The Reception Program is organised to settle children into our school in a secure and nurturing environment. All new students to Dandenong North Primary undertake a thorough assessment process that can be used as a benchmark for future learning.
The Reception teacher receives newly enrolled students at our general office on their first morning. Parents are shown parents where their children will be located for their first two weeks at Dandenong North Primary, explains the purpose of the program and ensures they have a point of contact should they have concerns during their child’s initial period at the school. The Reception teacher spends time talking to parents about the family’s background and experiences so the school has an early indication of issues that may impact on how their children settle into school. With only a small number of children in the Reception Program at one time the Reception teacher is able to give time to parents and help them feel more secure in asking questions about their child.
Orientating the new arrival students into the school is a large part of the first week. The Reception teacher introduces them to their classroom teacher, shows them where the toilets are, how to put in a lunch order, basically how to find their way around and function in the school.
Introducing the children into their class takes place through participating in specialist programs that don’t require a strong mastery of English such as PE, Art and Music. They are met by two or three children from their intended class at recess and lunch so they have someone to play with.
The Reception Program ensures new arrival students are referred to, and assessed immediately by, the Outpost English teachers to determine which phase of the EAL Program they should be placed in. The Reception Program also has an assessment process to determine what the child will be capable of working on when they move to their mainstream class. A comprehensive Individual Learning Plan is developed for the class teacher to initially follow and students are brought up to date with the theme work being covered in the child’s class.