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.