Reception

Mrs Swindley - Deputy Head

Dear Parents/Carers,

We hope that you have all enjoyed the Christmas break and are now looking forward to the Spring Term. Everyone in Reception has settled in very well this week and we can tell that after a well-deserved break they have returned ready to learn, making a positive impact already.

Themes

To start this term, we will begin with the topic ‘Toys’ which will be linked to the story ‘Naughty Bus’. Following this we will be learning all about Chinese New Year before moving on to a topic all about Animals. This will be linked to our very exciting whole school trip to the zoo. As usual, your child will be experiencing a balance of teacher directed and child-initiated activities. These activities are planned to complement the Early Years Curriculum and will target the needs and interests of your child. As mentioned last term, continual assessments will be made through observations of your child’s independent play and through adult-led activities. These assessments will be used to direct future activities.

Phonics

The daily teaching of phonics will continue and we are happy to note how well the children are applying their phonics knowledge in their reading and writing. We will continue to update the phonics window so you know which sounds your child is being taught each week so you can continue to practice with your child at home. In the coming weeks we will beginning to teach the children Set 2.

Homework

In Reception we would like the children to read for 5 minutes (or longer, if possible) and practice reading their tricky words daily. We also send home a Sound Blending Book, which allows the children to practice segmenting and blending the sounds they have learnt. When reading your child’s story book with them, they may still be struggling to read the actual text, please don’t worry. It is still extremely valuable to spend time looking carefully and describing the pictures, using and discussing the story pattern, finding tricky words and helping your child to notice and sound out familiar letters, sounds and words. If needed you can read the complete sentences to your child, modelling good practice. Don’t forget when your child has read 100 times they can choose a book from our special box to keep. A big congratulations to those children who have reached the 100 star! If you need any help or are unsure of the best way to support your child to read, please come and speak to us.

Learning Book

We hope you are all enjoying access to your child’s Learning Book, as it allows you to see what they are up to within school. Don’t forget you can add things the children are doing at home on, allowing us to see what the children are doing at home. We have loved seeing the different things that have already been added. It has come to our attention that there are several parents that didn’t receive a confirmation email from Learning Book, allowing them access. If this has happened please let us know and we will rectify the problem as quickly as we can.

Mystery Reader

This term we would also like to introduce Mystery Reader each week. This will involve a parent or grandparent coming into school to read a children’s story of their choice to the class. We are planning to do this every Thursday at 2.50 p.m. However, we can be flexible on the day, if you would like to be part of this but unable to make a Thursday. To sign up for a slot, please speak to one of the Reception team. Please remember it is a surprise for the children so don’t let your child know you are coming. Our aim is to continue to encourage the children to have a love of reading by listening to a variety of stories read by a number of different people.

Key information

Please ensure that your child has a labelled PE kit in school at all times. We have PE on Wednesdays.
All children need to bring a labelled water bottle to school every day.
Please inform your child if they need to order a school dinner before they come into school. There is a poster on the classroom window that will help you to know what meals are available each day.
As your child will always have access to the outdoors, please ensure that they are supplied with suitable clothing for the weather.
Book bags need to be brought into school each day. Please keep all books (story, sound blending book, reading diary and tricky words) inside your child’s book bag.
Please make sure all snack money is brought into school on a Monday in a named envelope.

If you have any questions, please feel free to come and speak to one of us.

Kind regards,

Miss Robinson, Mrs Swindley and Mrs Moulson