Reception
Welcome to Reception
Miss Ashington and Mrs Dinnis
We look forward to welcoming you back for our Spring term.
Topic - 'Superheroes'
Welcome to our EYFS class page dedicated to the exciting topic of Superheroes! This term, we will embark on a fun-filled journey that highlights the hero in all of us. Our exploration will focus on ourselves, our families, superhero animals and superhero vehicles. We will also celebrate the super people in our community who help us, including teachers, doctors, religious leaders, police officers and firefighters.
Literacy:
In our literacy sessions, we will dive deeper into phonics, enhancing understanding of sentence structure. The children will engage in independent writing, learning to read their sentences back to refine their ideas and reflect on their progress. This will empower them to express their thoughts more clearly and creatively.
Mathematics:
In mathematics, we will introduce concepts of doubling and halving alongside subtraction and number sentences. These foundational skills will help our young learners gain confidence in their ability to tackle mathematical challenges and deeper their understanding.
Physical Education:
In PE, the children will develop their coordination and skills through dance, promoting not only physical fitness but also creativity and self-expression.
Understanding Our World:
We will explore the theme of helpers in our community, fostering a greater understanding of the world around us. Our discussions will highlight the important roles that various helpers play in our lives.
Easter Exploration:
As part of our curriculum, we will look at the meaning of Easter, with a special visit to the school chapel to deepen our understanding of this significant celebration.
Creative Crafting:
The children will have the opportunity to craft their own superhero gadgets, allowing them to express their ideas and creativity in a fun, hands-on way.
Changing Seasons:
Additionally, we will explore the transition from winter to spring, engaging in science experiments that focus on melting, which will help the children observe and understand changes in their environment.
Good Work Assembly (Friday 14th March):
This term, the children will participate in a Good Work Assembly in front of the children and adults in school. We encourage you to support your child in crafting something special that they would like to share, whether it be their own superhero, gadgets or skyscrapers.
We are looking forward to an inspiring and action-packed term filled with learning, creativity and fun as we discover the superhero within each of us!
To support your child’s learning journey, here are some activities you can do together:
- Practice Phase 3 Tricky Words (bookmarks have been sent home)
- Share stories and read together
- Encourage independence in self-care tasks (e.g., putting on coats, zipping)
- Provide fun fine motor activities (e.g., playdough, threading, painting with small brushes, building with LEGO)
- Create opportunities for writing in practical contexts (e.g. shopping lists)
- Recognise numbers up to 10 with composition of the numbers e.g. how many ways can you make the number 5?
- Add and subtract using objects, then on a number line, and finally in their heads
- Practice identifying 2D shapes and knowing some 3D shapes (cone, cube, sphere, cylinder), understanding the difference between solid 3D shapes and flat 2D shapes.
Reminders:
Show & Tell
Show and tell will be on a Wednesday (Squirrels, Foxes and Owls) and Thursday (Rabbits, Badgers and Hedgehogs). We encourage children to bring in either something that links to our topic, 'wow' work or images can be emailed for children to talk about.
Homework
Homework will be assigned on a weekly basis and will primarily focus on developing writing independence. These tasks will be light and manageable, designed to prepare the children for the challenges of the upcoming year.
Important dates this term:
Monday & Friday - Changing reading book
Friday - Homework sent out and to be returned the following week
Friday - PE kit
Monday 24th February - Road safety visitor
Friday 14th March - Good work assembly
Monday 7th April - Visit to neighbouring chapel
Friday 11th April - Easter bonnet and trophy assembly
Thank you for your continued support in making this term a successful and enriching experience for our children! Together, we can inspire a love of learning and exploration.
This half term our focus for PSHE is 'Healthy Me'
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.
If you need to support your child with toilet training, below are some useful links to get them started. Current advice is to teach your child the skill of using a potty and not waiting for the child to be ready.
https://www.facebook.com/SolihullHVs
https://eric.org.uk/potty-training/
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.