Welcome to the Autumn Term!

We are absolutely thrilled to welcome our new Reception class as we embark on a wonderful journey of discovery, growth, and joyful learning! This term is all about settling in, building warm relationships, and igniting a love for learning that will last a lifetime. We can't wait to get to know each child better over the coming weeks and have a host of exciting activities and adventures planned.

Our Learning Journey: "Who Am I?"
This term, our theme is "Who Am I?", where children will explore what makes them unique and special. We will delve into topics about our families, feelings, and understanding the world around us. Each week, we will update you on what the children are learning, so you can join in the fun and support their exploration at home.

Key Festivals and Seasonal Changes
As the vibrant colours of autumn fade into the crisp beauty of winter, children will use their senses to explore our school grounds, noticing the changes in nature. We will also celebrate key festivals like Harvest, Remembrance Day, Bonfire Night, Diwali, and Christmas, enriching our understanding of different cultures and traditions.

Exploring Through Stories
Our learning will be brought to life through a selection of carefully chosen key texts that are sure to capture the children's imaginations. This term, we'll be sharing stories such as but not limited to:

The Colour Monster - Helping us understand and talk about our emotions.

Elmer - Celebrating what makes us unique.

The Tiger Who Came to Tea -  Sparking imaginative play and storytelling

Blue Monster Wants It All - Teaching us about sharing and kindness

Shine- Encouraging us to believe in ourselves.

You Choose - Stimulating decision-making and creativity.

Marvellous Me - Fostering self-esteem and pride in who we are.

Titch -  Showing that even the smallest things can make a big difference.

Prime Areas of Development
We will focus strongly on the prime areas of learning this term, ensuring that children feel confident and comfortable in their new environment. Our "Good to be Green" behaviour system will help children learn and follow classroom rules and routines, promoting a positive and supportive atmosphere. They will also work on self-regulation, learning to listen attentively, and engage in meaningful conversations with both adults and peers.

Developing Fine Motor Skills
We are also emphasizing the development of fine motor skills, which are crucial for writing. Through activities like cutting with scissors, mark-making, and playing with small construction toys, we will be building the hand strength needed for good pencil control. We’ll soon be starting ‘dough gym,’ a fun and interactive way to strengthen those little hands and fingers, getting them ready for writing!

Literacy and Phonics
In Literacy, our focus will be on the sounds of the alphabet and learning to orally blend, guided by our phonics programme 'Read Write Inc'. We’ll be holding a reading information evening soon, where you can learn more about how these sessions work, the order in which sounds are introduced, and how you can support your child’s reading journey at home. As children become more confident, we’ll progress to spelling and sounding out simple words, laying the foundation for their future reading and writing skills.

Maths

In maths the children will learn about cardinality and counting, comparison, pattern and shape and space across the term. We will be using mastery materials from NCETM including resources relating to the cbeebies numerblocks programme and also activities from the maths no problem scheme of work. Learning will be embedded in play and practical carefully planned maths games and activites that have a deep maths mastery focus.

We’re so excited to partner with you in this important first step in your child’s education. Let’s make this term a magical start to their learning journey!

Week beginning 2.9.24

Literacy

In literacy this week children will listening to stories about starting school.

Maths

In maths this week children will be completing baseline activites.

Understanding of the world

Children will desribe what they see, feel and hear whilst they are outside.

Expressive art and design

Children will draw pictures of themselves.

RE

Children will be introduced to Bertie Owl who will help us learn about RE.

PE

Children will be learning how to find a space safely.

Music

Children will be learning to sing along to action rhymes, listening and responding to different styles of music.

PSHE

Children will be getting to know one another and learning rules and routines.

Helpful information:

Green Book Bags 

Book bags will be provided by school and should be brought in every day. These are for any letters, reading books, sounds and reading records. Until children can read simple words they will be bringing home a quality picture book. This is for you to read to your child at home encouraging listening and responding and building up that important routine of a quiet 10 minutes reading time daily.

Mornings 
The wooden gate and playground door will be open each morning at 8.45am ready for lessons to begin at 8.50am. Please ensure your child is brought to school promtly and line up around the wall of the building. This is so teachers can meet and greet each child and deal with any parent enquiries. School finshes at 3.10pm and children will need to be collected by an adult known to staff. If you need to make a change to who is collecting your children please contact school prior to collection to let us know.

Water bottles

Children have been provided with a water bottle on their transition days which is to be brought to school each day, taken home, cleaned and refiled with water only. Children are encouraged to access these independently throughout the day and are also sat down at set times to ensure they stay hydrated. Children are also offered milk and fruit throughout the morning and therefore no other snacks are needed to be brought in from home.

 
Seesaw/Class Webpage 
Please check the class webpage regularly. Information will be added as we progress through the year and I will provide more details of our class learning. Please accept the invitation sent to you to connect to seesaw. During the day we may send you photos of your child at school so you can see what they have been learning. There is also a message feature where you can message us and through which, we will be sending videos and tips on how to support your child's learning in class.
 

Spare clothes
If your child  has regular accidents please send spare clothes in their book bag. 
 
Coats and Hats 
Please ensure your child has their coat in school every day. Depending on the weather, the children may also need sun hats or woolly hats. Please remember to label everything (even shoes!). If your do not want school shoes coming home muddy (we have a mud kitchen, sand and water play) please provide a pair of names wellies that can be kept in school for them to change into.

PE

PE days for this term will be Mondays and Tuesdays On these days children will need to come to school dressed in their outdoor PE kits and wearing trainers.

Please feel free to get in touch if you have any questions.

Mrs Millichap and Miss Hook