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Orchard Grove Primary School

Transition to Foundation

Welcome to Foundation at Orchard Grove Primary School

At Orchard Grove Primary School, we know that starting school is a special milestone – for both children and their families. That’s why we’re committed to creating a welcoming, caring, and nurturing environment where your child feels safe, supported, and excited to learn.

A Positive Start: Our Transition Program

To ensure a smooth and happy start to school life, our Foundation Transition Program begins in Term 2 with our ‘Step into Prep’ sessions. Held over two dates, these sessions give children a taste of school through fun and engaging activities.

In Term 4, we continue with our 5 Transition sessions, where students get to experience life at Orchard Grove more fully. They’ll experience a snapshot of what school will look like in their potential classrooms, helping them become familiar with the school environment and routines.

Both Step into Prep and our Transition sessions offer relaxed, friendly opportunities for children and their families to get to know our staff and connect with our school community.

Helping Your Child Feel at Home

We want every child to start school with confidence and joy. In addition to our Step into Prep and Transition programs, we offer several introductory experiences to support your child’s transition to school, including:

  • Education Week and Foundation Information Night – A great way to learn more about life at Orchard Grove.
  • Kindergarten Visits – Our Foundation teachers visit and chat with local kindergartens to connect with future students.
  • Parent Information Sessions – Held during Transition sessions to keep you informed and involved. These sessions run through how English (in particular our phonics program) and Maths are taught at Orchard Grove and our School Wide Positive Behaviour Support (SWPBS) Program.
  • Ready, Set, Prep! – Online Parent Session – Held in late December, this friendly session covers practical tips such as what to pack, what to bring each day, and how to help your child feel ready. It’s also the perfect chance to ask any last-minute questions.
  • Foundation Social Story – A special story given to each child to help them feel excited about starting school.
  • Foundation Orchard Grove T-Shirt – A fun surprise to help your child feel part of the Orchard Grove family. Students can wear this shirt to all Transition Sessions and throughout their first year.
  • Individual School Entry Assessment & Interview – A chance for your child to shine and for us to get to know them better.
  • Buddies Program – Foundation students are paired with a Year 6 buddy to help them settle in and build friendships.
  • Play Times – In Term 1, Foundation students enjoy supported break times with their teachers.
  • Extra Playground Support – Additional staff are on duty during the first month to support smooth playground experiences.
  • Regular Communication – Stay informed through our whole-school newsletters and Compass notifications.

Learning in Foundation

Our curriculum is designed to give your child the best possible start in their educational journey. We focus on building strong foundations in English and Mathematics while nurturing a love of learning in a caring and supportive environment.

English

Our English blocks include Reading, Writing, and Phonics.

Reading

Reading is a key part of learning, and we work closely with you to build on the early literacy experiences children bring from home. We use a range of strategies to support reading development, including:

    • Modelled Reading – Teacher reads aloud to demonstrate fluency and comprehension.
    • Shared Reading – Students read along with the teacher.
    • Guided Reading – Small group instruction tailored to students’ reading levels.
    • Independent Reading – Time to explore books and develop a love of reading.

Children are encouraged to use picture clues, personal experiences, known words, and phonics to make meaning from text.

Writing & Spelling

Writing begins with creativity and confidence. We encourage all children to “have a go,” and support them through:

    • Phonics
    • Exposure to text types: Recounts, Narratives, Procedures, Reports, Explanations, and Expositions
    • Home-School Heart Word Program to reinforce high-frequency words
    • Development of fine motor skills, pencil grip, posture, and correct letter formation

Phonics

We explicitly teach phonics using the Read Write Inc. phonics resources. This evidence-based approach follows a systematic and structured sequence to ensure all students build strong foundational skills in reading and writing. Through phonics lessons, students learn to decode words, develop fluency, and apply their knowledge in context. The program is designed to support early literacy success by providing consistent routines, engaging resources, and targeted support for individual learners.

Mathematics

In our Maths block, students learn through hands-on activities and real-life contexts. We explore key concepts from the Victorian Curriculum, including:

    • Number
    • Algebra
    • Measurement
    • Space
    • Statistics

Problem-solving strategies include:

    • Act it Out
    • Make It
    • Draw a Picture

We encourage mathematical thinking through games, activities, and exploration using concrete materials.

Inquiry Learning

Students explore the world around them through engaging topics focused on:

Community

In this unit, students learn what it means to be part of a safe and supportive school community. They’ll meet the wonderful people at Orchard Grove who help keep everyone safe, and discover the important roles each person plays in making our school a great place to learn and grow.

My Family and Friends

We celebrate the many different families that make up our school community and learn about each other’s cultures, traditions, and celebrations. This unit encourages students to share their own backgrounds and fosters a sense of pride and appreciation for the uniqueness in everyone.

Design

Through creativity and problem-solving, students take on fun design challenges inspired by classic fairytales. Whether it’s building a strong chair for Goldilocks or designing a speedy escape for Jack down the beanstalk, students follow the design process to bring imaginative solutions to life!

Science

Students dive into the scientific process with engaging, hands-on experiments focused on weather. Through exploration and discovery, they learn how to observe, question, and investigate the world around them like real scientists.

Digital Learning

Students engage with digital tools using iPads and interactive whiteboards. ICT is embedded in learning to support creativity, communication, and problem-solving.

Physical Education

Physical education lessons are taught weekly and from Foundation to Year Six, students participate in additional sport sessions run in their Year levels. The program is carefully planned to develop the students’ skills as they develop physically and to lead the students through fundamental movement skills to more complex game situations. A whole school athletics day, cross country day and swimming program feature across the year and students can strive to be part of district teams representing the school against other schools.

Fair play and sportsmanship are key messages delivered during physical education sessions. Visiting clinics are organised and offered at every level. The school hall is a full-sized basketball court and we also have a multi-purpose netball and tennis court.

A Year of Fun and Learning!

Throughout the year, students enjoy special events that enrich school life, including:

    • Mother’s Day & Father’s Day Celebrations
    • 100 Days of School
    • Metropolitan Fire Brigade visit
    • Incursions and Excursions