EARLY YEARS REVIEW

Since January the Early Years boys have made remarkable progress, especially in regard to behaviour. The House Point system is now fully imbedded, with Reception collaboratively working together to earn valuable points for their team. Pre-Reception have also been introduced to their Houses in preparation for Sports Day next term.

The boys at Marlborough Place have been extremely busy, engaging in a range of fun activities, promoting levels of involvement, wellbeing and overall academic growth. Whilst teachers have focused on predetermined themes, and those that involve calendar events, highlighting culture and community, and seasonal changes, they have also created a curriculum based upon the interests of the boys, enabling an approach for enquiry-based learning. Performances in class assemblies have shone, with the boys’ singing songs for Easter and Spring and showcasing songs learnt in French. RA impressed with a beautiful rendition of ‘A Million Dreams’, from The Greatest Showman. As we look ahead to next term, we have much to look forward to, including brighter days, and many exciting plans to support transition.

Victoria McKenzie Head

of Early Years

Pre-Reception Learning

What an exciting term Pre-Reception have had, celebrating the Lunar New Year, Purim and Holi. Parental involvement has been wonderful, helping to enrich the curriculum with a range of culture and diversity. Traditional storytelling, Hula dancing, Carnival and International Women’s Day are some of what was on offer. PreReception visited the RAF Museum and London Zoo this term, building upon the boys’ interests in airplanes and wild animals. At the zoo we encouraged the boys to discuss the different animals they encountered. At the RAF Museum the boys learnt about different types of aircraft including jets, helicopters and amphibious airplanes. World Book Day was a huge success with a non-uniform, book related dress up day. The boys were also treated to a very special series of stories told by the storyteller Katy Cawkwell. During Mindfulness Week, the boys enjoyed daily mindfulness sessions including deep breathing and listening to calming music whilst relaxing their bodies. Pancake Day was another huge success with pancake races in the playground – even the teachers got involved! Following the boys’ interests we also created some fantastic models of volcanoes, exploding them, with great results! Pre-Reception tried their best to help the garden grow, planting seeds and making sure they were looked after. In class, they planted cress, all having a little taste at the end.

Vanessa Geffriaud & Kacie Taylor Pre-Reception Teachers

Reception Learning

In Reception, the boys have shown a keen interest in all things vehicular. We observed them building cars and trains using the loose parts in the playground and their favourite book looked at vehicles through the ages. To enhance their interest, we took them on a visit to the London Transport Museum where the boys were able to see, and climb aboard, buses, trams, trains and taxis, having great fun in the process. The boys loved collecting stamps as they walked around in their groups and were fascinated to learn that buses used to be pulled along by horses. The boys were so inspired by the trip that back in school they made a big red bus to play inside, using a cardboard box, painting it and adding features. They also used their writing skills to make transport tickets and maps of London. To enhance their learning, we asked them, if you could go anywhere, where would you go? The boys looked carefully at a globe and wrote about where they would like to visit with the answers ranging from Australia to Animal Land.

Emma Rafferty Reception Teacher

French

This term the boys have enjoyed topics such as ‘La fête des rois’ and ‘Pâques’, learning about how the French have been serving ‘Galette des rois’ (King Cake) since the 14th century. They were taught that, although, traditionally, the cake was served on January the 6th, it is now eaten throughout the month of January and is simply a festive and inclusive way to celebrate the New Year with family and friends, regardless of religious background. The boys also discovered that the pleasure brought by ‘Galette des rois’ is not merely due to its delicious taste, but also because of the anticipation of wondering whether you will be the lucky one to discover ‘A fève’, which is a tiny charm, buried inside one of the slices. The Early Years boys played a fun game searching for ‘La fève’ making them King of the Class, also learning the song ‘J’aime la galette.’ More fun was also found at ‘Pâques’ (Easter), when the boys needed to find ‘Neuf œufs’ (nine eggs) hidden around the hall.

Vanessa Geffriaud French Teacher

Music

Our lessons are fast paced, full of singing, movement, playing instruments and musical games. Over the year, we look at, and come back regularly to, the steady beat (or pulse), using our voices to sing in tune, the concepts of high and low, loud and soft and fast and slow in music. In Reception, the boys learn to read rhythm and, by the end of the year, will be writing their own rhythms. They listen to simple tunes and are asked to copy them and put their own words to the tunes. They are learning simple interval patterns (using the sol-fa system) and are very adept at singing in tune. We use the instruments to think about loud and soft and to beat in time with music. My approach to teaching music at this age is largely through stories, in-line with the EYFS curriculum where there is a strong focus on language learning. The boys have impressed me so much at the speed in which they have been able to pick up this new musical language and can easily select the different elements on a rhythm pattern. Teaching music to the boys is a great privilege and this year they have had lots of fun, shaken out a lot of energy and learnt so much in the process!

Siobhan Templeton Music Teacher

Physical Education

Early Years PE lessons have typically focused on developing fundamental movement skills through a variety of sports and fun games. The main sports the boys have focused on include rugby and football, while the fundamental movements covered often include jumping, balancing, hopping and skipping. They have learnt the basic rules of the games and how to safely handle and pass the ball. They have also learnt how to work as a team and develop communication and social skills. These sports are excellent for building physical fitness, coordination and motor skills as well as working together with their class mates. The fundamental movements they have worked on lay the foundation for more complex skills and sports as the boys grow older. These movements are incorporated into fun games as well as more structured activities that teach specific skills. Teamwork and sportsmanship also play a big part in all PE lessons. All the boys have been an absolute pleasure to teach so far this year and I cannot wait to introduce them to cricket and tennis!

Ned Lutyens PE Teacher Forest

School

Exposure to the natural world offers so much to a young boy’s overall development. Hands-on experiences, developing the senses, help to promote a sense of mindfulness and wellbeing, setting the foundations for all future learning, including building resilience, risk taking and simply just ‘having a go’. Opportunities for enquiry and investigation take place encompassing subject knowledge linked to science and geography and build collaborative language and teamwork. In Forest School following the boys’ lead is of great importance, encouraging a child centred approach and developing curiosity and individual interests. This year we have seen the boys imaginations come to life as they used symbolic representations to create stories and themes in their adventures outdoors, using rocks as characters or sticks as magic wands. As Forest School Lead I have absolutely loved joining them in the muddy fields of Canons Park each and every Friday!

Anna Wootten Forest School Teacher