating our children to become citizens for the 21st century by broadening their minds and experiences. We do this through our Inspire Global Curriculum which comprises 6 themes:
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Each term, EYFS shape their learning around a topic which is enriched with a variety of quality core-texts, trips and provision. We also make strong connections with global learning and citizenship. The children will build up to a project each term. Along with this, we use Development Matters to ensure that children receive an age appropriate curriculum based on the seven areas of learning in EYFS:
- Communication and Language
- Personal, Social and Emotional Development
- Physical Development
- Literacy
- Mathematics
- Understanding the World
- Expressive Arts and Design
PHONICS
In Reception, each child takes part in daily phonics lessons to develop their letters and sound knowledge, as well as to build on their early reading skills.
We encourage the children to use phonics throughout their learning, and regularly promote phonics development within the resources and provision.
LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS
The learning environment is the ‘Third Teacher’. It supports us all in giving messages about our ethos and values and celebrates high quality learning. Through our high-quality learning environment, we provide children with a stimulating, enriching and creative learning experience.
Our learning spaces are arranged so that children can move freely, accessing the resources and provision that suits their needs and interests. The equipment and resources are planned around the seven areas of development, and the global theme or topic.
An important part of the Early Years curriculum requires us to provide children with ample opportunity for outdoor learning and malleable play, e.g. water, mud, dough etc. Children are entitled to access our outdoor areas at all times.
THE SCHOOL DAY
Our daily timetable encourages your child to learn and develop in a range of ways. Throughout the day, they will take part in whole class lessons, small group lessons, and engage in independent activities during ‘choosing’ time. This means they can move freely around the classroom to access the resources and equipment available. We also incorporate additional lessons on a weekly basis, such as Art, PE, Circle Times and more.
LUNCH
You can choose for your child to enjoy school dinners or they can bring a packed lunch to school. Our dinner menus are changed termly and are on a 3 week rotation. There are vegetarian options for every meal. We have fruit available each day for children to have as a snack, as well as free school milk.
From September 2014, all children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 are entitled to free school meals.
PARENTS
At West Thornton, we know that parents are children’s first educators and we value being partners with them in their child’s education.
We ensure that parents are fully involved in their child’s education by:
- Regularly sharing children’s ‘Learning Journeys’ with parents and valuing the ongoing contributions to this from parents/carers
- Giving parents/carers the opportunity to take part in their child's education and share their interests and expertise
- Delivering workshops to share our practice, ethos and ideas with parents/carers e.g. Phonics demonstrations and Early Readers workshops
- Promoting a love of reading for parents/carers to read with their child
- Opportunities for parents/carers to participate in learning through celebrations
