It's the Summer Term ! 

We hope you all had a restful Easter break.

We cannot believe this is our last full term of the children’s reception class. Look at what they have achieved so far. It is astounding! And there's more to come. Let's have a look at the oodles of learning and fun we have in store for them. Look out for ... 

 Topic/English 

This term we will be looking at the topics 'Gracious Growing and Awesome Animals'.  Using the books 'Seed to Plant', 'The Woolleybear Caterpillar', The Hundred Decker Bus' and 'Someone swallowed Stanley'  about  planting seeds, changes in animals and in themselves, vehicles  and protecting the environment and themselves. 

                               

 

 Writing 

We continue to encourage the children to be keen writers. At every opportunity, we encourage them to write in sentences, captions, cards, letters, etc. We promote full stops and the awareness of capital letters too.  The children are keen writers. At every opportunity, we encourage them to write phrases and sentences that can be read by others. We have lots of writing aids around the classroom to help them do this. 

 Read Write Inc  R.W.I

Using our phonics programme RWI, daily activities will teach the children to 'Fred talk'–read the word, learn 'special friends', read 'red words' (tricky words that cannot be sounded out) and spell the words they are reading. In addition, the children are learning to read and write short captions and sentences. Putting into practice the above, please continue to watch the R.W.I videos each week (set on Google Classroom). This will consolidate and practise the children's learning. 

                                                   

Reading

Please continue to read the material the children take home on a weekly basis. Plus, don't forget to do the RWI activities sent weekly on Google Classroom too. 'Little as often' is the key. It is important that children practise their reading/sounds, and continue to share books with an adult and listen to an adult read to them. This not only strengthens their vocabulary but also develops their inference and prediction skills—all of which play a key role in fostering a lifelong love of reading. In addition, the children can access the online 'Oxford Owl' e-books, which also consolidates the level and support they are reading at. 

 Speaking and Listening 

This term, we will be focusing on the children's skills of listening and responding appropriately to each other's questions and answers, and not just the adults. We would like them to develop their own thinking and offer their own opinion and understanding of things. In addition,  they will be encouraged to use vocabulary linked to the stories, discussions and topics heard. 

                                                                                           

Maths

This term, our focus will be the composition of all numbers up to 10, looking closely at numbers 10-20, consolidating simple addition and subtraction, sharing, doubling and halving up to 10 objects.

We will continue to use a number of images and models, e.g. 'part-whole model' and 'tens frame', 'Rekenreks' and 'Numicon', to support the above concepts and skills.

 In addition, the children will be consolidating 2D and 3D shapes and their properties, odd and even numbers and  patterns.  

For mental starters, the children will recite numbers from 0–20 and back from 15, count beyond 20 and find one less and one more between the numbers 0-10 and consolidate and subsitising up to 5 objects with quick recall. 

 

                 

Homework

Each week, the children will be given short activities to complete at home. This will include a ‘Talking Homework’ task, and a maths or an English or topic activity and phonics videos for you to watch together.

All homework is designed to either consolidate the learning taught that week or provide pre-topic research to prepare your child for upcoming lessons.

Homework will be posted every Friday on Google Classroom, and completed tasks can be uploaded to your child’s account for the Lion Cub team to see.

Physical Development

 P.E. is on Friday mornings. This term we will be developing 'throwing and catching' skills and movement skills, such as running, hopping, jumping, skipping etc. 

                                     

 Understanding of the World

As part of our topic, we will be looking at growing plants, parts of a plant,  life cycles including the life cycle of a moth, seasons, vehicles and journeys.

                           

 RE, SMSC & PSHE                                                                                                                                                                              Through stories, artefacts and 'Rev Fisher and Puddles the cat', the children will learn about special celebrations in a church, i.e. baptism, weddings and what's inside a church. The children will visit St. Thomas' church to consolidate their learning. 

In addition, the children will be looking at changes and how, as a person, they can make the right choice, through everyday scenarios and to make the planet a better place to live in. 

                    

Expressive Arts and Design

Through the topic 'Gracious Growing and Awesome Animals', the children will be drawing, sketching, making and using different types of media, e.g. water colours, paints, sketching pencils etc. Also, in Summer term 1, the children will be learning how to play the 'boomwhackers' with Mr. Joliffe.                   

                                                            

 The Curriculum

For more information about what we have planned for this academic year, please visit the Curriculum section on the school’s webpage, click on Reception, and have a look at our exciting and busy curriculum.

In Reception, we also value and follow the children’s own ideas and interests. This means that sometimes activities may not appear on our topic web, but grow from the children’s curiosity and enthusiasm. For example, we might explore themes such as sharks, Bluey, or Minecraft if these capture their interest.

                                  

Tapestry 

We look forward to sharing our observations with you on our electronic learning journal, Tapestry. This will give you a window into the wonderful learning and progress your child is making in school.

Equally, we encourage you to upload your own special moments from home—such as a family day out, a celebration, or a “wow” achievement. We love seeing what the children have been doing outside school, and they really enjoy sharing their photos and videos with us and talking about their experiences.

                                                                    

Water Bottles

Please ensure that they take it home every day to be cleaned and refilled. 

                                                                           

We have an open-door policy, so if you have any questions or queries at the end of the day, please feel free to ask. You can also contact us via email at lioncubs@parkgate.cheshire.sch.uk.

No question is too small—please never feel uncomfortable approaching us.

Thank you for your continued support,

Mrs Foster, Mrs Barralet, Miss Whiteway & Mrs Wilson  xxxx