Category: Reception Blog

We would like to welcome the children back to school after the much needed half term break. We hope your child had the opportunity to rest over the holiday and is ready for the busy half term ahead. This half term we will be very busy preparing for the celebration of Christmas and will also be practising for our Nativity paly at the end of the term – details about this will be in the weekly Friday focus nearer the time. We will start our Christmas preparations with our visit to Ash End Children’s farm. This is a lovely trip that the children really enjoy and get to see lots of different animals and enjoy meeting them and Father Christmas throughout the day. Again we will let you now more details about the trip nearer the time.

This week we will be continuing our topic on celebrations. We will be focusing on the celebration of Diwali and linking this to other celebrations that we have already learned about. The children will learn all about the celebration and how people celebrate. This will give the children a good basis for comparison as we learn about different celebrations throughout the year. The children will be involved in a wide range of activities from making their own diya lamp, to dancing to music to tasting some indian foods. You should receive a link this week asking for your permission. Please ensure you respond so that your child can join in with the food tasting with all of their friends.

Before the half term break all of the children were assessed on the sounds that they have been taught so far. We have now placed the children into groups according to their results and will now work with your child to help them learn to begin to read and write. Some children are ready to move on and continue learning new sounds while others need to recap over the sounds already taught so that they become confident with these sounds and begin to use them to blend together to read simple words. Your child will come home on a Friday with a reading diary. This diary will contain the reading activities for you to do with your child over the week. Some children will have videos to watch to help them learn to blend. Others will come home with simple blending books, while some others will come home with Ditty sheets that work on simple sentences. Do not worry about where your child is working, they are learning at their ability level and where they currently are on their reading journey. Please get into the habit of doing the reading activities each night (this shouldn’t take long but shows your child that reading is important right from the start and reinforces what they are learning in school). Sign the reading diary with a little comment to say how or what they have read e.g. Johnny watched video 1 and joined in well reading the sounds”. We will check the diaries to encourage your child to read regularly at home. Please return the diaries and any reading books (not library book) on a Wednesday so we can look at diaries and get the next weeks work ready to send home on a Friday. Some children will also get an online login to Oxford owl where there are some activities set. Log ins will be added to the front of your child’s diary once they are ready for this.

This week we will be learning about circles and triangles and looking at number of sides linking to our work before half term on numbers. The children will also hear and begin to use positional language such as ‘ in’, ‘on’, ‘under ’, ‘over ’, ‘beside’, ‘between’, ‘in front of ’, ‘around’, ‘ through’ and ‘behind’ to describe how items are positioned in relation to other items. At home you could model using these words in play. Story time is a great opportunity to focus on positional language and journeys. While reading stories, use gestures to emphasise what the vocabulary means. Encourage your child to use positional language on a larger scale outside such as when they are at the park climbing under, over, in front of, behind. If in the woods you could ask them to go under, over, in front, behind etc.

Now that we are fully into Autumn and the weather is getting colder and wetter we need to ensure the children come to school dressed appropriately for the weather. As shared at our induction evening, the children spend a good portion of the day outside in all weathers. We only stay inside if there has been a weather warning. Please make sure your child comes to school every day with a warm waterproof coat with a hood. Work with your child to ensure they can put this on by themselves and take the time to help them learn how to do it up independently. As the weather gets colder we ask that children come to school with gloves and a hat(named please). We teach the children to put their gloves in their coat pockets and their hat in the sleeve of their coat. This means they can just grab their coat off their peg and have everything they need without having to try and find things in their bag in a cramped cloakroom. We also ask that you provide a named pair of wellington boots to stay in school. Many of the children were upset before half term when they had to stay under the shelter and couldn’t go out in the rain with their friends as they did not have wellington boots or an appropriate coat. Thank you for your support with this.

Have a wonderful week,

The Reception Team

This week we will be learning all about Bonfire Night. We will be taking about how people celebrate Bonfire Night, sharing the children’s own experiences. We will talk all about how to keep ourselves safe on Bonfire Night. The children will learn about why Bonfire Night is celebrated, learning all about Guy Fawkes and the story of the Gunpowder Plot. The children will read stories about Bonfire Night and will create lots of artwork about fireworks too.

The children have all now been assessed on the first 16 sounds taught. These have been sent home with your child. If you have misplaced the cards then please speak to a member of the team. Alternatively if you would like to buy a more durable set of cards with all of the sounds, these can be purchased on Amazon for approximately £6 https://amzn.eu/d/4oH8i9z

This week we will continue to recap the sounds and work on blending the sounds to make simple words. Pease watch the videos below with your child for extra practice. The children will start in their new phonic groups after the half term break.

https://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/KwvR3N2X/evjYPDhn

This week, the children will explore how numbers can be composed of 1s and, from this, begin to investigate the composition of 3 and 4. Composing and de-composing numbers involves children investigating part–whole relations, e.g. seeing that 3 can be composed of 1 and 2. The children will learn from practical experience that a ‘whole’ is made up of smaller parts and is, therefore, bigger than its parts. ​​

The children have experience of subitising small quantities and will use their skills to identify the numbers within 3 and 4.​ They will begin to recognise that 3 and 4 can be made by combining sets in different ways. When children are able to compose and flexibly de-compose numbers mentally, they will become more fluent in their knowledge of number bonds, and be able to use these efficiently when calculating in KS1 and KS2.

We break up for the Autumn Half Term on Friday for a well deserved rest. The children have had a wonderful first half term in school and have already learned so much. Please continue to encourage your child to develop their independence by dressing themselves, wiping themself when they go to the toilet and walking rather than being carried or in a pushchair. Half term is an ideal opportunity to get out to a park and encourage your child to hang, swing and climb on equipment which will help to develop their shoulder strength, which in turn will help them with their core strength and fine motor control. This is essential for writing. Try to allow your child to take risks and not always lift them or hold them on equipment.

Enjoy the break and we will see you when we return on Monday 2nd November

Reception Team 🙂

This week we will continue our work on Autumn and the changing season. We will be looking at the stories ‘Don’t Hog the Hedge’ and ‘Little acorns’. The children will discuss the stories and will talk about similarities and differences in the texts. They will focus a lot this week on hibernation and how some animals prepare for the upcoming winter during the Autumn season. We will continue with a range of Autumn activities both inside and outside and will even do some pumpkin bashing. With the weather changing we would like to remind you to please send your child into school with a waterproof coat with a hood. Please name their coat so if your child leaves it in the canteen by mistake it can be returned to them.

This week the children will be recapping on all the sounds taught over the last few weeks ready for their assessments next week. Please remember to go through all of the sounds sent home each day so that your children is able to say the sounds speedily. If confident with the sounds then start to put the sounds to gether to make simple CVC words for your child to blend. e.g. s-a-t, sat. There is a video below to watch with your child to encourage them to join in with blending sounds and to show you how we teach this in school.

https://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/ioc2eQ9s/nloCvPni

This week, the children will engage with activities that draw attention to the purpose of counting – to find out ‘how many’ objects there are. They have used subitising to identify the number in a set; they will now develop their counting skills to enable them to identify how many there are in a set that cannot be subitised. This connects subitising and counting to cardinality whereby the last number in the count tells us ‘how many’ things there are altogether. Using a ‘circling’ gesture to indicate all of the objects in a set will support children to develop an understanding of cardinality.​ They will also practise developing 1:1 correspondence, by counting numbers at the same time as moving or tagging the objects. The children will also explore how all sorts of things can be counted, including sounds.​ To support this at home you could sing different number songs with your child. Follow the link below for an example of a counting song.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/teach/school-radio/articles/zkfxwty

We have noticed recently that some children are finding it difficult to listen to adults and are sometimes responding with “no” when asked to follow an instruction. We would really appreciate your support in reinforcing the same expectations at home. Please remind your child that when an adult is speaking to them, they need to stop, listen and follow the instruction they have been given. We regularly remind the children that the adults in school are there to help them learn, keep them safe and make sure they have the best possible time at school. By working together and having the same expectations at home and school, we can help the children to develop these important listening and behaviour skills.

A little reminder that now we have reached week 6 the children are becoming very tired. It is not unusual for children to start saying they do not want to come to school. It has been a very busy time for them where they have already learned so much and they are beginning to feel a little bit tired. Unfortunately this half term is eight weeks long so they have a couple of weeks to go. Try to ensure your child has a regular bedtime and is getting enough sleep. Try to keep evenings and weekends less busy so they have the chance to recharge ready for the week ahead. They are all doing amazingly and have settled in to Reception very well. Thank you for all the support with bringing your child to school each day. If your child is struggling throughout the day then we would let you know so be assured that once in school they are usually fine. If you have any concerns then speak to staff at the end of the day or email on [email protected] or [email protected]

Have a wonderful week,

The Reception Team

In Reception this week we will be celebrating the arrival of autumn by exploring the wonderful changes happening in nature!

We will be going on a short walk within the school grounds, encouraging the children to look closely for signs of Autumn both in and around the school. This hands-on exploration will help them observe seasonal transformations while developing and learning new vocabulary associated with the season. Alongside our outdoor adventures, we will be singing autumn-themed songs, dancing and also and getting creative with some seasonal arts and crafts.

We would appreciate any leaves, conkers, acorns or sticks to add to our collection this week so please feel free to bring them in.

If you walk home with your child, please consider stopping along the way to point out the changing leaves or crisp air, and discuss together how we are now officially moving into autumn!

The children are all working really hard in Phonics and are making good progress with their set 1 sounds. Please continue to learn the new sounds that come home at the end of the week. This week the children will learn: u, b, f and e. They will continue to practise blending CVC words using these sounds. The link below will allow you to practise blending CVC words.

https://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/673wn7Xv/NgfGTHXb

In Maths this week the children will be exploring the different representations of 1, 2 and 3. They will learn to subitise which means that they will be able to look at a set of objects and know how many are there before counting. They will develop an understanding of what each number looks like but in different ways. In class the children will be given opportunities to match up numbers and play games with their partners.

If you would like to speak to the Reception team please use the class emails [email protected] or [email protected] or kindly wait for us to dismiss the children at the end of the day and we will be happy to answer any questions then.

Have a lovely week!

The Reception Team

This week the children will continue with their learning all about dinosaurs. We will be building on from what they have learned last week focusing more specifically on non-fiction dinosaur texts. The children will have a chance to complete a dinosaur hunt in the outdoor area and complete more dinosaur crafts in the creative area. They will be able to role play using some dinosaur masks and will practise using their new phonics knowledge writing on dinosaur eggs in the writing area. The children will think about how dinosaurs move and the noises they might of made, they will practise these when pretending to be dinosaurs.

Well done to all of those children that are continuing to use their flashcards and have been practicing at home over the last week. This continued practice will help your child become confident with their letter sounds and make blending words easier. Please check that these are not left in book bags and have been removed and folded into cards, as with extra practice at home, your child will really progress. This week the children will be introduced to g, o, c, k. They will also start to put the sounds taught so far together to blend and read simple words such as top, got, cat and dog etc. This is something you could now do with your child at home with the letter sound flashcards that have been sent home. Below are some videos to help with early blending.

https://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/9ZLsYFj8/mNqYHIvW

https://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/vrkLM3jA/c03HqMEF

This week, the children will be introduced to patterns and explore simple examples to develop their understanding of both the word and the concept. Children will recognise that a pattern is a repeated unit. They will explore different patterns and learn that patterns can be both visual and auditory (involving sound). Point out at home where patterns can be seen in the environment. This may be patterns on clothes, such as checks or stripes, or different patterns around school and at home. Encourage your child to join in with sound patterns and rhymes and to notice the patterns in stories where words are repeated.

The children have all done so well settling in to their Reception year. As we enter week 5 you may notice your child feeling a bit tired or their mood changing slightly. They are very busy all day in school and their brain is taking on lots of new information. It is normal for them to feel tired and even say they do not want to go to school. Rest assured if your child was struggling or unhappy in school we would speak to you. We would encourage a regular sleep routine, with your child going to bed no later than 7pm, having a bath and story beforehand so they are nice and relaxed and getting enough sleep to help prepare them for the day ahead. A healthy balanced diet is also important so that they have the required energy. Please try to limit sugary foods to occasional treats rather than a regularly part of their diet so that their small bodies have the correct fuel to help them manage their busy day. If you have any concerns then please speak to your child’s teacher where we will do our best to help. You can email your child’s teacher on [email protected] or [email protected]

Have a wonderful week

The Reception Team.

In Reception this week, we are beginning a topic all about dinosaurs. We will be looking at both fiction and non-fiction texts, and the children will help to write a class dinosaur fact file. We will be learning about dinosaurs being alive a very long time ago and will look at our class timeline to see where dinosaurs belong. We will also earn about the terms herbivore, omnivore and carnivore and what these mean. The children will have the opportunity to try a range of different crafts and activities linked to dinosaurs such as collaging, painting, developing fine motor skills and playing games.

At home, make sure you encourage your child to practice the sounds they have learnt each week. This will help your child become confident with their letter sounds, and make blending words easier. This week the children will be introduced to four more letter sounds i,n,p and g. They will also start to put the sounds taught so far together to blend and read simple words such as mat, sad, sit etc.

In Math’s this week we are looking at comparisons. In this small step, children will build on their previous skills of sorting. They will learn that sets can be compared and ordered. Children will use the language ‘more’ and ‘fewer’ when comparing sets of objects. The focus of this small step is on comparing sets of objects specifically. It is easier for children to make comparisons when the difference between the sets is greater. You could do this at home by asking your child to compare sets of 5 and 2 objects rather than sets of 5 and 6 objects.

We would like to offer a huge welcome to all of our Reception children and their families. The children have all settled in wonderfully and have had a great start to the year. We are currently working hard on becoming familiar with the routines and expectations and how to work happily together. The children are making friends and exploring the setting well and learning how to tidy away after themselves. Please talk to your child about their day and encourage them to talk through any incidents that may have occurred or they may be worried about. Encourage them to think about what they can do to help e.g. speak to an adult, ask somebody to play or come back to a resource later if somebody is already using it. We also ask that you encourage your child to do things for themselves at home such as tidying away their toys, putting on their own coats and shoes, eating with cutlery and wiping themselves when they go to the toilet. They will be expected to do these things for themselves in school so expecting them to do it at home also will help them to become confident and independent.

This week the children will be starting on their Phonics program. They will be introduced to new sounds and how to hear these sounds to make words. At the end of the week your child will bring home the letter sounds they have learned. Please go through these letter sounds with your child every day to help them learn them. These letters will be your child’s reading homework over the next half term. As they bring home more sounds, add them to the pack and rehearse all of the sounds. Once they have the first 6 sounds they can begin to build simple words. put two or three of the cards together for your child to say each sound and blend the word e.g. a-t, s-i-t, m-a-t. The link below shows a parents guide on our phonics program and how it works. Something that also helps your child is using Fred talk to give instructions e.g. go and get your b-a-g, put on your s-o-c-ks.

This week we will be starting our Math’s program. The children will use the simple sorting skills they have developed so far to now explore different sorting techniques. We will be encouraging the children to sort objects and discuss how they have sorted them. We will be focusing on sorting according to type and thinking about different ways we can sort items. This could be supported at home by getting your child to sort items from around the house. They could sort their toys according to size, colour, type or could think of their own way to sort their toys.

Please provide your child with a named waterproof coat with a hood every day and a water bottle only containing water please. The government ask that children only drink water or milk throughout the day to help reduce the risk of tooth decay. Coventry currently has a very high number of children who have severe tooth decay and juice in bottles can make this wose as it sticks to the teeth. We also request that children of Reception age no longer use a dummy as this again can encourage not only tooth decay but also speech problems which can prove extremely difficult to rectify. Can we also please remind you to label all of your child’s uniform including their shoes, coats, bags and water bottles. If items are named we have more chance of returning them to the correct child.

If you would like to speak to a member of the team at the start or end of the day can we ask that you please wait to the side while the staff member is welcoming or dismissing the children. Once we have ensured all children are safely with an adult we will then gladly speak with you. Alternatively please send us an email and we will respond as soon as we are able to on: [email protected] or [email protected]

Have a lovely week

The Reception Team

This week, our topic will be on pirates. This is really fun topic whereby the children will learn all about what pirates did, what they wore, how they talked and we will be doing a variety of creative activities. We will also being sharing pirate stories.

In Maths, the children will focus on counting verbally beyond 20 and on the process of counting and numerical patterns. We will be playing a variety of counting on games and taking part in activities involving numbers beyond 20. We will be designing, playing and sharing our own counting on games.

In phonics, the children will be continuing to consolidate their set 1 and 2 sounds, with some groups moving on to set 3 sounds. Please continue to support your child to complete their online learning and reading their books ready for the phonics assessments which will determine their groups as they move to year 1.

Transition Morning

On Wednesday the 1st July the children will spend the morning in their new classrooms meeting their Teacher.

Whilst the weather continues to stay warm please continue to send your child with a water bottle, hat and sun cream.

Have a great week.

The Reception Team

This week we will be beginning to do some work on our Transition into Year 1. Over the next few weeks we will be talking about the changes to come and will be helping the children to prepare for this future change. We will start this work exploring how they have already changed from when they were a baby up until how they are now. We will talk about the human life cycle, which links into the work we did in the Spring term on animal life cycles. The children will identify what they were able to do as a baby and what they can now do. They will also think about what they will be able to do as they grow older. Please send in a photo of your child as a baby to [email protected]. We will be doing some work where we will see if we can identify who each baby is and use the photos to identify changes that have occurred. Talk to your child about the year they have had and all of the amazing things they are learned to do. Help them to identify the things that they will continue to learn over the year ahead to help them prepare and get excited about Year 1.

The children are all working hard in their phonic groups and are busy reviewing sounds already learned as well as learning new sounds. Please continue to go over the sounds at the front of the online reading books to check which sounds your child is confident on and which sounds they need further practice on. Your child’s online book is the book they have read three times in school the week before, They should be able to read this book fluently and should be encouraged to read with a readers voice adding expression and intonation to their voice as they read. Below are some extra videos to help support the learning in school.

https://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/eKGsRn2F/Am29V0Ol

https://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/UVuz2onC/bcfmU0vc

https://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/lSUi4Acb/K38NMToV

Previously, children experienced creating maps to represent well-known routes and places. This week, children move on from these real-life scenarios and focus more on interpreting story situations. To support children’s imaginative thinking and develop their ability to adapt scenarios depending on their interests, create scenarios and ask questions about them such as, “What if Red Riding Hood didn’t go straight to Grandma’s house?” Encourage your child to make up their own role-play stories using a variety of items. They can then develop maps and enact their adventures using the mathematical language of map making, position, direction and spatial reasoning.

The children are currently enjoying making models with recycled materials. We are always happy for any donations of empty cardboard boxes and containers that they can use to make models. Please send them in to us rather than throwing away so we can keep our supplies stocked and ready to be used.

Have lovely week

The Reception Team