Welcome to Mighty Oaks

'Absolutely would recommend this school! My children have had and continue to have the best start to their school life.  A warm friendly environment for everyone as well as providing them with the best start in their education.' Parent testimonial. 

Our Reception class is part of our vibrant Forest Foundation EYFS Unit, where children learn through exploration, play, and high‑quality provision designed to spark curiosity and independence.

Meet the team:

• Mrs Hall – EYFS Lead and Class Teacher
• Mr Doud – PPA Cover for EYFS
• Mrs Biglands & Mrs Moore – Supporting children across EYFS with their learning and development

A message from Mrs Hall:

A warm hello from me, Mrs Hall. I am incredibly passionate about the Early Years and the vital foundations it provides for every child’s future learning. It is a privilege to be the children’s first class teacher as they begin their school journey in Mighty Oaks.

The Reception year is a truly special time. Children learn through play, exploration, and meaningful interactions, developing the Characteristics of Effective Learning—playing and exploring, active learning, and thinking critically. Our high‑quality provision is carefully designed to extend children’s learning, nurture their independence, and build resilience as confident, capable learners.

The Reception Year is an exciting but busy year! We encourage the children to develop independence during their time with us. We place a great deal of emphasis on developing early writing, reading and number skills. We value the support from our parents in supporting their children with these key life skills. All of our children bring home a reading book each night and additional activities to support the development of their number and phonics skills. We love sharing our 'Weekly News' via our school communication app as communicating with parents is so important to us so that our children have the maximum opportunity to reach their full potential. 

 

Our Church School Values 

• Term 1 - Humility
• Term 2 - Trust 
• Term 3 - Compassion
• Term 4 - Respect 
• Term 5 - Forgiveness 
• Term 6 - Perseverance 

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Transition 

Our transition process for new Reception children is designed to be gentle, joyful, and deeply supportive for both you and your child. Once you receive confirmation that you are joining Chestnut Street, Mrs Hall will be in touch to deliver your admissions pack along with a small present to help your child feel excited about their new adventure. You will also be added to our school communication app, where our EYFS team share photos and videos of the classroom and themselves, helping your child become familiar with the people and spaces they will soon be part of. 

In May, we host a welcome meeting where families can learn more about the school day, explore the classroom together, and ask any questions. 

June brings transition visits for the children, as well as a nursery visit from Mrs Hall to learn more about how your child likes to learn and what sparks their curiosity. 

In July, we invite families to our Teddy Bears’ Picnic—a lovely opportunity to meet other parents, begin forming friendships, and help your child feel secure and connected before September arrives. 

We can’t wait to welcome you to our school; it truly is an irresistible place to learn.

P.E:

Mighty Oaks - PE day is Friday (morning) unless we send a message via MCAS to advise of a change. 

Children should come to school wearing their PE kit, suitable for both indoor and outdoor activities. Please ensure footwear is appropriate (trainers with laces can be tricky for children who are not yet able to fasten them independently).

Reading

Teach a child to read and keep that child reading and we will change everything.

And I mean everything.

At Chestnut Street, the teaching of reading is at the very core of our curriculum.  Our main aim is to ensure that every child becomes a confident, fluent reader who develops a love of reading. The sharing of stories is central to our provision throughout the school and we read regularly with the children in Oak class.

Please listen to your child read 3 times a week. This can be them sharing their book bag book or you reading a story to them. Please log their activity in their reading log. It is important for the children to bring in their reading folder each day in order to keep their books updated. 

Children in Oak class visit our local library once a week in the summer term to read for pleasure, sharing a book as a whole class or choosing a book to read with their friends. We also like to make sure we borrow books and spend time in our school library.

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Trips/ Visitors 

Throughout the year, children take part in a range of experiences that enrich their understanding of the world, including:

• Local walks into Ruskington
• A visit to All Saints Church to support our RE learning
• A trip to the garden centre to explore plants and growth
• A visit to the opticians as part of our learning about people who help us in the community

These experiences help children make real‑life connections and deepen their understanding of the world around them.

Home learning 

We do not set weekly homework in Reception. However, we do expect:

• Reading at least three times a week at home

• Support with letter formation, using sheets that will be sent home throughout the year

Why do you like coming to Chestnut Street school? 

‘I love building outside’

‘Mrs Hall is soooooooo funny!’

‘Phonics with Fred the frog’

‘Playing with my friends all day long’

‘Our school library’

‘Bikes and Trikes and the Trim Trail’

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We would love to show you around our school. Please do contact the school office to book an appointment.

email: enquiries@chestnutstreet.laat.co.uk

Telephone 01526 832424

Alternatively, please join us on one of our Open Days.  

If you have any questions or queries about the starting school journey, please contact the school office. 

Please follow us on and Facebook and Instagram for regular updates, photos and much more!