Notices

Learning Journeys

On Friday 25th November your child will bring home their 'Learning Journey'.

This is their blue work book.

This book contains the children's writing and maths work.

Please take some time to look through the book with your child.

Your child will be proud to talk about their learning and the progress he/she is making.

For every piece of work you will see:

• a green smiley face = something your child has achieved and done well
• a yellow arrow = next step
• I = work done independently
• s = work done with support from an adult

At the back of the learning journey there is a sheet where you can write a comment.

Please return all books to your class teacher on Monday 28th November.

Thank you, Reception Team

Upcoming Dates - Autumn term 

Reception Nativity (please see Nativity information letter below with key information.)

Tuesday 29^th November

RP – 9.00am

RS – 9.40am

Wednesday 30^th November

RH – 9.00am

RF – 9.40am

The Snowman screening 

Parents are welcome to join their children in our annual screening of 'The Snowman'.  We will be exploring this text during our literacy lessons.  

RS and RP classes - Monday 12th December - 2.30pm 

RH and RF classes - Tuesday 13th December - 2.30pm 

Kingsdown Methodist Church Visit 

Reception will be visiting Kingsdown Methodist Church on Friday 9th December to view their collection of Nativity scenes.  This supports the learning we will cover in our religious education lessons. 

We will need parents to support during the visit.

We will set up a volunteer sheet outside each classroom. Please see letter below with further information. 

Friday 9th December

RP - 9.10am - 10.30am

RF - 9.55am - 11.15am

RH - 1.10pm - 2.30pm

RS - 1.55pm - 3.15pm

Coats, Hats, Scarves and Gloves

As the weather changes and the children start to wear coats, hats, scarves and gloves, here are a few reminders and polite requests:

• Please name all items of clothing.
• Teach your child how to put on their coat and gloves (mittens are best at this age for many) etc.
• Remind your child to look after their belongings.

Thank you.

Reception Team

Forest School

We are looking forward to Forest School starting this term.

Please ensure your child has a coat and boots for these sessions.

Please make sure these items are named.

The timetable is as follows:

RP - Tuesday am

RH - Tuesday pm

RS - Friday am

RF - Friday pm

Please be aware sometimes our days and timings can change due to the weather or other events going on in school.

Reception Pupils 2022/2023

Following our Welcome to Reception meeting last term, please find the presentation from the meeting.  We look forward to welcoming our new families to Reception in September 2022. 

Reception 2022/2023

Please find below our welcome newsletter which provides you with information for the school year and dates for this term. 

Fresh Fruit or Vegetable Snack

As a healthy school we would like to remind parents that children should only be bringing in a fresh piece of fruit or vegetable for their snack each day. 

Children should bring in a bottle of water.

Children are welcome to bring in a packed lunch and this will be saved until they are in the lunch hall and replaces the school lunch option. 

Class teachers stay with their classes in the dining hall each day and will continue to inform and work with parents if they have concerns with a child not eating enough.   Pupils are also offered a fruit snack from school in the afternoon session. 

We thank you for your support with this matter.

Our Outside Classroom 

Dear Parents/Carers,

Please can you help us to promote to pupils that they should not use the Reception equipment or provision in our outside classroom before or after school. 

We have been teaching the children to tidy up the provision at the end of each session and how the resources are for learning time during the school day. 

The outside classroom is used by after school club each day, so it would be greatly appreciated if parents/carers exit the area straight after collection.  

Thank you, Reception Team

Reading Books, Key Words, Home Learning and Book Bags

We have completed the phonics assessments with your child and will send book bags home with a reading book, picture book and reading record. Please see below for more details.

At Fielding we follow the Read Write Inc programme.

The assessment will provide us with your child’s reading level.

The type of ‘book’ your child receives will depend on their phonic knowledge.

Some children will focus on learning the sounds of the alphabet.

Some children will receive a sound blending book to help develop their blending skills.

Some children will receive a book called ‘My Phonics Book’. A letter will be sent home with information of how this works.

Some children will receive a reading book.

In addition to this, your child will choose their own picture book.

Your child is not expected to read this book, this book is to be shared with an adult for enjoyment and to help develop a child's comprehension skills.

All books will be changed once a week.

Please make sure your child brings their book bag to school every day.

Help your child to get into this routine.

Inside their book bag please make sure that you always have:

• picture book
• reading book
• reading record

Please look through the reading record, there is lots of useful information inside.

Please sign the reading record every week and write a comment about how your child is progressing with their reading.

Key words

On page 15 there is the list of key words that the children need to learn to read over the year. Every two weeks we will check how your child is progressing with the reading of these words and let you know in their reading record. Please help your child to learn these words.

We will write what key word list your child is on in their reading record.

Home Learning

Every Friday, your child will receive some phonics home learning from their phonics teacher. This must be done at home and does not need to be returned to school.

If you have any further questions please talk to your class teacher.

Warm wishes,

The Reception Team

Maths

Week commencing: 28.11.22

This week in maths we are going to explore matching and sorting.

First we will look at matching objects and learn how objects must look the same in order to match. 

We will look at and discuss a range of items, then agree whether they match or do not match.

Then we will starting thinking about how we can sort a range of objects. 

With the children we will say: 'Sorting means we put objects in groups following a rule'.

We will look at the objects and think about what is the same e.g. colour, shape, size, pattern ? We will then sort the items and talk about the different sets/groups. 

We will identify the criteria that we used to sort the objects and model how to do this, for example:

* I have sorted these cubes by colour, these cubes are green, these cubes are red etc. 

* I have put all the circles together in a group and the squares together in another group.

*I have sorted these objects into 'socks' and 'not socks'. 

Children enjoy sorting because it is a visual and practical activity. 

Some children will almost do it naturally in their play e.g. sorting conkers and pine cone or sorting animals.

Children tend to find sorting by colour the easiest, however we will look at different ways of sorting and encourage the children to think of their own criteria.

Some children will enjoy the challenge of trying work out the criteria.

We will also make errors so children have the opportunity to explain why something should not be in that set or group.

Supporting your child at home: 

Have a go at sorting some objects at home.

Talk about what criteria you used to sort.

Use objects your child is interested in to help engage and motivate them to talk about their sorting.

Keep learning addition facts up to 5!

Can your child recall any addition facts for 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5?

The Maths Number Early Learning Goal requires children to automatically recall addition facts up to 5. Start helping your child to learn some number bonds:

      1

0 + 1 = 1                

1 + 0 = 1   

      2

0 + 2 = 2

1 + 1 = 2

2 + 0 = 2     

      3

0 + 3 = 3

1 + 2 = 3

2 + 1 = 3

3 + 0 = 3

       4

0 + 4 = 4

1 + 3 = 4

2 + 2 = 4

3 + 1 = 4

4 + 0 = 4

      5

0 + 5 = 5

1 + 4 = 5

2 + 3 = 5

3 + 2 = 5

4 + 1 = 5

5 + 0 = 5

Remember children need to be able to say the fact not write the number sentence!

Next week in maths:

Our maths lessons will continue to focus on sorting.

English

Week commencing: 28.11.22

This week we continue with 'Helicopter Stories'.

This is where the children make up their own stories and the teacher scribes for them.

Children will also have an opportunity to do some writing about their story.

During carpet time, the children will sit in a circle and each story will be acted out by a group of children. Every character and object is represented in the story. The children delight in bringing their stories to life, listening and watching each other.

The children quickly learn the format of Helicopter Stories and particularly enjoy the drama element.

We will discuss what a story is and asking the children to talk about stories they know and like.

Definition: A story is an account of something that happened either true or made up

In lessons we will talk to the children about key story elements:

* Characters – A character can be a person, animal or object.

Who are the characters  in your story?

* Setting –  The setting is where a story takes place.

Where does your story happen?

* Plot – An event that takes place in the story. This can include a ‘problem’ and ‘resolution’.

What happens in your story?

A story also needs a beginning, middle and an end. 

In class we will use a Story 'S’ to model how stories have a beginning, middle and an end.

In class we will use stories the children already know to identify the characters, setting and plot.

We will sequence the story using a ‘story s’.

At the end of the week will write our own story and act it out using the Helicopter Story techniques.

Supporting your child at home: 

Encourage your child to make up their own story.

Remind them of the key elements of a story.

If your child finds it hard to make up their own story, start by using a story they know really well.

You can then suggest how they can change the story a little by choosing their own characters, setting or plot. 

Next week in English:

Our lessons will focus on the story of The Snowman by Raymond Briggs.

RSHE/ PSED

In our recent RSHE/ PSED lesson we discussed the NSPCC’s PANTS rules.

These are designed to teach pupils how to stay safe from sexual abuse, without giving explicit information or telling scary stories or even using the term “sexual abuse”. We will start the lesson by introducing the children to a character called Pantosaurus.

We will show them this clip:

NSPCC Pantosaurus (2 mins)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_SzbMEVYiyg&t=120s

This is a film featuring NSPCC’s  friendly mascot Pantosaurus.

His catchy song covers the main points of PANTS and  introduce the topic to the children.

In the lesson, children learnt about the ‘PANTS’ acrostic, which stands for:

• Privates are private.
• Always remember your body belongs to you.
• No means no.
• Talk about secrets that upset you.
• Speak up, someone can help.

The lesson is fully age-appropriate.

The Talk PANTS campaign helps teachers and parents of 4-11 year-olds keep their children safe from abuse. Like the Green Cross Code, it takes a potentially tricky subject and gives teachers and parents the tools to talk about it in an engaging and age-appropriate way.

More information about talking PANTS, including a short film and a parent guide can be found at nspcc.org.uk/pants

If you have any questions please speak to your class teacher.

The Reception Team

English - Phonics/Reading 

Phonics is the way we teach children to recognise the sounds in words. It helps your child to learn to read and is an essential part of your child’s education.

In school we teach children to read through linking letters and sounds using a published programme called ‘Read Write Inc’ (RWI).  There are a range of online resources you can use to support the teaching of phonics at home. 

PE, Music & French Lessons 

If your child is accessing learning from home then check out the timetable in your child's class notebook on Teams.  If you click on the subject links on Thursday afternoon it will take you to the lessons that our specialist teachers have filmed for the Reception children. 

Virtual Support for Families 

In previous years we have invited parents into school to attend our drop in sessions. During these sessions we work with parents and demonstrate strategies and activities that they can replicate at home to support their child.  With the current climate we are unable to invite families into school so have put together a number of videos that can be used as a support resource.  During this term we will focus on Phonics - please see the videos below, your child's class teacher may direct you to the videos that will support your child. 

Guidance on reading books that come home: 

Inside your child's book bag 

Sound Blending Book

My Phonics Book

Phonics: 

Set 1 Sounds - Video 1

Set 1 Sounds - Video 2 

Set 1 Sounds - Video 3 

Set 1 Sounds - Video 4 (digraphs) 

Set 2 Sounds - Video 1 

Set 3 Sounds - Video 2 

Understanding the new Early Years Framework 

This September our Early Years became early adopters of the new Early Years Framework that will become statutory in school in September 2021.  Below are documents which breakdown each area of learning. 

Capturing 'Wow moments' at home

Early Years compromises of seventeen aspects of learning with skills that pupils need to achieve before the end of their year in Reception.  We value contributions from parents/carers of moments of achievement that have happened outside of school.  Click on the link below to access our wow moments cards.  If you observe your child achieving something new or wonderful then cut out the card, record the moment and pass it onto your child’s class teacher.  The wow moments are stuck in your child’s learning journey and support assessments throughout the year.  Feel free to send in as many as you would like, parents/carers usually complete a page of wow moments each half term. 

Reading and Reading Records

Please write a comment in your child’s reading record. Let us know how they are reading and progressing. 

If you have any questions please make a note in the reading record, the class teacher will get back to you with a response. It is really important that you read with your child regularly, support from home makes a huge impact on your child’s learning.

If your child is still in the early stages of reading, they will be focusing on learning the sounds of the alphabet. In the reading record you can write the sounds you have been working on and how your child has  responded to the activity.

If your children is reading the Sound Blending books (lilac books), the focus is on learning to blend cvc words. CVC means 'consonant, vowel, consonant', words like – cat, dog, mum, dad, pot, man, sit etc. This skill can take a while to acquire, patience and persistence is needed. Often a child will sound out the word but cannot blend, when the adult sounds it out for them they will often hear the word and then say it. 

Remaining positive and encouraging your child to try again at this point helps, so they can try again until they have learnt to blend.

If your child is reading the paper book called ‘My Phonics Book’, the teacher will focus on one page at a time, each week. 

This stage of reading helps to prepare the children for reading sentences before they move onto the next level of books.

The guided reading session uses each page to focus on:

• a set of sounds
• some key words
• reading simple sentences
• a comprehension question
• ‘holding a sentence’ e.g. to practise saying a sentence, rehearsing it and being able to repeat it back (memorising the sentence)

If your child has a reading book e.g. red, green, purple etc. The books contain lots of useful pages with sounds to practice, key words to read and some comprehension questions, as well as the stories. 

Book bags 

Every week your child will have a book bag with a picture book and one or two reading books.

Your child has chosen the picture book, they are not expected to read this independently.

This book is purely for enjoyment and an opportunity for you to share a book with your child. 

The reading book your child receives will link to the phonics baseline assessments that the teachers completed with each child.

Your child will have an opportunity to read through their book with their class teacher during their guided reading lessons. Guided reading lessons happen everyday, where the teacher will read with a different group.

Some children that are in the earlier stages and are beginning to learn their sounds will receive a sheet with the sounds to focus on. The sheet also contains ideas of how to support your child at home.

The class teacher will write the title of the books in the reading record.

Your child must bring their book bag  to school everyday with their picture book, reading book and reading record. Each day the teacher will focus on a different group and change their books once a week. We look forward to reading your comments in the reading records.

Home Learning

Every Friday your child will receive some home learning linked to their phonics lessons that week. This will allow you to see what sounds your child has been focusing on in the lesson.

The home learning can be kept in your child's bookbag so you can revisit the activities at home if needed. 

Please support your child with learning the sounds. Thank you in advance.

Forest School

Please note the day change for your child's class.

Please send in wellies for your child. These can be kept at school on the coat trolleys.

The first lesson will introduce the children to Fielding Forest e.g  rules and boundaries for keeping safe and respecting our environment.

RH - Tuesday am

RP - Tuesday pm

RS - Friday am

RF - Friday pm

Occasionally we do change our days depending on the weather and school events.

Reception Assessment

The Early Years framework compromises of seven areas of learning. 

The areas are divided into seventeen aspects of learning. These provide pupils with an Early Learning Goal for each aspect that they work towards during their time in Early Years. In the summer term of their Reception year, assessments will determine whether they have achieved a good level of development. 

Click on the links below if you are interested in exploring each area of learning and finding out what skills your child needs to achieve within each area of learning. 

Calendar

Letters

Specialist subjects