Foundation Newsletter Dear Parents and carers, Thank you for all your support with our spooky crafts parents’ workshop and also for those who attend ‘come and read’ sessions. We would like to thank the parents of class 1 for your patience and understanding surrounding staff illness. We are very pleased to welcome the lovely Mrs Sanderson to class 1 and the Foundation Team.
Autumn Term 2014
This term our learning will be based on the theme of…… Celebrations Children will be learning all about different ways in which people celebrate. We have started the topic off with a bang, by looking at bonfire night and the Hindu celebration of Diwali. We will be find out why Christian celebrate Christmas and how this is celebrated around the world. As well as preparing for our sing-along spectacular Christmas concert. Finally we will be looking into the Jewish celebration of Hannukah.
Literacy Children continue to take part in daily read write inc. (RWI) lessons. Children are transferring this knowledge into their reading and writing. On one of our Training Days the staff attended Talk 4 Writing (T4W) training. This has been a fantastic success in Foundation. The children are using this skill to map out and write extended pieces of writing. Nursery and Reception will be using the T4W skills to learn the Christmas story, which will be performed during our Christmas concert. Nursery Nursery will be continuing to look at recognising and writing their names. Children will be writing a very important letter to Santa. Reception Reception children are practising how to form letters correctly and are beginning to learn to spell words in order to help them with their independent writing. They are developing an understanding of how to write sentences using finger spaces, capital letters and full stops.
Numeracy Nursery Children will be using their fingers and marks on paper to represent numbers. They will also be looking at recognising and describing 2D shapes. Finally children will be embedding their counting skills through independent activities within the indoor and outdoor provision. Reception Children will be investigating different types of patterns including symmetrical patterns. They will be consolidating their knowledge of numbers and counting and will look at comparing different amounts, numbers, weights and heights. Please encourage your child to write numbers – as far as they can go! Please help
Helping your child at home To continue to support your child’s progress it is important to read with them on a regular basis. Children are required to read at least three times a week. Each time your child reads their picture will be moved up the reading ladder. If they read more than 3 times a week they will receive a shining star. Children failing to read at home will spend 5 minutes of their golden time reading. Tips to support reading:
•
Talk about the illustrations - What can you see? What is happening? Why do you think that is happening? What might happen next?
•
Encourage your child to sound out words using “Fred talk.”
•
After you have finished the book talk about what has happened and why. What did they like/ dislike about the
Things to remember
story?
•
Please remember to bring book bags every day. Please write in the planner -this way we know you have read the books at home.
Give your child lots of praise and encouragement. Remember Home Learning must be completed and returned to school by the Wednesday.
Please don’t forget to keep us informed of yours child’s achievements at home. This maybe things such as staying in their own bed all night, eating their vegetables or learning to ride their bike. We have attached an achievement sheet/ leaf so you can record what your child can do and bring it back to school, so we can display Important calendar dates to Nursery: • Talk about your religious beliefs with Changes your child. them on our achievement trees Christmas Dinner : Friday 12th December - Morning Christmas Concert: A big thank you to all parents/carers whohave attended parentsuch reading weddings, sessions lastbirthdays half term.or Wereligious are continuing • Share pictures of different celebrations youClosed may attended festivals nursery all Children to attendas 12 – 3pm these session this half term. Morning Nursery and Class 1: Tuesday 16th Sharing books and stories with your child is a great way of showing your child how important reading is and it is an opportunity to build18athlove for reading. Can’t make it due to work? Maybe Christmas Party: Thursday DecemberAfternoon December at 10:00am a grandparent or an aunty or uncle would like to come in your place. nursery closed all children to attend 8:15 – 11:15am
Tasks to support our topic:
Afternoon NurseryNursery and Class 2:– Wednesday 17th A.M. Thursday 10:45 – 11:15 December at 2:00pm Nursery P.M. – Thursday 2:30 – 3:00
Friday 19th DecemberReception School closes at Wednesday 12pm – Every a different colour group’s parents will be invited into school 2:30 – 3:00 School reopens Monday 5th January 2015