Welcome to Reception
As we now step into the Summer term, we are looking forward to getting stuck into our learning experiences together once again after a fabulous two terms previously - we cannot quite believe that this is our last term together as a Reception cohort! We are so proud of all of the children's efforts and hard work so far.
The teachers in Reception are Mrs Ramsden and Miss Hancock and our Teaching Assisstant is Mrs Evans. Mrs Calvert will also be in class on a Wednesday afternoon.
School begins at 8.40am and finishes at 3.10pm. It is of such importance to ensure your child arrives promptly and avoids being marked as late or missing key learning. Please work with us to ensure attendance and punctuality remain priorities.
If you were unable to attend Reception's Information Evening during the Autumn term, please see the Powerpoint presentation below.
PE continues to take place every Tuesday and Wednesday - please ensure a full, named PE kit is brought into school in a drawstring bag. We ask that this is white shorts, appropriate footwear and a blue school PE t shirt.
Reception's day for changing their reading for pleasure book is a Monday. Pupils' online ebook will also be renewed on this day each week. Please ensure this ebook is read online by your child at least 3 times a week and their reading record is signed.
Class rules
In Reception, we work hard collaboratively to always endeavour to follow our class rules. These are;
- to use kinds hands and feet
- to be kind and caring
- to put our hand up when we wish to say something
- to always walk around school
Literacy
This term we will be using 'The Whale Who Wanted More' by Rachel Bright and Jim Field and 'Supertato' by Sue Hendra and Paul Linnet as our Literacy texts and are so looking forward to seeing more complex sentence writing from our confident class writers as children continue to apply learning taught so far. Around the classroom, there are lots of areas set up with writing materials and paper for the children to practise their writing during their play. We encourage any type of mark making but are now looking for children to actively write sentences of their own independently, enjoying sharing these with children when brought to us. We celebrate all attempts at writing to encourage children to do more and are so pleased with the pupils' efforts so far when applying and using their phonics knowledge in their writing.
Phonics/Reading
This half term, we are working to consolidate all of our sounds, placing a particular focus on reading multisyllabic words and longer sentences. There will be no new sounds taught. Supporting documents for doing so can be found below and we do encourage children to regulalarly practise our weekly phonics sentences using the handout sheet provided each Monday.
To help your child develop their reading and writing skills, we will continue to have a 20 minute phonics session each day for the children to learn to read and write. We will be using Little Wandle phonics scheme. With knowledge of letter sounds, children can now use and apply this knowledge as building blocks as well as continuing to practise both reading and writing of their tricky words (words that cannot be sounded out phonetically). Tricky words and formation sheets are attached below for use.
During the term, children will regulalry be exposed to group, and possibly individual, reading sessions where they share a book with an adult. These sessions are recorded in their reading record. We share a story as a class each day and discuss the story and characters and children have free access to the reading corner throughout the day. As confidence builds, some children like to read their own book to the class and get to sit on the teacher's chair to do this.
Reading at home
Reading together at home is one of the easiest but most important ways in which you can help your child as it supports your child in becoming an effective and confident reader. This does not simply have to be your child reading to you but instead, can include adults reading to children and audio books etc. Children will continue to bring home a reading for pleasure book each Monday, changing these on a weekly basis. Please ensure this is brought in every Monday. While you are reading the book together, ask your child to decribe what they can see, predict what may happen, retell the story, spot tricky words/digraphs/trigraphs and answer basic comprehension questions or think of possible rhyming words to develop their skills of 'sound knowledge.' All of this exposure will aid their future reading skills.
As well as their reading for pleasure book, children will also have access to their own personal ebook which is their opportunity to read to an adult. We ask that this happens at least 3 times a week and their reading record is signed. This year, these ebooks can be accessed via https://ops.collinsopenpage.com/ops/ui/manageInstitutionSubscription Your child has been provided with their login details and this book will be changed electronically on a weekly basis and will reflect reading practice sessions undertaken in school the week before.
Our topics this term are 'Under the sea' and 'Minibeasts' during Summer 1 and 'Superheroes' during Summer 2. We can't wait to explore a range of different sealife and learn about your favourite superheroes!
PE
Our PE days are Tuesday and Wednesday. Your child needs to bring a PE kit in a drawstring bag as we do not have room for rucksacks on our pegs. PE kits consist of white shorts, a blue school T-shirt and pumps or trainers. Please try to avoid lace up trainers unless your child is already able to tie them independently. If it is cooler, your child can also wear their school jumper and navy or black leggings or joggers.
Please ensure all clothes are labelled as clothes easily get mixed up as your child starts to learn to dress and undress independently and has to organise their own belongings. Belongings cannot be returned if they are not named.
What to bring to school
A water bottle will need to be brought to school everyday filled with water only. This item must please be named. Your children will be offered milk at snack time but will have access to their water bottles throughout the day.
A sun hat or raincoat will be required depending on the weather. Please ensure your child comes to school dressed approrpaitely for the weather that day. Please apply sun cream on your child before they come to school as we are unable to put it on for them.
You can send a pair of wellies into school which can stay on our wellie rack if you would like to. Please make sure these are named. If you don't have spare wellies, please ensure on wet days your child comes to school in wellies as we try to go outside everyday and wellies allow the children more freedom to play when it's wet.
Uniform
Please label every item of uniform your child comes to school in, especially cardigans and jumpers and check regularly as they often fade in the wash if it has been written on in pen. Please include coats and shoes in your labelling as the children often have the same ones as a friends.
