Welcome to the Foundation Stage

Welcome to the Summer term with Mrs Roberts, Mrs Melia, Miss Carton and Mrs Hardy.

We had a wonderful time in the last two weeks of Spring term with our chicks coming to us in an incubator in the form of eggs, as part of our Growing topic. The children were so excited (as were some of the parents we noticed!) and they asked lots of questions about the how the eggs hatch and how they develop as well as seeing the chicks grow visibly quickly in front of their eyes. It was wonderful to see them hatch and grow. Reception has never had so many visitors from elsewhere in the school! They loved getting them out and by the end when they were attempting to fly across the carpet, the excitement was phenomenal! We are fortunate because Miss Cotter in the Office has taken most of the chicks home so she has promised to send photos and updates so we can see how they progress. Here are some photos of the experience.

It was good too when two of the children were growing butterflies at home and we had updates via the dojo page. We were kindly able to release the butterflies on the school field.

The children were inspired to write independently about the chicks and their paintings were very cute! The children are assessed on writing they complete without an adult in Foundation Stage. This was an ideal opportunity for them to think of what had happened and record it in writing. We have been busy learning the true meaning of Easter too and visited the Easter garden in the playground. The theme of new life tied in beautifully.

This term we are starting with a three day Spirituality experience learning about our sharing and caring values with the stories of Creation and the Loaves and the fishes. We shall be sharing the bible stories in a variety of creative ways.

(These are the displays the children produced after our work on these bible stories).

Well done everyone- what a team effort!

After this we are moving to a new topic of Traditional tales. Many of the children can now write in sentences so we are encouraging story writing, with the help of orally saying the story in daily talk for writing. We will start with the Three Billy Goats Gruff, then Three Little Pigs and Goldilocks.

We enjoyed drawing Trolls and Billy Goats in chalk. Have a look below...

In Maths we have been learning to order random numbers, add and subtract using a numberline as well as with counters, count in 2’s and share into groups. We continue to describe 2D and 3D shape properties, measure, tell the hour and half past time on the clock and use data such as tallying.

We are off on our school trip to The Sycamore Centre on Tuesday 9^th July. Details will follow nearer the time.

We continue to work daily on our talk for writing skills. The children are becoming very adept at thinking of characters for stories, settings and problems to solve. Their use of words such as ‘fortunately, unfortunately, finally, next, one sunny day, once upon a time’, and so many others, has really grown. The writing area has characters for them to use and photos of how we tell the story orally with actions.

Do come and ask if you need to know anything. We are looking forward to an exciting term ahead. 

Useful Information

PE will be on Tuesdays and Thursdays each week for each class. PE kits need to stay in school and will be sent home at the end of each half term to be washed. Ear-rings must be taken out please.

Computing – The children will have an opportunity to work with IT equipment each Friday morning with an adult which enables them to use it in child initiated times by themselves.

Baking – The children will be introduced to baking in Reception. This will be skills based. On occasions the children will eat what they have made in school, other times they will bring it home.
 

We would like to draw your attention to a few important reminders:

Water Bottles – Please ensure your child brings their water bottle to school on Monday mornings. Please do not put them into book bags, we have had a few leaks in the past!

The children will read once a week in school but we do require them to bring their book every day. From Easter the children will participate in Guided Reading and one-to-one reading on alternate weeks.

We go outside regardless of the weather therefore children must bring a cardigan or jumper and a coat every day.

Long hair should be tied back at all times.

Please remember to label all of your child’s belongings clearly with their name including shoes!

Don’t forget if you have any questions or concerns please come and discuss them with us.

We are available at the beginning and end of each day!

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