Reception
Welcome to Reception
Miss Ashington and Mrs Dinnis
We look forward to welcoming you back for our Summer term!
Topic - 'Minibeasts'
The topic this half term is ‘Minibeasts’ and all seven areas of the Foundation Years curriculum will be developed through this.
During this theme, we will develop the children’s engagement in learning through finding out about minibeasts and their life cycles. The children will continue to develop their understanding of similarities and differences in the natural world. They will begin to understand some important processes and changes in the natural world around them.
We will be using a range of stories to focus on this term which will support their early reading and writing. Some of these books include 'Superworm', 'The very Hungry Caterpillar' and 'Spider sandwiches!'
In maths, the children will be developing their concept of number, writing number sentences using addition and subtraction symbols, using money in role-play and beginning to understand numerical patterns including odd and even numbers, halving and doubling numbers to 10.
It’s hard to believe we are in the last term of the children being in Reception. Throughout this term we will be covering a new theme but also beginning to prepare the children for their smooth transition into Year One. This will be done through a range of activities and minor changes to daily routines. We value your continuing contribution and involvement with these and look forward to all the fun that you will have during this term.
Following this we would like to thank you again for your contributions as they are vital to the success of the children. It is clear to see the time you’re putting into your children’s learning at home and the impact this has on them within the classroom.
If you would like any further details or have any additional questions, then please come and speak to any member of the Reception team and we will be more than happy to help.
Important information this term:
Monday & Friday - Changing reading book
Monday - Homework sent out
Friday - Homework returned
Friday - PE kit
Tuesday 30th April - Stratford Butterfly farm trip (letters to follow)
Reading books are changed on Monday and Friday. Please can you make sure you are logging their reading in their reading record books; this can include any sounds they found tricky.
Show and tell will be on a Wednesday (Squirrels, Foxes and Owls) and Thursday (Rabbits, Badgers and Hedgehogs). This term, please can the children bring in either an item from home that links to our topic or ‘WOW’ work they are proud of.
P.E. kits are needed on a Friday.
Homework will be sent home on a Monday and returned every Friday. This term it will be in a pink book and focus on literacy.
This half term our focus for PSHE is 'Building relationships'
During the year Jigsaw Jenie helps us with our personal, social and emotional understanding. This term we will be having lots of discussions about taking responsibilities at home and identify some of the jobs we do in our family. we be looking at belonging and how to problem solve different scenarios with friends.
There is a wonderful website below that is useful for your child and for you as a parent. It has games and information about feelings, health, illnesses and sections on body image, mental health and much more. There is also a section for you, the parent, to refer to for information on the school nurse and it shows local Solihull support services.
Press here to access the website - health for kids.
The EYFS framework includes Seven Areas of Learning that are equally important and inter-connected. Three areas are particularly important for sparking enthusiasm for learning and forming relationships.
The Prime Areas of Learning:
- Communication and Language
- Physical Development
- Personal, Social and Emotional Development
The prime areas are strengthened and applied through four Specific Areas of Learning:
- Literacy
- Maths
- Understanding the World
- Expressive Arts and Design
Characteristics of Effective Teaching and Learning
In addition to addressing all seven Areas of Learning, our curriculum is designed to promote the Characteristics of Effective Learning. These characteristics describe how the children will learn. These learning behaviours are particularly important in the EYFS because they build the foundations for children to be lifelong learners. The characteristics are:
- Playing and Exploring - Engagement
- Active Learning - Motivation
- Creating and Thinking Critically - Thinking
Planning and assessment
We offer the children in Reception a ‘hands-on’ play-based curriculum, both indoors and outdoors, throughout the day. Planning can be intentional, responsive, or anticipatory. It is flexible and can change in response to children’s ideas and interests. Planning may also be linked to events in the community or around the world.
“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.”
Statutory framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage.
In addition to the activities planned by the adults, the children are offered plenty of opportunities to direct their own learning.
All children starting Reception will take part in the Reception Baseline Assessment. Please see the information for parents document produced by the DfE below to explain the process.
At the end of the Reception Year children will be assessed for the EYFS Profile. Each of the seven areas will be further broken down into the following categories.
To practise phonics, the children can access Mr Thorne’s Phonics on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MrTsPhonics/playlists This is free of charge and the 5 minute videos will give the children a reminder of the sounds they have already learnt but would also enable them to start learning about sounds that are to come in Year 1 if they wanted to. Games can be accessed on https://www.phonicsplay.co.uk/ and https://www.phonicsbloom.com/ Additional resources are also available below, covering all of the phonics taught so far.
Maths games can be accessed free of charge via Top Marks: https://www.topmarks.co.uk/ The children could also continue to practise number formation, ensuring numbers are correctly orientated, and do practical addition and subtraction, for example using Cheerios for counting. There are also resources below revisiting learning the children have covered this year.
Phonic activities - Phase 2
Phonics Resources
Dental Hygiene:
In EYFS, we teach about dental hygiene. The children learn the value of good brushing and how to use toothpaste to fight tooth decay. The Colgate Tooth Defenders help us to learn how to keep ourselves healthy and even give us our own toothbrush and toothpaste to take home!
The Tooth Defenders would like us to complete our brushing chart to make sure that we keep our teeth and gums healthy.
If you need any support for your child or any tips on keeping teeth clean, please see our documents below to help you. Also start taking your child to the dentist….it is never too early to start!
Meet the Teacher - presentation and resources
School Readiness information for parents
Baseline:
Please use the link below to find out about the statutory Reception Baseline assessment that we will be completing with all children.