Reception Blog

Autumn 1

Week 3

Our first full week in Reception without our grown-ups is complete!

We have been getting to know one another, and our environment and learning the rules and routines at school. Despite a few tears, we are all settling in well!

Next week we will be starting our topic - Space! Our first story will be 'Whatever Next' by Jill Murphy,

Perhaps this weekend you could look at pictures of The Moon. Or even better, see if you can spot The Moon in the sky (as long as it's not past your bedtime!)

Sun and Moon

Week 4

We came into Mora eager and ready to learn. We have been embedding our new rules, routines and behaviours and have been extremely successful at it.

This week we were reading a book called ‘Whatever Next’. We learned to listen and respond to longer stories. We sequenced the story and shared our ideas of what we would like to take to the moon.

In Maths, we learnt about subitising. Subitising is when we recognise a small number of objects without needing to count.

We have been busy in phonics learning our first set of sounds;

s a t

Reminders

All children need a spare bag of (old) clothes on their peg.

All children need a book bag so they can take a storybook home to share with their family. Please bring storybooks back to school the following day so the children can take a new one home.

Please make sure all uniforms and clothing are labelled.

Reception Sun & Moon

Week 5

Literacy

This week we read "The Way Back Home" by Oliver Jeffers.

An alien spaceship has crash-landed in our classroom! The alien inside needed our help! We were super curious about the crash landed so we drew observational pictures of the space ship. We investigated the spaceship, collected evidence for the police and labelled the bags using our sounds.

Maths

This week we were engaged in activities that drew attention to the purpose of counting – to find out ‘how many’ objects there were altogether.

We were busy in phonics learning our first set of sounds;

s a t p i n

Reminders

All children need a spare bag of (old) clothes on their peg.

All children need a book bag so they can take a storybook home to share with their family. Please bring storybooks back to school the following day so the children can take a new one home.

Please make sure all uniforms and clothing are labelled.

The way back home...

Week 6

Literacy

This week, we were reading the book called ‘Aliens Love Underpants’ by Claire Freedman. The story was about adventurous aliens coming to earth to steal under pants as they do not have any of their own in space. We were exploring different types of underpants and used key vocabulary such as pattern, colour, stripes, spots, zigzag to describe pants.

Maths

This week, we explored how numbers can be composed of 1s and, from this, began to investigate the composition of 3 and 4. We used different resources to compose and decompose numbers.

We were busy in phonics learning our first set of sounds;

s a t p i n m d g

You can practise reading the following words:

at, it, an, in, and, dad, sit, mat, pig, sat, pat, pit, man, map, sip, nip, nap

Tricky words we learnt are:

is, I

Reminders

All children need a spare bag of (old) clothes on their peg.

All children need a book bag so they can take a storybook home to share with their family. Please bring storybooks back to school the following day so the children can take a new one home.

Please make sure all uniforms and clothing are labelled.

Aliens love underpants

Week 7

Literacy

Our final week of Autumn 1 is complete! We are so proud of your children's learning and development so far. The past 6 weeks have gone so quickly and we are looking forward to welcoming you back after half term.

This week we watched the performance of the book Handa’s Surprise. Our teachers performed the story for us!

We used our own words to retell the story and we had lots of fun to act it out some part of the story.

At the end of the week, we celebrated the BHM by dancing and talking about some African cultures.

Maths

This week we recognised and made our own repeating patterns. We focused on AB patterns using different resources and different actions.

Maths Challenge is:

Go on a nature walk to collect a range of natural objects for example small pebbles, twigs, leaves and count them.

How many objects did you collect?

We were busy in phonics learning our first set of sounds;

s a t p i n m d g o c k

You can practise reading the following words:

at, it, an, in, and, dad, sit, mat, pig, sat, pat, pit, man, map, sip, nip, nap

Tricky words we learnt are:

is, I, to, a

The caption for this week was:

dog is in a cap and a kit

Reminders

Please read the book your child has in their book bag and write a comment in their reading diary.

Please complete the activity from your home learning journal.

All children need a spare bag of (old) clothes on their peg.

All children need a book bag so they can take a storybook home to share with their family. Please bring storybooks back to school the following day so the children can take a new one home.

Please make sure all uniforms and clothing are labelled.

Have a lovely half term!!!

Handa's surprise and BHM

Autumn 2

Week 1

Our first week back after half term this week, and what a busy one it's been! This week, we learned about helicopter stories. We dictated our stories to an adult to scribe word for word. Helicopter stories develop communication and language skills as well as personal, social and emotional development. In Math, we learned how to estimate. We made sensible guesses about the number of objects in a group. We introduced a special place called an “Estimation station” in our class to help us practise this new skill every day. The children were also keen to talk about what they had done in the holidays and what activities they had been doing leading up to Halloween.

We were busy in phonics learning our first set of sounds;

s a t p i n m d g o c k ck e u

You can practise reading the following words:

at, it, an, in, and, dad, sit, mat, pig, sat, pat, pit, man, map, sip, nip, nap, pet, up, got, get, mum

Tricky words we learnt are:

is, I, to, a, the

The caption for this week was:

pet duck is in the mud

Reminders

Please read the book online and book your child has in their book bag and write a comment in their reading diary. All the children have the login details for BigCat online reading.

Please complete an activity from your home learning journal.

All children need a book bag to take a storybook home to share with their family. Please bring storybooks back to school the following day so the children can take a new one home.

Please make sure all uniforms and clothing are labelled.

All children need a spare bag of (old) clothes on their peg.

Helicopter stories and Estimation

Week 2

This half-term our topic is winter and arctic animals. We read the story ‘Lost and Found’ by Oliver Jeffers, one of our favourite authors. We used props to retell the story and we travelled to South Pole with a penguin. We were busy building boats with our peers using loose parts and we labelled the parts of our boats on post-it notes. The South Pole can be a bit chilly so we packed a bag with important items we needed for our trip. We ended our week learning super facts about penguins. They are super interesting creatures. Did you know, that penguins are birds that do not fly!

This week, in Maths we explored and compared Capacity. Capacity is the amount something can hold. We used key vocabulary such as empty, half-full, full to describe the capacity of different-sized containers. We investigated capacity in our water trays, filling and emptying different containers and comparing how much water each container held.

Maths Challenge: How many cups of water does your water bottle hold? Can you measure it?

We were busy in phonics learning our first set of sounds;

s a t p i n m d g o c k ck e u r h b

You can practise reading the following words:

at, it, an, in, and, dad, sit, mat, pig, sat, pat, pit, man, map, sip, nip, nap, pet, up, got, get, mum, red, rat, rip, hat, hot, hop, bed, bin, back

Tricky words we learnt are:

is, I, to, a, the, as, has

The caption for this week was:

bat has a rock as a hat

Reminders

Please read the book online and book your child has in their book bag and write a comment in their reading diary. All the children have the login details for BigCat online reading.

Please be aware some children do not have books on Big Cat because they are still working towards sounds.

Please complete an activity from your home learning journal.

Please bring back your Home Learning Journal and Reading diary & physical book on Mondays.

All children need a book bag to take a storybook home to share with their family. Please bring storybooks back to school the following day so the children can take a new one home.

Please make sure all uniforms and clothing are labelled.

All children need a spare bag of (old) clothes on their peg.

Lost and Found - Capacity

Week 3

This week, we read the story ‘Jonty Gentoo The Adventures of a Penguin’ by Julia Donaldson. Jonty, the little Gentoo penguin wants to find his true home at the South Pole. We used our phonics knowledge to write some words and phrases about Jonty’s journey to the South Pole. We also created a missing poster for Jonty Gentoo.

In Maths, we sorted and grouped different objects by colour size and shape. We used fluffy pom-poms, and classroom resources such as pencils, scissors, cubes, and magnets to sort them out and put them into the correct groups.

Maths Challenge:

Can you go for a hunt in your house and collect food?

How can you sort it out? Perhaps by grouping it as healthy or unhealthy, sweet or sour.

We were busy in phonics learning our first set of sounds;

s a t p i n m d g o c k ck e u r h b f ff l

You can practise reading and writing the following words:

Tricky words we learnt are:

is, I, to, a, the, as, has, put

The caption for this week was:

put a leg in as a cuff

Reminders

Please read the book online and book your child has in their book bag and write a comment in their reading diary. All the children have the login details for BigCat online reading.

Please be aware some children do not have books on Big Cat because they are still working towards sounds.

Please complete an activity from your home learning journal.

Please bring back your Home Learning Journal and Reading diary & physical book on Mondays.

All children need a book bag to take a storybook home to share with their family. Please bring storybooks back to school the following day so the children can take a new one home.

Please make sure all uniforms and clothing are labelled and all children need a spare bag of (old) clothes on their peg.

Friday 22nd November school in closed.

Jonty Gentoo

Week 4

This week, we read the story ‘Bear snores on’ by Karma Wilson. It is a warm story about animals' friendship. The children engaged in various creative and educational activities inspired by the theme of bears and their habitats. We drew pictures of their favourite animals from the book, labelled their work, and wrote the initial sounds of the animals’ names. Children also wrote lists of everything Bear would need to make his den cosy and warm, suggesting items such as rugs, blankets, pillows, and books. As a challenge, we built dens for teddies using various materials and labelled the parts on post-it notes. As part of continuous provision, the children created bear faces using loose parts and drew pictures of bears and other Arctic animals. Bears are interesting animals. Did you know that they are hibernating during the winter?

In Maths, the children consolidated their counting skills by matching numbers to corresponding quantities. They used various resources, including number cards, toys, numicon, dots, cups, and pictures, to reinforce their counting and subitising abilities while building their overall number sense. Perhaps you can try and do a Maths' challenge at home.

Maths Challenge:

Draw a picture of a garden. Can you draw five trees, seven butterflies and ten flowers? Can you find the correct number card to show these numbers? What else can you add to the garden?

We were busy in phonics learning our first set of sounds;

s a t p i n m d g o c k ck e u r h b f ff l ss j

You can practise reading and writing the following words:

Tricky words we learnt are:

is, I, to, a, the, as, has, put, pull, full

The caption for this week was:

the jam pot fell in a mess

Reminders

Please read the book online and book your child has in their book bag and write a comment in their reading diary. All the children have the login details for BigCat online reading.

Please be aware some children do not have books on Big Cat because they are still working towards sounds.

Please complete an activity from your home learning journal.

Please bring back your Home Learning Journal and Reading diary & physical book on Mondays.

All children need a book bag to take a storybook home to share with their family. Please bring storybooks back to school the following day so the children can take a new one home.

Please make sure all uniforms and clothing are labelled and all children need a spare bag of (old) clothes on their peg.

Bear snore on

Week 5

We had an exciting time exploring the story ‘We’re Going on a Bear Hunt’ by Michael Rosen. The children were thrilled to discover our classroom had been "destroyed," turning it into a real-life crime scene! They became investigators, collecting and bagging evidence, and used their phonics knowledge to label what they found. Through this hands-on activity, the children practised key vocabulary from the story, such as stumble, tiptoe, squelch, swishy, splash, snowstorm, and forest. They also read and retold the story, creating wonderful story maps to showcase their understanding and storytelling skills.

In Maths, we’ve been exploring positional language to help us describe the location of objects using words like under, over, behind, next to, between, and in front of. We had lots of fun practising these concepts with activities involving toy bears, where children described their positions and gave instructions like, “Put the bear in front of the chair” or “Place the bear behind the table.” We also took turns directing each other with phrases such as, “Go next to the table” or “Sit under the table.” To make learning even more exciting, we used tablets to take photos of our peers in various positions. The activities were not only engaging but also a fantastic way for children to build confidence in using positional language in a fun, hands-on way!

Maths Challenge: Positional Treasure Hunt at home

Hide a small toy or object (like a favourite stuffed animal or a small box) in a specific location in a room. Give clues to your child. Use positional language to guide your child to find the hidden item. For example:

It’s under the chair. Look behind the couch. It’s next to the table.

We were busy in phonics learning our first set of sounds;

s a t p i n m d g o c k ck e u r h b f ff l ss j v w x

You can practise reading and writing the following words:

at, it, an, in, and, dad, sit, mat, pig, sat, pat, pit, man, map, sip, nip, nap, pet, up, got, get, mum, red, rat, rip, hat, hot, hop, bed, bin, back, fin, fat, fun, puff, cuff, huff, leg, lit, log, lip, lick, sick, kiss, hiss, miss, mess, jam, jet, jog, jump, jug, vet, van, vat, wet, wax, win, wall, fox, box, axe

Tricky words we learnt are:

is, I, to, a, the, as, has, put, pull, full, go, no

The caption for this week was:

Will the fox go in the van?

Reminders:

Please read the book online and book your child has in their book bag and write a comment in their reading diary. All the children have the login details for BigCat online reading. Also, be aware some children do not have books on Big Cat because they are still working on sounds.

Please complete an activity from your home learning journal.

Please bring back your Home Learning Journal and Reading diary & physical book on Mondays.

All children need a book bag to take a storybook home to share with their family. Please bring storybooks back to school the following day so the children can take a new one home.

Please make sure all uniforms and clothing are labelled and all children need a spare bag of (old) clothes on their peg.

Please do not forget to book your parent's evening appointment on ParentMail.

We're going on a bear hunt - Positional language

Week 6

This week, we enjoyed exploring the story ‘The Leaf Thief’ by Alice Hemming, a delightful tale about a squirrel who notices leaves disappearing from the tree outside his home. As the story unfolded, we eagerly speculated: Who could be the mysterious Leaf Thief? Could it be Bird? To bring the story to life, we went on a leaf hunt and created "wanted" posters, imagining someone had stolen leaves from our classroom. We also made "missing" posters for the vanished leaves and used our phonics knowledge to write words and phrases for our creations. It was a wonderful way to combine storytelling, creativity and literacy skills!

In Maths, the children were busy learning to identify one more within 5 and 10. They practised using their counting skills to find one more than a given number. To make the learning engaging, we used different resources tools and objects such as toys, cookies, everyday objects, cubes and number lines. The children enjoyed these hands-on activities, which helped them build confidence in their counting and number recognition skills.

Maths Challenge

For a fun at-home challenge, encourage your child to find "one more" using objects around the house! For example, you can ask, “If there are 4 apples on the table, how many will there be if we add one more?”

We were busy in phonics learning our first set of sounds;

s a t p i n m d g o c k ck e u r h b f ff l ss j v w x y z zz

You can practise reading and writing the following words:

Tricky words we learnt are:

is, I, to, a, the, as, has, put, pull, full, go, no, his, her

The caption for this week was:

Can a yak buzz and zap?

Reminders:

Please complete an activity from your home learning journal.

Please bring back your Home Learning Journal and Reading diary & physical book on Mondays.

All children need a book bag to take a storybook home to share with their family. Please bring storybooks back to school the following day so the children can take a new one home.

Please make sure all uniforms and clothing are labelled and all children need a spare bag of (old) clothes on their peg.

Wednesday 11th December - School closes at @1 pm for parents' evening.

The Leaf thief - One more

Week 7

The children had a wonderful time during the EYFS Winter Workshop. They engaged in a range of exciting activities that captured the spirit of the season. Together, they created festive Christmas and winter cards, showing off their artistic talents. We also enjoyed watching them toast marshmallows, an activity that brought lots of smiles and excitement. The group listened attentively to a heartwarming story and ended the day by singing songs they had learned in their music lessons, filling the room with joyful melodies. It was a memorable event that we were thrilled to be part of!

We had an exciting week. We read Alice Hemming and Nicola S.'s story ‘The Snow Thief’ and participated in different experiments to melt ice. We used key vocabulary such as melt, hot, solid, liquid and heat. We used our sounds to label resources used and wrote observations about our experiments.

This week we learned to recognise and name 2D shapes. We created pictures using 2D shapes and we used key words such as sides, round, and vertices to describe the properties of 2D shapes.

Maths Challenge

Go for a walk in your house or in the park. Can you spot any 2D shapes? Can you describe their properties? how many sides does each shape have? How many vertices?

We were busy in phonics learning our first set of sounds;

s a t p i n m d g o c k ck e u r h b f ff l ss j v w x y z zz

You can practise reading and writing the following words:

Tricky words we learnt are:

is, I, to, a, the, as, has, put, pull, full, go, no, his, her

The caption for this week was:

pet duck is in the mud

Reminders:

Please complete an activity from your home learning journal.

Please bring back your Home Learning Journal and Reading diary & physical book on Mondays.

All children need a book bag to take a storybook home to share with their family. Please bring storybooks back to school the following day so the children can take a new one home.

Please make sure all uniforms and clothing are labelled and all children need a spare bag of (old) clothes on their peg.

Friday 20th December - School closes at @2 pm

The Snow thief - 2D shapes

Week 8

We had a wonderful time learning about celebrations, including Christmas. We had lots of fun talking about Christmas, writing cards and letters to Santa and friends, and exploring the traditions that make this time of the year so special. We focused on the keywords: Christmas, Jesus, tradition, Santa, presents, Christmas tree, and celebration. The children wrote sentences about Christmas, made gift lists, created letters to Santa, and designed their own Christmas cards. It was a joyful week filled with creativity and meaningful learning experiences!

We had an exciting time exploring the world of 3D shapes with the children! We learned the names of various 3D shapes, such as cubes, spheres, cones, and cuboids. We also used real-life objects such as boxes, party hats, and wooden blocks to help children recognise shapes in their environment.

Maths Challenge:

Perhaps you could help wrap some presents this festive season and identify which 3D shape it is. Or you could go on your own 3D shape hunt around your house or the park.

In phonics, we have been revisiting and reviewing the sounds we have learned so far. We used the sounds to read and write simple words and phrases.

s a t p i n m d g o c k ck e u r h b f ff l ss j v w x y z zz

You can practise reading and writing the following words:

Tricky words we learnt are:

is, I, to, a, the, as, has, put, pull, full, go, no, his, her

The caption for this week was:

The dog has a spot

Congratulations to all the children on completing your first full term in Reception! We are so proud of everything you have achieved so far and all the progress you have made. You worked really hard. Have a lovely break and we look forward to seeing you in the new year. Don't forget to read lots of books with your grown-ups.

The Spring Term starts on Tuesday 7th of January.

Celebrations and 3D shapes

Spring

Week 1

This week, we watched a performance of the story Little Red Riding Hood. Our teachers performed it for us! Then, we retold the story in our own words using pictures and props. The key words we learnt were: forest, basket, Little Red, cloak, wolf, house, brave, woodcutter, grandmother, path, flowers, disguise, and rescue. We used our phonics knowledge to write some words and phrases to label our work.

This week, we delved into exciting activities that highlighted the purpose of counting and discovered how many objects there were altogether. We used a variety of resources to help us count, including cubes, counters, our hands, and dice. Each tool brought a new layer of fun and challenge to our learning, making counting an engaging and interactive experience!

In phonics, we have been revisiting and reviewing the sounds we have learned so far. This term we started to learn new diagraphs:

qu ch sh

You can practise reading and writing the following words:

quack, quick, quail, quill, quiz, quilt, quiet, queen, chin, chat, chop, chomp, chips, chest, shark, sharp, ship, shop, shut

Tricky words we learnt are:

is, I, to, a, the, as, has, put, pull, full, go, no, his, her, into

The caption for this week was:

Quick get the fish and chips.

Reminders:

Please be patient the new home learning journals will be given next week.

Please bring back your Home Learning Journal and Reading diary & physical book on Monday.

All children need a book bag to take a storybook home to share with their family. Please bring storybooks back to school the following day so the children can take a new one home.

Please make sure all uniforms and clothing are labelled and all children need a spare bag of (old) clothes on their peg.

Little Red Riding Hood

Week 2

We continued our learning with traditional tales. This week, we read the book Hansel and Gretel and brought the story to life through exciting activities. We named the characters, created magical potions inspired by the story, and even wrote a wanted poster for the witch. Using our phonics knowledge, we wrote words and simple sentences about the tale. The key words we focused on were forest, witch, sweet, house, Hansel, Gretel, stepmother and woodcutter. It was amazing to see how much fun we had exploring the story and getting creative!

In Maths, we explored comparing the number of objects in different sets by matching them one-to-one. Using resources like balls, counters and cubes. We used the sentences stems: ‘This group has more than/fewer than or an equal number of objects’. It was exciting to work together and discover new ways to compare numbers.

Maths challenge:

Can you collect different sets of objects, compare them, and arrange them in order from smallest to largest? Write the correct number to match each set of objects.

In phonics, we have been revisiting and reviewing the sounds we have learned so far. This term we started to learn new diagraphs:

qu ch sh th(unvoiced) th(voiced) ng

You can practise reading and writing the following words:

quack, quick, quail, quill, quiz, quilt, quiet, queen, chin, chat, chop, chomp, chips, chest, shark, sharp, ship, shop, shut, thin, thick, think, this, that them, then, song, wing, ring, king, tongue

Tricky words we learnt are:

is, I, to, a, the, as, has, put, pull, full, go, no, his, her, into, push

The caption for this week was:

That king can sing with them.

Reminders:

Please bring back your Home Learning Journal and Reading diary & physical book on Wednesdays.

All children need a book bag to take a storybook home to share with their family. Please bring storybooks back to school the following day so the children can take a new one home.

Please make sure all uniforms and clothing are labelled and all children need a spare bag of (old) clothes on their peg.

Please ensure that your child brings their PE kit every Monday.

Reception children will have PE lessons twice a week: Tuesdays and Fridays.

Hansel and Gretel & Comparing numbers

Week 3

Rapunzel! Rapunzel! Let down your hair! We read the story Rapunzel by Chloe Perkins and had great fun exploring different types of hair. Using our phonics knowledge, we described our hair and compared them with others. We read different versions of the story from around the world where she was portrayed with diverse hairstyles, ranging from brown and intricately braided to long and blonde.

This week, we explored different ways to make 8, using a variety of resources such as number bond frames, double-sided counters, and even eggs to keep it engaging. We also recorded number facts to represent number bonds to 8 (e.g. 4+4=8), reinforcing our understanding of these important relationships.

Maths Challenge:

Find the missing number on the number sentences: 8+__ = 8 5+__=8 7+__=8 2+___=8

In phonics, we have been revisiting and reviewing the sounds we have learned so far. This term we started to learn new diagraphs:

qu ch sh th(unvoiced) th(voiced) ng nk ai ee

You can practise reading and writing the following words:

Tricky words we learnt are:

is, I, to, a, the, as, has, put, pull, full, go, no, his, her, into, push, of, be

The caption for this week was:

Wink in the rain.

Reminders:

Please bring back your Home Learning Journal and Reading diary & physical book on Wednesdays.

All children need a book bag to take a storybook home to share with their family. Please bring storybooks back to school the following day so the children can take a new one home.

Please make sure all uniforms and clothing are labelled and all children need a spare bag of (old) clothes on their peg.

Reception children will have PE lessons twice a week: Tuesdays and Fridays. Please ensure that your child brings their PE kit every Monday.

Rapunzel and Number bonds to 8

Week 4

This week, we read the story The Frog Prince by Pippa Goodhart and Yannick Robert. The book explored themes of friendship and the importance of keeping promises. We used our phonics knowledge to write sentences, letters to the princess and notes to our friends to show our appreciation. Perhaps, you can write a kind message to your loved ones.

In Maths, we practised our counting skills by finding one less than a given number. We used various materials, including natural resources, everyday objects, and number lines, to support our learning.

Maths Challenge:

Make a big number track from one to ten. If you stand on the number 10, and take two jumps backwards, where will you land?

In continuous provision, we have been incredibly busy! We've been creating frogs using junk modelling, experimenting with making our powder paint, and refining our fine motor skills by carefully balancing glass nuggets on wooden blocks. We've also been working together with our teachers and friends to build an exciting world for dinosaurs. It's been a fantastic mix of creativity, teamwork, and hands-on learning!

In phonics, we have been revisiting and reviewing the sounds we have learned and starting to write sentences including capital letters, finger spaces and a full stop. This week we learned new diagraphs and a new trigraph (three letters make one sound).

qu ch sh th(unvoiced) th(voiced) ng nk ai ee igh oa oo(long)

You can practise reading and writing the following words:

Tricky words we learnt are:

is, I, to, a, the, as, has, put, pull, full, go, no, his, her, into, push, of, be, she, he, we, me

The caption for this week was:

A goat in the zoo at night.

Reminders:

Please bring back your Home Learning Journal and Reading diary & physical book on Wednesdays.

All children need a book bag to take a storybook home to share with their family. Please bring storybooks back to school the following day so the children can take a new one home.

Please make sure all uniforms and clothing are labelled and all children need a spare bag of (old) clothes on their peg.

Reception children will have PE lessons twice a week: Tuesdays and Fridays. Please ensure that your child brings their PE kit every Monday.

The Frog Princess & Finding one less

Week 5

This week, we read The Princess and the Pea, a tale about a princess who proved her identity by feeling a tiny pea beneath many mattresses. We enjoyed discovering how such a small test revealed her true royal nature! We made beds for the princess and wrote a list of the resources we used. We also used our phonics skills to write invitations and menus for a royal ball.

In Maths, we practised our subtraction skills and discovered that numbers get smaller when we subtract. We engaged in a variety of fun and interactive activities to practise subtracting from 10. The resources we used included dice, cubes, and objects. Additionally, we learnt key vocabulary related to subtraction, such as take away, less, minus, subtract, and count backwards.

Maths Challenge:

At home, you can support your child’s learning by using everyday objects, such as buttons or pieces of fruit, to practise simple subtraction. Encourage them to start with 10 items and take some away, counting how many are left each time. Take away one or two objects each time. You could also use a number line to help them count backwards when subtracting.

In continuous provision, we played with bikes, made cards for friends and loved ones to embed the ‘ar’ sound, and took part in creative arts activities where we made crowns. We engaged in role-play as kings, and queens, having a royal ball and picnic. Outdoors, we navigated an obstacle course as royal messengers on a quest, and in our writing station, we practised writing royal invitations and lists. We enjoyed these activities while developing our social, literacy, and creative skills.

qu ch sh th(unvoiced) th(voiced) ng nk ai ee igh oa oo(long) oo(short) ar or

You can practise reading and writing the following words:

Tricky words we learnt are:

is, I, to, a, the, as, has, put, pull, full, go, no, his, her, into, push, of, be, she, he, we, me, was you

The caption for this week was:

Look at a torn book in the park.

Reminders:

Please bring back your Home Learning Journal and Reading diary & physical book on Wednesdays.

All children need a book bag to take a storybook home to share with their family. Please bring storybooks back to school the following day so the children can take a new one home.

Please make sure all uniforms and clothing are labelled and all children need a spare bag of (old) clothes on their peg.

Reception children will have PE lessons twice a week: Tuesdays and Fridays. Please ensure that your child brings their PE kit every Monday.

The Princess and the Pea & Subtraction

Week 6

This week, we read the enchanting tale of The Elves and the Shoemaker. The story followed a struggling shoemaker who, just when he needed it most, received an unexpected helping hand. Each night, little elves worked their magic, crafting exquisite shoes for him to sell. In a heartfelt gesture of gratitude, the shoemaker and his wife decided to create a special gift for their tiny helpers. Alongside the story, we explored the fascinating world of footwear—discovering the many different types of shoes and their unique purposes. The children also unleashed their creativity, designing their perfect pair and crafting beautiful boxes to keep them safe. It has been a delightful and imaginative week!

This week, we consolidated our understanding of finding one more and one less. Using a variety of engaging resources, we explored this concept in different ways. We counted everyday objects, used number lines to jump forwards and backwards, and built towers with interlinking cubes to see the difference visually. For example, when adding one more to a group of four cubes, we found we had five, and when taking one away from seven cubes, we were left with six.

Maths Challenge:

Make a big number line up to 20. Then find two more and two less than a given number within 20.

qu ch sh th(unvoiced) th(voiced) ng nk ai ee igh oa oo(long) oo(short) ar or ur ow oi

You can practise reading and writing the following words:

quack, quick, quail, quill, quiz, quilt, quiet, queen, chin, chat, chop, chomp, chips, chest, shark, sharp, ship, shop, shut, thin, thick, think, this, that them, then, song, wing, ring, king, tongue, wink, pink, blink, sink, think, train, rain, sail, main, feet, tree, meet, need, queen, cheese, night, light, high, might, fight, boat, toad, foam, road, soap, poo, zoo, moon, spoon, book, look, hook, hood, star, dark, car, jars, park, fork, storm, fort, torch, turn, burn, curl, purple, brown, cow, wow, down, now, point, oil, boil, foil, oink

Tricky words we learnt are:

is, I, to, a, the, as, has, put, pull, full, go, no, his, her, into, push, of, be, she, he, we, me, was, you, they, of, by, are

The caption for this week was:

Push the owl of the wood.

A nurse with a brown coin.

Reminders:

Please bring back your Home Learning Journal and Reading diary & physical book on Wednesdays.

All children need a book bag to take a storybook home to share with their family. Please bring storybooks back to school the following day so the children can take a new one home.

Please make sure all uniforms and clothing are labelled and all children need a spare bag of (old) clothes on their peg.

Next week is half-term, and school is closed.

School starts Monday 24th February

The Elves and the Shoemaker

Spring 2

Week 1

This week, we learned why our teeth are important and how to keep them healthy. We learned which foods were healthy or unhealthy for our teeth and why good oral hygiene was important. Through fun activities, we practiced looking after our teeth every day. The key vocabulary we used included: teeth, healthy, unhealthy, brushing, oral hygiene, cavity, decay, dentist, and check-up.

In Maths, we recalled different ways to make 5 using various resources such as number bond frames, double-sided counters, and eggs. We explored different combinations and practised representing number bonds to 5. We also recorded number facts to deepen our understanding and reinforce our learning in a fun and engaging way.

Maths Challenge:

Can you find two different toys (or snacks) that add up to 5?

In continuous provision, we explored different types of teeth and learned about dentures. We examined real foods like broccoli, spinach, milk, water, milkshakes, chocolate, and various fruits to understand which were good or bad for our teeth. We played in a pretend dentist's office, taking turns as dentists and patients. We even wrote prescriptions for healthy habits and treatments, making the experience fun and educational. Additionally, we created teeth using junk modelling and other craft materials, which helped us understand their shapes and functions in a creative way.

qu ch sh th(unvoiced) th(voiced) ng nk ai ee igh oa oo(long) oo(short) ar or ur ow oi ear er air

You can practise reading and writing the following words:

Tricky words we learnt are:

is, I, to, a, the, as, has, put, pull, full, go, no, his, her, into, push, of, be, she, he, we, me, was, you, they, of, by, are, all

The caption for this week was:

We fear rain all summer.

Reminders:

Please bring back your Home Learning Journal and Reading diary & physical book on Wednesdays.

All children need a book bag to take a storybook home to share with their family. Please bring storybooks back to school the following day so the children can take a new one home.

Please make sure all uniforms and clothing are labelled and all children need a spare bag of (old) clothes on their peg

Thursday 6th March is World Book Day, children are allowed to wear their pyjamas and bring their favourite book to share with the class.

Dentists, Teeth and Number bonds to 5

Week 2

This week, we read the story Naughty Bus, written by Jan Oke and Jerry Oke. Naughty Bus is a fun and lively tale about a cheeky little bus who loves to get into mischief. We explored the story, talked about it, shared our ideas, and wrote sentences about the things that Naughty Bus did. He was incredibly naughty! We used our sounds to write sentences about what the Naughty Bus did at our school and wrote letters to the Naughty Bus.

This week, we explored how numbers can be made up of smaller parts, using five- and ten-frames, manipulatives, and visual representations to make learning more fun and hands-on!

Maths Challenge:

Give your child 10 objects (blocks, balls) and ask them to make different groups (e.g., 4 + 6 or 3 + 7).

Perhaps you can cook together. Count and group ingredients (e.g., "We need 5 carrots. You give me 2, and I'll add 3 more!").

qu ch sh th(unvoiced) th(voiced) ng nk ai ee igh oa oo(long) oo(short) ar or ur ow oi ear er air ure

You can practise reading and writing the following words:

Tricky words we learnt are:

is, I, to, a, the, as, has, put, pull, full, go, no, his, her, into, push, of, be, she, he, we, me, was, you, they, of, by, are, all, sure

The caption for this week was:

Secure the lock.

Reminders:

Please bring back your Home Learning Journal and Reading diary & physical book on Wednesdays.

All children need a book bag to take a storybook home to share with their family. Please bring storybooks back to school the following day so the children can take a new one home.

Please make sure all uniforms and clothing are labelled and all children need a spare bag of (old) clothes on their peg

Tuesday 11th March local trip.

Sun class @ 9.15 am Moon class @ 1 pm

Naughty Bus & Composing numbers up to 10 or beyond & World Book Day

Week 3

This week, we learnt about the features of a London bus, how buses are designed and built, and the important role they play in transport. We explored fascinating facts and even had the exciting opportunity to interview a real bus driver! As part of our learning, we took a local walk to Cricklewood High Road to observe the different buses in action. We watched as double-decker and single-decker buses arrived and departed, each following their designated route on the timetable. We even spotted different bus numbers and colours. Our adventure gave us a real-life look at the importance of buses in everyday life. It was a brilliant way to bring our learning to life and deepen our understanding of London’s transport system!

In Maths, we recognised and named a variety of 2D shapes. We explored circles, squares, triangles, and rectangles, spotting them in our environment. It was exciting to see how many shapes we could find in our classroom and even on our walk outside!

To make our learning even more creative, we used 2D shapes to design our own artwork. We arranged triangles into colourful patterns, created houses using squares and rectangles, and even made imaginative pictures by combining different shapes. It was fascinating to see how simple shapes could be transformed into unique pieces of art.

Maths challenge:

Go on a shape hunt around your home! Look for everyday objects that match different 2D shapes—plates (circles), doors (rectangles), books (squares), and pizza slices (triangles). Make a list or draw the objects you find.

We finished all the reception sounds and are now reviewing them along with the tricky words we learned. Over the next few weeks, we will be assessing the children to evaluate their progress and understanding.

This week we reviewed all Spring sounds:

qu ch sh th(unvoiced) th(voiced) ng nk ai ee igh oa oo(long) oo(short) ar or ur ow oi ear er air ure

You can practise reading and writing the following words:

Tricky words we learnt are:

is, I, to, a, the, as, has, put, pull, full, go, no, his, her, into, push, of, be, she, he, we, me, was, you, they, of, by, are, all, sure

The caption for this week was:

Stand under the tree.

Reminders:

Please bring back your Home Learning Journal and Reading diary & physical book on Wednesdays.

All children need a book bag to take a storybook home to share with their family. Please bring storybooks back to school the following day so the children can take a new one home.

Please make sure all uniforms and clothing are labelled and all children need a spare bag of (old) clothes on their peg

Bus & Recognise shapes within pictures

Week 4

We read Oi! Get Off Our Train by John Burningham. The story followed a young boy who loved playing with his train set. But when it got late, his mother sent him to bed with his dog-shaped pyjama case for comfort. As he drifted off to sleep, he dreamt that he was driving a train. Along the way, various animals tried to climb aboard, prompting him to shout, "Oi! Get off our train!" However, as each animal explained its plight, he realised they had important reasons for needing a ride, and he kindly let them on.

In Maths, we learnt how to make pairs using different everyday objects such as fruits, items of clothing, and toys. We also learnt how to pair related objects, such as a fork and a knife.

Maths challenge:

Can you gather a large number of objects, make pairs, and count them in twos?

We finished all the reception sounds and are now reviewing them along with the tricky words we learned. Please practise reading with your children every day.

Spring sounds:

qu ch sh th(unvoiced) th(voiced) ng nk ai ee igh oa oo(long) oo(short) ar or ur ow oi ear er air ure

You can practise reading and writing the following words:

Tricky words we learnt are:

is, I, to, a, the, as, has, put, pull, full, go, no, his, her, into, push, of, be, she, he, we, me, was, you, they, of, by, are, all, sure

Reminders:

Please bring back your Home Learning Journal and Reading diary & physical book on Wednesdays.

All children need a book bag to take a storybook home to share with their family. Please bring storybooks back to school the following day so the children can take a new one home.

Please make sure all uniforms and clothing are labelled and all children need a spare bag of (old) clothes on their peg

Moon class - Forest school will start on Monday 24th March. Please ensure you have read the kit list. Please ensure your child is wearing layers, a waterproof coat and appropriate footwear. We will be outside no matter the weather!

Oi! Get off my train & Making pairs

Week 5

We explored the world of trains, their components, and their various associated roles, such as the driver, conductor, and ticket officer. We also examined key vocabulary, including train, tracks, wheels, station, freight, passenger, ticket, and journey, through role-play and writing activities. The children had the opportunity to engage in hands-on learning, using these terms to enhance their understanding of how trains operate and the importance of each role in the smooth running of the railway system. Did you know that the first steam trains were powered by steam engines, using coal and water?

In Maths, we used everyday language to talk about time. We sequenced and ordered important events of the day, and we focused on using the special words related to time, such as morning, afternoon, and evening. We had the chance to develop our understanding of how time is structured throughout the day, helping us to recognise the importance of time-related vocabulary in everyday life.

Maths Challenge:

You can continue practising time-related vocabulary by discussing the events of your day. You can help by asking your child to describe their morning, afternoon, and evening routines, using words like "before," "after," and "next."

In continuous provision, we had the opportunity to build trains using blocks and wheels, allowing us to explore the construction of trains in a hands-on way. We also explored train tracks and maps, creating our own tube maps as part of the learning experience. Additionally, we enjoyed exploring books about trains, which introduced us to different types of trains and helped deepen our understanding of how they operate.

We finished all the reception sounds and are now reviewing them along with the tricky words we learned. Please practise reading with your children every day.

Spring sounds:

qu ch sh th(unvoiced) th(voiced) ng nk ai ee igh oa oo(long) oo(short) ar or ur ow oi ear er air ure

You can practise reading and writing the following words:

Tricky words we learnt are:

is, I, to, a, the, as, has, put, pull, full, go, no, his, her, into, push, of, be, she, he, we, me, was, you, they, of, by, are, all, sure

Reminders:

Please bring back your Home Learning Journal and Reading diary & physical book on Wednesdays.

All children need a book bag to take a storybook home to share with their family. Please bring storybooks back to school the following day so the children can take a new one home.

Please make sure all uniforms and clothing are labelled and all children need a spare bag of (old) clothes on their peg.

Moon class - Forest school on Monday 31st March.

Wednesday school finishes @ 1 pm

Friday school finishes @ 2 pm

Trains Non-fiction & Time

Week 6

This week, we explored the world of boats. We learned vocabulary such as sail, bow, deck, speedboat, yacht, and ships. We built boats using junk modelling and masking tape, drawing boats and labelling the parts. We also used sounds to write sentences about where we would be on a boat, such as "I would sit on the deck" or "I would stand at the bow."

This week, we explored capacity—the amount something could hold—by comparing different containers. We consolidated our understanding using terms like empty, half-full, and full, observing how capacity changed through hands-on activities. For example, we filled various-sized cups with water, measured different containers using sand, and compared the capacity of jars and bottles by pouring liquids between them.

In our continuous provision, we engaged in a variety of hands-on activities related to boats. We drew detailed pictures of boats, carefully labelling their parts. In the woodworking area, we explored hammering and using nails to create our own boat models. We also spent time in the sandpit, building ports and harbours, using the sand to design boat docks and piers. Additionally, we enjoyed building large-scale boats with loose parts, experimenting with different materials to create our ideal vessels. Each activity allowed us to further our understanding of boats and their features, all while fostering creativity and problem-solving skills.

We finished all the reception sounds and are now reviewing them along with the tricky words we learned. Please practise reading with your children every day.

Spring sounds:

qu ch sh th(unvoiced) th(voiced) ng nk ai ee igh oa oo(long) oo(short) ar or ur ow oi ear er air ure

You can practise reading and writing the following words:

Tricky words we learnt are:

is, I, to, a, the, as, has, put, pull, full, go, no, his, her, into, push, of, be, she, he, we, me, was, you, they, of, by, are, all, sure

Reminders:

Please bring back your Home Learning Journal and Reading diary & physical book on Wednesdays.

All children need a book bag to take a storybook home to share with their family. Please bring storybooks back to school the following day so the children can take a new one home.

Please make sure all uniforms and clothing are labelled and all children need a spare bag of (old) clothes on their peg.