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Week Beginning 15th September

This week we will be focusing on the story ‘A Monster Surprise’. We will do a lot of work this week on story retelling and sequencing, with a focus on children being good talking partners, discussing different aspects of the story. We are encouraging the children to not only talk to their partner but to be a good listener and be able to repeat what their partner has said. Parents can support this at home by encouraging their child to wait when they require attention, and to also involve them in two way conversations where your child is looking at you when you speak and you model being a good listener towards them. This blog is a great place to discover what your child has been learning in school and can give you topics to discuss in conversation.

This week the children have started to learn their phonic sounds. They have learned how to read and write the sounds m,a,s and d. Your child will bring home flashcards of these letters on Friday. Please cut them out and fold along the line to make a set of flashcards for your child. Go through these cards every night so that your child can read them confidently. This is the start of your child’s reading journey. Each week they will get the next letter sounds they have been introduced to, to add to their pack of flashcards. Once the first set of sounds have been taught we will assess the children and then sort them in to groups so that those children ready to learn more sounds and begin to read will focus on that and those children that need more practice on the first sounds can review them before moving forward. Below are a few videos of the sounds taught that you can do with your child.

http://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/eksr3UNO/eD4wfxMK

http://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/trj4BJTR/ojSQjbPu

http://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/lZDDCfql/wnpamoqM

http://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/5GKMgUj7/Xc5SvKyM

This week in Math’s we will be concentration on matching, grouping and finding ‘the same’. The children will be playing games like ‘Snap’ to find pairs that match as well as sorting items into groups that go together. Snap is a great game that you can play with your child that will help them to not only identify matching pairs but will also encourage them to take turns, understand that they can’t always win and have to wait and be patient. Below is a link to a simple snap game that you could print off if you haven’t got playing cards at home.

Click to access Snap.pdf

This week the weather has started to get a little bit colder. Please ensure your child comes to school each day with a NAMED, warm, waterproof coat with a hood. Thank you to those parents that have sent in wellington boots for their child. Again please name these and add to the boxes outside the classroom doors if you have not provided any for your child.

Have a lovely week,

The Reception Team

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Week Beginning 8th September 2025

We would like to offer a huge welcome to you and your child for their Reception year. The children have all come into school so well and have have had lots of fun exploring the setting and finding out what there is to play and learn with.

Thank you for helping your child come in to school each day ready for the day ahead. Please remember to provide your child with a waterproof coat with a hood and a water bottle, only containing water (no juice please as new government guidelines indicate this helps lead to tooth decay). Please allow your child to come into the classroom with their coat and bag so that they can learn how to take them off and how to organise themselves and their belongings. This year the children will be working hard on independence and doing things for themselves – your help with this is extremely welcomed.

Thank you to those parents who have sent in wellington boots for their child. We ask that all children please have a named pair of wellington boots in school so that they may continue to play in the wet weather. Send these in to school and place them outside your child’s classroom door.

The children have coped very well in the canteen this week and have been independently choosing their lunch. You can find the school dinner menus on the school website. Please go through this with your child so they can choose something they are likely to eat. Some of the children are getting a little upset or are not eating very much as they do not know what to choose. If you wish for your child to change to packed lunches then you must notify the school office preferably a week in advance so that adaptions can be made to the amount of food ordered.

Click to access Autumn-Spring-Menu-2024-2025.pdf

This week we are looking at the Author David McKee for our Author study with a focus on Elmer. The children will be involved in hearing the story, sequencing the story, making, colouring and collaging different Elmer’s as well as acting like an elephant and taking part in an Elephant parade. Please send in a clean empty plastic milk bottle so your child can make their own model Elmer to add to our class parade of elephants.

On Friday, your child should have come home with the gift of a story book. This is their book to keep and has a special message inside for them. At Coundon we foster a love of reading and hope that your child adds this book to their home library and enjoys reading it with you.

If you have any problems or need to speak to a member of staff then please speak to us at the start or end of the day or email us on

[email protected]

[email protected]

Have a lovely week

The Reception Team