Welcome to reception!

Welcome to the Autumn Term! The children have had a fantastic first week and have started to settle in so well - we are very proud of them. We are really looking forward to getting to know everybody over the term ahead.

This term children will take part in a range of activities relating to the theme of 'who am I?'. Throughout the term children will exlplore this theme by learning about what makes us special, families, and feelings. There will also be opportunites to explore learning experiences related to key festivals such as Harvest, Rememberence Day, Bonfire Night, Diwali and Christmas. Children will observe the changing seasons from Autumn to Winter by using their senses to explore the grounds of the school. 

These themes will be explored through a series of key texts shared with the children in class. Some of key texts for this term are:

The Colour Monster

Elmer

The Tiger who came to tea

Blue Monster wants it all

Shine

You Choose

Marvellous Me

Titch

Throughout the term there will a strong focus on supporting children in their development across the prime areas of learning. Children will learn and embed class rules and routines within the classroom by following our good to be green behaviour system and develop skills in self-regulation such as learning to listen for sustained periods and engage effectively in back and forth converstation with adults and peers. There will also be a strong emphasis on building up finger strength for writing using a variety of activities for example, using scissors for cutting, using a range of mark making materials, using small construction and other fine motor control based resources. We will soon be starting ‘dough disco’! Any activity of this type strengthens the hands and fingers and is essential for the development of good pencil control and handwriting.

In Literacy, children will be learning the sounds of the alphabet and learning to orally blend, which will be taught through our phonics programme 'Read Write Inc'. More information about the structure of these sesssions, the order children learn the sounds and how you can support your child at home will be covered in our upcoming reading information evening. Children will also learn to form the letters correctly, ensuring they use the correct pencil grip. As we move through the term and as soon as children are ready, we will progress to using these sounds for spelling and sounding out simple words. 

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 will begin by matching and sorting, counting aloud orally and gaining an understanding of the composition of numbers up to 5.

Week beginning 2.10.2023

Literacy

In literacy this week we will learning to orally blend and learning the sounds h, sh, r, j, v.

Maths

In maths this week we will be recognising, extending and creating simple AB patterns.

Understanding of the world

To consider shapes and positions of features when making a map.

Expressive art and design

Children will be painting pictures of Elmer using paints and paint sticks.

RE

Children will be learning about role models and why they are important.

PE

Children will be introduced to PE and structured movement this term through the topic of 'fantasy and adventure'

Music

Learning to sing along to action rhymes, listening and responding to different styles of music. Lesson 4 Me!

PSHE

Who can help me?

Helpful information:

Green Book Bags 

Book bags should be brought to school 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 to the reception area 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 are provided with a water bottle which is cleaned and refilled daily and they do not need to bring one from home. They 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 myself and through which, I 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 Tuesdays and Wednesdays. 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