Reception

Autumn 2 Curriculum Newsletter 

Reception 

Welcome to the start of Term Two 

We are very much looking forward to the term ahead and have lots of exciting learning and activities planned.  The children are now used to the school environment and daily routines but as always please ask your child’s class teacher if you have any queries.    

Uniform  

The weather is turning colder but we continue to make the most of our wonderful outdoor learning environment.   It is essential that all children now have a named coat in school every day and a named pair of wellies to keep at school would also be very useful. Please make sure your child is wearing the correct school uniform and that it is clearly labelled to avoid confusion.  Uniform guidelines are outlined on the school website Uniform Policy – please contact the school office if you have any questions. We will continue to have weekly PE sessions on a Tuesday and all children require a PE kit please.     

Water bottles, snacks and lunches 

All children should bring a labelled water bottle to school every day. It is essential that bottles contain only water, not squash or juice, as this supports the development of good oral hygiene.  We also promote healthy eating to establish life long healthy food choices. Reception children are provided with free fruit and milk at snack time, but if you would like to send a specific fruit item for your child, you are welcome to.  There are lots of great healthy lunch box ideas here. 

We are looking at ways we can look after our teeth as our learning this term and will be investigating the best way to clean our teeth, which lends itself nicely to a focus on routines.  

 

Curriculum 

Personal, Social and Emotional Development	Building relationships.   Exploring our school values.  Considering others and promoting empathy.    Exploring the similarities and differences between us and how celebrations at this time of year take place around the world.
Communication and Language	Expanding our vocabulary linked to our key text.
Physical Development	Exploring music, rhythm, dance and coordination.
Literacy	Key texts this term are:  Peace at Last  All Through the Night  A House for a Christmas Mouse  The Dark, Dark Night  Night Monkey, Day Monkey  The Three Little Pigs  One Snowy Night  Robin Red Vest
Mathematics	Counting and deepening the understanding of number 5  Comparing the number of objects in 2 sets, using the terminology ‘more than’ and ‘fewer than’.  Exploring composition of numbers through combining smaller ‘parts’ to create one larger ‘whole’ number.  Exploring time - thinking about sequences of events and daily routines  2D shapes and describing them.  Spatial awareness.   ABB Patterns and spotting errors.  Measuring and comparing.
Understanding the World	Exploring the world around us, including nocturnal animals and their habitats.
Expressive Arts and Design	Learning new techniques to design and build.

 
This term our focus is Technology, exploring the question ‘How have structures influenced our lives?’ We will be learning construction techniques throughout the term and selecting the most effective techniques and materials to create our showcase piece, a shelter for small world animals.  

Reading and Phonics 

It is crucial for children to develop a life-long love of reading. Reading consists of two dimensions: language comprehension and word reading. Language comprehension (necessary for both reading and writing) starts from birth. It only develops when adults talk with children about the world around them and the books (stories and non-fiction) they read with them, and enjoy rhymes, poems and songs together. 

At Longford Park Primary School, we follow the Read Write Inc phonics scheme to teach your children the knowledge they need to become confident readers and eventually confident writers. Your child will receive daily phonics sessions.  In addition, we enjoy phonics games daily that teach children the listening and sound discrimination skills they need in order to read. We communicate with you the sounds that your child is learning and send home phonics reading books weekly.  It is essential that you hear your child read daily using either the hard copy books or the links posted via Class Dojo and write an entry in their Reading Record each time.  Children will also be bringing home a library book of their choice and this is a book for you to share together, for example at bedtime - remember we visit the library on a Friday and your child will not be able to renew books until the previous book is returned.  

Key Dates 

7th November 2023- Breakfast and a Book   

10th November 2023- Non- Uniform Day    

14th November – Reception bedtime story and phonics talk @ 5:30pm 

17th November 2023- Children in Need Wear Something Spotty    

20th November 2023- Club Fair afterschool    

8th November 2023- Christmas Fair afterschool   

6th December 2023- Festive Coffee Afternoon  

14th December 2023- Nursery and Reception Christmas Performance @09:30   

14th December 2023- Year 1-3 Christmas Performance @14:30   

15th December 2023- Year 1-3 Christmas Performance @09:30   

19th December 2023- Christmas Lunch    

20th December 2023- Pantomime at School- School finish at 13:00    

 

Please look out for other key dates on Class Dojo, including our end of term Curriculum Showcase!  

If you have any concerns, please do come and speak to us, we tend to have more time at the end of the day as our priority in the morning is to settle the children and begin our learning. 

At Cherry Fields Primary School we are committed to working in partnership with our families and our community. We welcome parent/carer involvement in our curriculum and would be particularly interested this term in working with anyone who would like to share their experiences of working overnight shifts (for example, in the emergency services, supermarket etc) as we explore the differences between night and day.  Please speak to your child’s class teacher if you would like to come and visit us! 

This term we have lots of sensory experiences planned as we explore light, dark, colour and celebrations.  We would like to ask for a voluntary contribution of £2 per child - payable via Parent Pay – to enable us to purchase daily and weekly consumable resources like food colouring, chalks or paints.  

We make good use of unwanted items so if you have any kitchen roll tubes, pieces of soft untreated wood, corks, small boxes, washed yoghurt pots, old books or toys please leave your donations at the school office. 

Thank you for your continued support – we are looking forward to an exciting term ahead and partnering with you in your child’s learning and development. 

 

Mrs Tyler 

Reception Class Teacher