My Reception class have a staggered start, do I wait until they are all in class before I start teaching?

In short, no! Start teaching phonics from week 2 of term with all the children that are in your class.

Ensure that new joiners come and are taught with their friends in the whole-class lesson.

Catch them up on the lessons that they have missed at other times in the day.

Aim to get all children on track by the first assessment.