Welcome to our Reception Spring newsletter. Here you will find key dates and information for the coming term. We are really looking forward to working with you and your children.

Our class teachers are: Mrs Richardson (teaching in Reception on a Monday and Tuesday), Mrs Jukes (teaching Thursday and Friday, Miss Tomkins (teaching full time). Our teaching assistants are Miss Wright (full time), Miss Bates (full time), Mrs Richardson (Monday-Wednesday), Mrs Fellows (Thursday-Friday), Mrs Craddock (Forest School Leader, Wednesday).

Mrs Richardson

(Assistant Head and Deputy DSL)

Mrs Jukes

(DT Lead)

Miss Tomkins

(PE Lead)

Miss Wright 

(Teaching and Assistant)

Miss Bates

(Teaching Assistant)

Mrs A. Richardson

(Teaching Assistant)

(Mon-Wed)

Mrs Fellows

Teaching Assistant

(Thurs and Fri)

Key Dates

Wednesdays Forest School (morning RT, afternoon RRJ)

Wednesday PE (PE kits must be in school by 10th January 2023

Friday (reading books will be changed starting 12th January 2023)

As a school we follow the Monster Phonics Programme. Children will receive a daily phonics session of approximately 20 minutes. In this session they will have the opportunity to read and write using the new sounds they have been taught. Children will also be part of a twice weekly group reading session using Monster Phonics books. They will then bring this book home on a Friday to reread with family, they will also bring home a 'book to share' which will be a longer text designed for the adult to read to them to model reading skills as they learn to read.

Handwriting is taught as part of our whole school scheme called Letterjoin. Children will be part of formal handwriting sessions on a Thursday and Friday. They will have access to writing and mark making activities on a daily basis where staff will model and articulate correct letter formation, this practise will be supported by high quality Physical Development provision designed to increase core and muscle strength needed for developing writers.

We teach maths using the White Rose maths scheme. Children will receive a directed maths session daily, during independent learning times they will be provided with challenges for them to apply the skills they have been taught. There will also be opportunities for them to record their mathematical thinking using pictures which then, when they are ready, leads to recording mathematical thinking using numbers.

Our curriculum is play-based, supported by high quality texts and reflects the interests of our children. Our Spring term starts this year with the exploration of birthdays as a celebration. We have lots of children turning five this term! Our remaining texts for the Spring Term will explore several key concepts and all seven areas of learning will be covered through a variety of challenges as well as our continuous provision. The children will have a wealth of opportunities to develop their Characteristics of Effective Learning through challenges designed to allow them time to play and explore, to be an active learner and to develop their creative and critical thinking skills

Supporting Learning at Home

At the end of each week you will receive an email detailing what the children have been learning. In there will be some suggestions of quick activities you can do with your child to support what they have been learning that week.

Each week the children will be sent home with two reading books. Their Monster Phonics book is one they will have been using in class containing sounds they have been taught, this is the book your children will need to read to you several times over the week. The other book is one for you to read to your child to model reading skills. It is equally as important for children learning to read, to be read to, as it is for them to practise their reading.

Please see the video link for the correct articulation of sounds when supporting your child with their reading and writing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCI2mu7URBc