We are very lucky in the Foundation Stage as we have four indoor classrooms and a large outside area. Each room has activities set up that cover all of the areas of learning, some activities the children can explore independently and others are focused tasks that require adult input. Each class has appropriately levelled focused adult tasks that the children must complete during the course of the day.
Our topic this term is Space and Aliens. We will be reading lots of stories such as ‘Whatever Next’, ‘Here Come the Aliens’, ‘Aliens wear underpants’ as well as finding out information about planets and space travel using information books. We are also having a school RE week beginning on the 10th June and later in the term a ‘Fun in the Sun’ Maths week where we will be learning lots of number facts and travelling the world! (More details to follow)
Phonics
Everyday the children have a phonics session usually straight after the morning register. We use the Letters and Sounds guidance. We have started phase 2 which are the letter sounds s,a,t,p,i,n,m,d,g,o,c,k,ck,e,u,r,h,b,f,ff,l,ll and ss. We are sending home the sound songs that we use in class and there is a website www.focusonphonics.co.uk which demonstrates how each letter should sound. We will be handing out a CD of the sounds at the forthcoming coffee morning. Phase 3 sounds will be sent out when you child is secure at phase 2.
There are some good websites with phonic games for the children to play at home:
www.phonicsplay.co.uk
www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/alphablocks/games/alphablocks-games/
Tricky words/high frequency words
In Reception we have 45 key words which all children should try and learn to read before going to Year 1. To help us achieve this we will be sending home 4 words a week for your child to learn. Word train 1 a word recognition and sentence making game, will also be sent home. We will check on the words they have learnt every week.You can help your child to learn these words by playing snap and making sentences. We will also be playing these games in class.
Pact Folders (reading book bags)
We ask that the Reception children bring in their pact folders everyday so that we can put letters or any work that need to go home in the bag.
Reception class will have their reading books changed once the reading record has been signed by an adult to say the book has been read.
Library
We will be going to Southfields library every three weeks on a Friday to choose books.
Homework
Reception class homework will be sent home on a Friday and is to be returned on Wednesday please.
Snack time and noses!
We ask for £6 this half term or a £1 a week as a contribution towards the children’s snacks and supplies for cooking. We have attached an envelope to the back of this letter for your child’s contribution.
We also request that each child bring in a box of tissues at the beginning of each term to help to mop up the runny noses!
Dance and Swimming
Reception takes part in a dance class every Wednesday. Swimming is on a Thursday morning and your child will need a swimming costume, towel and swimming hat on that day.
Show and tell
Show and tell is on Fridays. We will arrange the children into groups and let them know when it is their week to bring in a small toy, book, photograph etc to show and talk about to the rest of the class.
Sunshine
Now that the sun has hopefully begun to shine we ask that each child wears a sunhat and a high factor sun cream if the weather becomes hot. We are happy to reapply suncream to the children during the day so if you would like to bring in a named bottle of suncream for your child we will store it in the classroom and ensure that it gets reapplied when appropriate.
Absences
If your child is ill please ring the school office in the morning - 0208 874 6904. If your child has had sickness or diarrhoea they cannot come back to school until 48 hours has passed from them being ill. If your child needs to take medication please take it to the school office where you will be asked to fill out a consent form.
Requests for time off school during term time have to be made to the Head teacher. Term time holidays will not usually be authorised unless there are exceptional circumstances. Forms are available from the office.
Coffee Mornings/Stay and Play
This is a chance to meet and have a chat with other parents and an opportunity to see what the children are learning in school. We look forward to having a fun packed year of learning with you and your child!
Tracey, Helen, Camilla,
Lesley, Kirsty, Sami and Jade
