Early years
Play and learn at home: six family games
Build shared talk, noticing, early counting and turn-taking through a short everyday activity.
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Reception teacher and early years lead
Orla Timmins
I value transition practices that make room for questions, protect children’s privacy and give the next teacher a useful understanding of the learner.
Explore the collectionA little about me
I teach Reception and lead early years practice. Children arrive with different experiences of group settings, so I want families and teachers to share useful information as the child begins school. An observation is most helpful when it gives a parent a clear picture of what the child was doing and how the teacher might support a next step.
At this age, faith learning belongs in everyday habits and familiar language. I want it to feel connected to the routines children experience rather than presented as an abstract instruction. Careful wording helps adults explain what is happening in a way that is appropriate to the child’s stage.
I look for resources that help turn observations into plain, meaningful communication. A template can organise a note, but it cannot replace what a teacher noticed or what a family knows. I value transition practices that make room for questions, protect children’s privacy and give the next teacher a useful understanding of the learner. This keeps the aim age-appropriate.
How I approach a lesson
Describe learning in words families can picture.
Connect early faith learning with familiar routines.
Use transition notes to share relevant context without overgeneralising.
Templates I'd use with my class
Explore these templates and decide what fits your own setting.