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Dear Parents and Carers,
Welcome back and Happy New Year! We hope you all had a lovely Christmas.
Our new topic is ‘I Have the Power!’ During this term, we will be looking at how we are super, what super means and how we can be super learners. We will also look at people who help us in an emergency and answer the questions: When do we need help? What is an emergency? And what do we do in an emergency? We will also be learning some basic first aid! We are hoping to have visits to school from the local police and fire services. On Friday 2nd February, to celebrate our learning we will be having a Super Hero Academy Day at Chiddingly School which will finish with an award ceremony for parents to attend, further details will follow soon. The children from East Hoathly reception class will be coming to visit for the day.
Areas of Learning
Literacy
Our focus in literacy this term is using our phonic knowledge to write sentences, stories and recounts through talk for writing about our favourite superheroes. In reading, our phonics knowledge, high frequency and tricky words will develop further from our reading of different books such as non-fiction texts about the emergency services. We will also be enjoying the book, ‘Super Daisy’ by Kes Gray and Nick Sharratt.
Maths
In maths we are going to secure our knowledge of number, then we will look at addition and subtraction with the support of objects. We will also explore and compare weights using different scales and our hands.
The main part of the topic is looking at the police and fire fighters and their different roles in emergencies and prevention. This term will be filled with role play of different scenarios and how we can act quickly and safely to keep people safe. We will also look into how we can make the world around us safe and how technology can impact on this.
To develop our personal, social and emotional skills we are going to think about how we are special, our goals and ambitions and how we express and achieve these.
Home Learning
We would like to thank you all for your effort with last terms home learning tasks including reading with your children.
| Reading | Please read with your child regularly, even if it is just for a few minutes. At this stage it is really helpful to encourage the children to use the pictures and their developing letters and sounds knowledge, as well as spending time discussing the events of the story. |
| Letters and Sounds | High Frequency word sheets will continue to come home. Please could you ensure that these are in the book bags every day so that we can monitor and review this with each child. There will be five words to learn at any one time but if you wish to do more, you could use others from the lists. |
Super Home Challenges!
You might like to choose one of the following activities to try with your child at home. You can bring these into school whenever they are finished to share with the class.
- Make a superhero badge.
- Make a superhero vehicle using construction or junk modelling.
- Write a superhero story or design a superhero costume.
- Give someone in your house a super power and make a poster about it.
- Find out about someone who helps others, eg. Coastguard, lollipop ladies, doctors, nurses etc.
- Bring in any books that you have at home about people who help us to share.
Coming into School
This term we are encouraging all children to begin coming into school in the mornings independently. If children wish to be on the playground with the other classes, they can remain there until the bell rings at 8.50 and then come into school through the main door with the other children, just like at playtime and lunchtime. There will always be one of the Reception team on the playground from 8.40 for any messages to be passed on. The classroom side door will be open as normal for any children who still wish to be brought into school by parents and carers. After Easter all children will be coming in independently through the main door. Afternoon pick-ups will remain the same. This is to ensure the children are independent before they move into Year 1. If you have any questions about this, please speak to us.
Websites and Links
- ictgames.co.uk and www.topmarks.co.uk for Literacy and Maths games.
- phonicsplay.co.uk Phase 2,3 and 4 games, blending sounds and words.
- If you wish to make learning games to have fun at home, you can print from twinkl.co.uk and browse the EYFS Reception section.
Quick Reminders
- Please can you make sure your child brings in a water bottle and their book bag each day.
- As the weather improves, we will be setting up the area under the shelter for the day’s learning. Could we please ask that children do not touch the activities before school as they need to be ready to model to the children.
- Can the children please always have a coat in school particularly as the British weather is unpredictable.
- Our PE days are Monday and Friday but PE kits should be in all week.
- Welly Boots – Please can all children have a set of Wellies in school at all times, this is so we can use the field and outside areas when it is wet and muddy.
Please tell us what you think of our termly newsletter, this letter is for you and we would love to hear how we can improve it. Any comments welcome! We hope you all have lovely third term supporting the children in their learning and can see how much they have learnt already and how they are continuing to grow. Please do not hesitate to come and speak to us if necessary.
Thank you for your support,
Mrs Winchester and Ms Eldridge