Reception Class

Welcome to Class 1

Spring Term 2025

Reception

 

 Welcome back and a Happy New Year!  We hope you have all enjoyed a lovely Christmas break! It has been lovely to welcome the children back and we have enjoyed seeing how well they have settled into School life in their first term. We are looking forward to another exciting term of learning and a variety of experiences.

This term we have the Class themes of ‘Amazing Animals’ in Spring 1 and ‘Space’ in Spring 2, where we will be exploring our ‘wider world’.  Our children learn by playing and exploring, being active, and through creative and critical thinking which takes place both indoors and outside.  Our progressive curriculum is topic based incorporating many aspects of learning.

We will start by exploring the seasons, with a particular focus of winter.  We then find out about penguins and how they adapt to their particular climate and environment.   We also consider why is a bird is a bird. Towards the end of the half term, we explore Dinosaurs and think about what it means for an animal to be Extinct.  We will also be consolidating our understanding of Nocturnal/Diurnal animals and finding out about those animals that come out of hibernation in the spring. We will also be finding out about festival days such as the Lunar New Year, Shrove Tuesday, and Easter.  Our theme after half term will be ‘Space ‘.  We will be exploring the planets, recognising that we live on Earth and how we have day and night.

In Reception our children learn and play together sharing our indoor and outdoor areas.  Within our setting we continue to have a big focus on learning through play and small group focus sessions to deepen understanding. We endeavour to build on children’s strengths, interests and experiences by providing a stimulating and relevant curriculum a safe and happy environment. Our ethos reflects our core values which are encapsulated in our motto ‘Aim high; Be Resilient; Take Care of Each Other’.  We also use the ‘Characteristics of Effective learning (Playing and exploring, Active learning and Creating and thinking critically) to encourage the children to think about the skills they are demonstrating or need during their learning.  We also like to follow the children’s own interests.

 

English/Literacy

In our daily phonics lessons we are continuing to practise set 1 sounds, we are reading and spelling word-time words, reading ditties and carrying out a ‘Hold a sentence’ and writing it.  When fluent the children will move onto red books.   The children will build up to Reading decodable texts, focusing on decoding (sounding out and blending), prosody (reading with expression and intonation) and comprehension skills.  This same text will be sent home to practise with the aim of building fluency, confidence and enjoyment.  Initially, books have images only, to develop book skills, discussion and vocabulary and to make early experiences of reading pleasurable for the child and adults. Fluency in reading is really important and the children need lots of practise to develop this. Here is a video with ideas of how to listen to your child read: https://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/tM1Z3c8K/NUEWvUmY

We will continue to upload RWI  videos to Class Dojo.

We will also continue to provide opportunities to develop early Literacy skills through games in the indoor and outdoor enhanced provision. We have stories and texts throughout the day which link to our themes, we also like to use texts to explore information and follow the interests of the children as well as developing a love of stories and information for enjoyment.

 

Mathematics

The focus for this term will be to raise the children’s confidence in counting, writing and representing numbers to 5 and beyond in different ways in a range of contexts, using National Centre for Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics (NCETM), using Numberblock materials.  Alongside this, we will be investigating measures, looking at shapes and participating in a variety of problem-solving activities.  Alongside daily whole-class teaching sessions, there will be a range of child-led opportunities to develop mathematical skills through meaningful play during indoor and outdoor continuous provision.  A focus for us This term we will be introducing the children to Numberbots, which is an online program that we can use in School and at home to support Maths concepts.

PE/Physical Development

In addition to engaging in a range of activities linked to improving physical development through indoor and outdoor continuous provision.  Each day we either do ‘Fun fit’ activities or a dance routine as part of daily routine.  There will also be a weekly PE session on a Tuesday with Mr Hayler who will be focusing on developing functional skills.  The children are welcome to leave their PE kits in school and we will send them home if we feel they need washing or at the end of each half term.

 Enrichment

We are fortunate for our amazing school site for a variety of opportunities.  This term the children will have a short French session with Madam Clark on Tuesdays.   In March we will also have a whole school trip to Plymouth Theatre Royal to see Mary Poppins.  Please keep an eye on the Newsletter for information.

Home learning

Research has shown that Homework teaches vital skills such as the developing independence, resilience and self-discipline. It also encourages children to take initiative and responsibility for completing a task. As a Federation we ask you to support your child’s learning by hearing them read 5 x each week.  Talking about what your child is read is also of importance, to ensure that they are understanding what they read.   We want to promote a love of sharing books together and reading together at home.

It is also helpful if  your child can practise correct letter and number formation. Little and often is good!  This term will be introducing the children to ‘Numberbots’ which is an online programme to support Maths in the Classroom and at home.

We always love to see the children’s home learning.  Each week via Class Dojo we will share what have been doing in Class.  We will also use Class Dojo to share additional class messages.  Please see below for more information about the EYFS curriculum.

Routines:

Please remember to bring in book bags and water bottles each day.  It is also really helpful for the children to have warm coats, hats and gloves at this time of year.  If all clothes including PE kit could be clearly labelled it would be helpful please.

Please do look at the weekly newsletter where there are school updates and useful dates.

The wellbeing of the children is of utmost importance to us, if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to make contact.

Mrs Cawsey (Class teacher), Mrs Beer (Class teacher), Ms Dannan (Teaching Assistant)

 

 

Overview of the Early Years Foundation Stage Framework.

What Is the Early Years Foundation Stage?

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) is the stage of education for children from birth to the end of the Reception year. It sets standards for the learning, development and care of your child from birth to 5 years old with the aim that your child will learn and develop well and be kept safe.  It is based on the recognition that children learn best through play and active learning and is the same curriculum as in pre-reception settings.

What Will My Child Be Learning?

The EYFS framework outlines seven areas of learning and development and educational programmes. There are three prime areas of learning, which are particularly important for your child’s development and future learning:

*Communication and language

*Personal, social and emotional development

*Physical development

There are four specific areas of learning, through which the prime areas are strengthened and applied:

*Literacy

*Mathematics

*Understanding the world

*Expressive arts and design

We will consider your child’s needs and interests to plan challenging and enjoyable activities and experiences.  You can help us to do this by sharing your observations of your child’s interests at home.

There are also three characteristics of effective teaching and learning:

*Playing and exploring

*Active learning

*Creating and thinking critically

These tell us about how each child learns not what they are learning

Play is essential for children’s development; building their confidence as they learn to explore, relate to others, set their own goals and solve problems. Children learn by leading their own play, and by taking part in play which is guided by adults.

 

Assessment in the reception year – Baseline

The reception baseline assessment, or RBA is a short, interactive and practical assessment of your child’s early literacy, communication, language and mathematics skills when they begin in school. It will be undertaken with your child’s class teacher and will measure your child’s progress from reception to year 6. The data from the baseline will not be shared with you and will only be accessed by the DFE. The teacher will be able to spend quality 1-1 time with your child, getting to know them and identifying if they need any further support in certain areas. When your child reaches year 6, you will be able to see the progress your child has made throughout their school journey. If you wish to read further on the reception baseline, then you can find a useful parent booklet here;

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/reception-baseline-assessment-information-for-parents

Assessment in the reception year – EYFS Profile

Your child will work towards the final assessment at the end of the Reception year, using the ELGs (Early Learning Goals). These goals are short statements that teachers assess your child against at the end of the year.  Please see below our Class long-term curriculum plan.

Should you have any questions please do not hesitate to speak to us.

Characteristics of Effective Learning A Parents Guide Summer

Characteristics of Effective Learning A Parents Guide Spring

Please click on the link for more information about the Early learning goals: Early Learning Goals – website