Autumn 2

RE – Prophecy and Promise

This term, the children will be learning about the beautiful story of the Annunciation and the events leading up to the birth of Jesus. They’ll hear how Mary was visited by the angel Gabriel, announcing that she would be the mother of Jesus, and how she and Joseph then travelled from Nazareth to Bethlehem. They’ll learn about the humble stable where Jesus was born, and the joy and wonder of the shepherds and wise men who came to visit Him. This story teaches us about Advent, a time of preparation and reflection as we get ready to celebrate Christmas. We will explore how Jesus came as a gift for the whole world, bringing hope and love for all.

 

Literacy / Understanding of the World

We are excited to announce that our children will be taking part in the Drawing Club, an enriching program designed to bring creativity and storytelling to life. In Drawing Club, children will dive into the world of stories, exploring the beauty of language and discovering new vocabulary in a way that transforms learning into a playful adventure. This club will help children develop their creativity and imagination, celebrating their uniqueness and encouraging them to see themselves as extraordinary. Through age-appropriate, highly engaging activities, children will also experience the warmth and joy of connecting with books, creating a "library of progress" that will mark their amazing journey in storytelling and self-expression.

This term in Drawing Club, the children will embark on a magical journey into the world of fairy tales! They’ll explore classic tales, discovering enchanting characters, imaginative settings, and rich vocabulary that bring these timeless stories to life. Through creative storytelling, drawing and writing, they’ll develop their own unique interpretations of fairy tales, fostering their creativity and deepening their love for stories. Join us as we dive into a world of wonder where every child can be a part of the fairy tale adventure!

     

Phonics

This term, we will continue with Phase 2 phonics, where we will learn the sounds of each letter (phoneme) and how two letters together make one sound (digraph). We will continue learning how to blend them to form CVC (consonant-vowel-consonant) words!

Phonemes learnt this term will be:

Set 6 – ff , ll, ss, j

Set 7 – v, w, x, y

Set 8 – z, zz,qu, ch and words with ‘s’ added at the end (hats, sits)

Set 9 – sh, th, ng, nk

Set 10 – words with ‘s’ added at the end (hats, sits) and words ending in s /z/ (his, bags)

Maths

This term, children will be exploring important early maths concepts that build a strong foundation for understanding numbers and shapes. They’ll start with subitising, learning to recognise numbers 1-3 at a glance without counting, which helps them develop a number sense. The children will also explore the ideas of "1 more" and "1 less," which is a great way for them to begin understanding how numbers grow and shrink. Through fun activities, they’ll use positional language to describe where things are, like "next to," "in front of," and "behind." We’ll also look at composition, discovering how numbers can be made up of smaller parts, and explore 2D shapes, learning to identify and describe their properties. These activities will give the children a solid start in understanding numbers, shapes, and spatial awareness in a playful, engaging way!

PSHE

This term in PSHE, the children will be focusing on important topics around well-being, kindness, and caring for others. They’ll start by learning about what it means to be healthy, discussing nutritious foods, staying active, and looking after their mental and emotional health. During Anti-Bullying Week, we’ll explore the importance of kindness, empathy, and inclusion, helping children understand how to treat others with respect and what to do if they or someone else is being bullied. We’ll also be participating in Children in Need, where children will learn about the power of generosity and how supporting others in need can have a positive impact. These themes will encourage children to make healthy choices, show kindness, and understand the importance of helping others in their community.

Autumn 1 Term

Our topic for Autumn 1 is Who am I?

In our engaging topic "Who Am I?" We will embark on a delightful journey to explore the wonders of our five senses and the stages of our human life cycle. Through fun activities and hands-on experiences, your child will learn how we perceive the world around us and how we grow and change from tiny infants to confident individuals. We’ll also celebrate the uniqueness of each of our friends by discovering the importance of families and the special roles they play in our lives. Let’s uncover the magic of who we are together!

The stories that will support our learning are ‘I can Hear’ by Julie Murray, "Look, Listen, Taste, Touch, and Smell: Learning about Your Five Senses" by Pamela Nettleton, "I Hear a Pickle: and Smell, See, Touch, & Taste It, Too!" by Rachel Isadora and "Super Duper You" by Sophy Henn.

 

 

Phonics

This term, we will dive into Phase 2 phonics, where we will learn the sounds of each letter and how to blend them to form CVC (consonant-vowel-consonant) words. To make this learning enjoyable, oral blending games will be incorporated, such as “Touch your h-ea-d,” which will help reinforce our phonemic awareness playfully. In addition to phonics, reading will become a key part of our weekly routine. We will participate in group reading sessions three times a week. Each session will focus on decoding, prosody, and comprehension, ensuring a well-rounded approach to literacy. On Thursdays, children will bring home books to read with their families, and we kindly ask that they return them the following Wednesday, allowing them to share their progress and excitement about reading with you!

Phonemes learnt this term will be:

Set 1 - s, a,t, p

Set 2 - i, n, m, d

Set 3 - g, o,c, k

Set 4 - ck, e, u, r

Set 5 - h, b, f, l 

RE

This term, we will explore the Creation Story from the Good News Bible, which beautifully illustrates how God brought the world into existence and the importance of each part of creation. As we learn about the wonders of nature and our place within it, we will discuss what it means to be a steward of God's word and the responsibility we have to care for the world around us. Through engaging activities and thoughtful discussions, we will discover how we can honour God's creation by showing kindness, respect, and gratitude for all living things. This exploration will inspire us to take an active role in being caretakers of the Earth, embodying the values of stewardship in their everyday lives.

 

Maths

We will be having lots of fun exploring early maths concepts through engaging activities! We will enjoy matching objects, spotting differences, and sorting items into groups based on qualities like size, colour, shape, and purpose (such as creating dinner sets). We will also be comparing amounts in groups to see which has more, fewer, or if both are the same.

 We will also be exploring measurements like big, small, tall, short, and long, and investigating mass (heavy vs. light) and capacity (what fits inside a box). We will also be learning patterns, focusing on creating and spotting simple repeating patterns, including looking for any ‘mistakes’ in the sequence.

It’s been a wonderful term of discovery and learning!

PSHE

In PSHE, we will be learning about the rules and routines that keep us all safe and happy in Reception. We will discuss what it means to be part of our year group and how we can have fun while staying safe together. We will be getting to know each other’s names and discussing how we are all unique—our names, families, and feelings may be different, even if we share a name or are twins!

We’ll soon begin discussions about how families can look different and why it’s important to celebrate this diversity. The children have also been enjoying activities that encourage positive thinking and friendship, including drawing pictures as gifts for their friends. In the coming weeks, we will revisit our emotions and engage in deeper discussions about different feelings, learning how we can respond to both our own emotions and those of our friends.

Books that will support learning:

• Incredible You by Rhys Brisenden
• Our Class is a Family by Shannon Olsen
• Who’s in my Family – Robie H. Harris
• Ruby’s Worry by Tom Percival

Welcome to the Bumblebees and Butterflies Class Page.

It is an exciting new chapter for all of us, as your child begins their journey in Reception! This is a time filled with curiosity, discovery, and growth, and we are thrilled to have you as part of our vibrant school community. Together, we will nurture your child's love for learning and help them develop essential skills and friendships that will last a lifetime. We look forward to partnering with you to create a positive, engaging environment where your child can thrive. Here’s to a wonderful year ahead!

The children have now settled in well and have all been making new friends. Over the last week they have enjoyed exploring our classrooms and the outdoor learning environment. We will be sharing all the exciting learning on this page and in our photo gallery over this academic year.

Phonics Meeting Wednesday 25^th September at 2:50pm.

A few reminders:

• School uniform

no frilly socks for girls

no trainer socks for the boys

• Hair

Long hair must be tied up with dark blue hairbands.

Headbands must be blue or white

 

• No Jewellery worn in school
• Please bring a spare change of clothes and leave at school (trousers / socks / pants / shoes)
• Do not let your child bring toys/sweets to school.
• Label all your child’s belongings clearly
• Register online for free school milk at ‘Cool Milk’.