This week the children have been listening to The Nativity Play story by Nick Butterworth. It has been a great link to get them excited as we have begun practising for our very own nativity play!

If your child has been given a speaking part, please ensure you regularly practise your child’s lines with them at home to help them have as much confidence as possible when speaking aloud to the audience on the days of the performances.

The children have also enjoyed focusing on kindness for anti bullying week. They were given opportunities to think and talk about what it means to be kind and how could show that in discovery time with their friends.

Phonics-

This week some of the children have begun practising their phase 3 sounds as well embedding their phase 2 sounds. Some of these sounds they have learnt this week are j, v, w, x. It is important to not only practise the new sounds given each week but also to continue to go over all the previous sounds they have learnt so they continue to embed and remember them.

Reading-

Please continue to read daily with your child for around 10 minutes. Ensure you discuss new vocabulary that may arise and help them to understand the meaning of it and how to use it in a variety of different sentences.

Maths-

The children have been focusing on learning the number 6. They have been recognising the number 6 in a variety of activities and games as well as counting out objects up to 6. The children need to be able to understand the position of numbers on a number line so please encourage them to think about what is one more and one less than a given number.

We hope you have a lovely weekend.

Remember to upload any great learning your child does to Tapestry for us to see what they are engaging with at home.

From the Early Years Team

This week the children have really enjoyed focusing on the story called Handa’s Surprise. The children have been retelling the story and using descriptive language to talk about the different fruits.

This week the children have learnt the final sounds within phase 2. The sounds they have learnt this week are ff, l, ll, s. Now they have learnt all of their phase 2 sounds, please encourage your child to make their own CVC words (three letter words) using their flash cards. They need to sound them out and then blend to read them. Can they challenge themselves to write their own words?

Reading-

Please find attached a copy of the must read books for Autumn 2. It will be lovely to hear the children engaging with these great texts at home so please share them with your children.

Maths-

The children have been focusing on recognising what the number 5 looks like either it be the numeral or the amount. They have also been adding amounts to 5. Please continue this at home. Playing board games with a dice is a great opportunity to help your child by allowing them to identify the amount of dots as they roll the dice and then count the spaces as they move around the board.

We hope you have a lovely weekend.

Remember to upload any great learning your child does to Tapestry for us to see what they are engaging with at home.

From the Early Years Team

Dear Parents/Carers,

We hope you all had an enjoyable half term. The children have returned to school eager to continue their learning.
This week the children have really enjoyed focusing on the story called The Scarecrow’s Wedding. The children have been making lists of all the things they need for a wedding, acting out the story and retelling it using pictures.

Phonics-
This week the children have continued with learning more phase 2 sounds. The sounds they have learnt this week are h, b, f. Please continue to practise the flash cards daily with your child so they are familiar with recalling them. Challenge your child to write the sounds and put sounds together to make three letter words. Can your child start to write some CVC words that they are able to sound out?

Reading-
Please continue to read daily with your child for around 10 minutes. Now your child is learning lots of sounds can you encourage them to sound out things they see in the books they look at for example cat, c-a-t, dog, d-o-g.

Maths-
We have now learnt to recognise numbers up to 5 and count out objects up to 5. Encourage your child to do this at home. How many different ways can they make 5? For example 4 and 1 makes 5, 3 and 2 makes 5. Can you child write the numbers down they have identified that add together to make an amount? At this stage in year R we don’t specifically teach to use the + and = signs just writing the relevant numbers.

We hope you have a lovely weekend.

Remember to upload any great learning your child does to Tapestry for us to see what they are engaging with at home.

From the Early Years Team

This week the children have really enjoyed focusing on the story called Pumpkin Soup. The children have looked at pictures from the story and discussed what is happening. They also enjoyed making pumpkin soup in their role play and having a go at writing their own recipes.

Here are some photos from their learning this week:

We are aware that where it is half term next week, the children really do need to have a good rest from their first busy half term in school. We encourage lots of fun, engaging activities inside and out the home where learning will still be happening without realising!

Reading/Phonics-

We do ask that you try and continue to read with your child daily for around 10 minutes as well as practising their phonics flash cards just to keep them in their memory for when they return to school.

There are more books that have been uploaded to the Collins eBook site where your child can engage with the pictures and talk about what is happening.

Maths-
The children have now learnt to recognise numbers 0-4 and count the amount of objects to match the digit. Please continue to practise this at home with recognising numbers in the environment and daily practise with counting objects around the home.

A reminder that on Friday 12th November 2021 we are inviting all the children (and adults) to ‘Wear it Bright ‘, where pupils can come to school in their brightest non-uniform clothes to raise money for CAFOD. A £1 per child donation is requested. Please note that we will also welcome a donation of £1 per family if some parents with two or more children at St Peter’s find that donation more appropriate to their circumstances.

We hope you have a wonderful half term break.

Remember to upload any great learning your child does to Tapestry for us to see what they are engaging with at home.

From the Early Years Team

This week the children have really enjoyed focusing on the story called The Lion Inside. The children have retold the story during discovery time and thought about how they have had to be brave in their lives just like the mouse in the story.

Here are some photos of the children’s learning for this week:

Here is some home learning we would like you to focus on over the weekend and coming week:

Phonics-

This week the children have continued with learning more phase 2 sounds. The sounds they have learnt this week are g, o, c, k. Please continue to practise the flash cards daily with your child so they are familiar with recalling them. Challenge your child to write the sounds and put sounds together to make three letter words.

These may include- g-o-t, k-i-t, t-i-p, m-a-p and many more using all the sounds your child has learnt already.

Reading-

As well as still encouraging your child to talk through their school book with you daily by looking at the pictures, please do continue to read picture books to your child. We encourage reading books that they love repeatedly so they begin to learn the familiar phrases and start repeating them. For ideas on picture books please refer to the must read list we sent out the beginning of this term. These are books that we recommend children in reception will enjoy.

Maths-

We have now been learning all about how to add amounts to 3. Encourage you child to count out three objects and split them into two groups. Can they talk about their findings using sentences such as 2 and another 1 makes 3. 1 and another 1 makes 2. Here is an idea for an activity to play at home:

Hide an amount of objects in your hands. Show objects in one hand and they need to guess what’s in the other hand to make the total. For example if you have 2 in one hand your child needs to think about how many more they need to get to 3.

We hope you have a great weekend.

Remember to upload any great learning your child does to Tapestry for us to see what they are engaging with at home.

From the Early Years Team

Dear Parents/Carers,

This week the children have really enjoyed focusing on the story called The Colour Monster by Anna Llenas. The children have been thinking about their own emotions and linking it to our Zones of Regulation display. It has helped them to understand when they are feeling a certain way they can choose different activities to support their emotions.

Here are some photos of their learning from this week:

Here is some home learning we would like you to focus on over the weekend and coming week:

Phonics-
This week the children have started to learn phase 2 sounds. The sounds they have learnt this week are i, n, m, d. Please continue to make use of the videos and resources we have uploaded to Tapestry to help support your child at home with practising these sounds daily. Use the flashcards your child has been given in their bag for your child to recognise and think of words beginning with that sound. Can your child challenge themselves to make some CVC words with these cards for example s-a-t?
If you were unable to make the phonics meeting on Monday evening please spend some time watching the video we uploaded of it to Tapestty to help you understand why and how phonics is taught.

Here is the PowerPoint to look through too:

Year R phonics workshop Autumn

Reading-
Please continue to read with your child daily. Now they are learning sounds could you encourage your child to try and spot them in the environment? For example on number plates, road signs and food packaging.

Maths-
We have now been learning all about the number three. Encourage your child to show you what this number looks like. Can they show you on their fingers? Can they collect objects? Can they use the vocabulary one more to explain the number three?
The children have also been looking at repeating patterns. Could your child make their own pattern using their toys? For example car, teddy, car, teddy.

We hope you have a great weekend.

Remember to upload any great learning your child does to Tapestry for us to see what they are engaging with at home.

From the Early Years Team

Dear Parents/Carers,

This week the children have really enjoyed focusing on the story called Mixed by Arree Chung. They have had fun exploring mixing colours and talking about what their strengths and weaknesses are.

Here are some photos of their learning from this week:

Here is some home learning we would like you to focus on over the weekend and coming week:

Phonics-
This week the children have started to learn phase 2 sounds. The sounds they have learnt this week are s, a, t, p. Please make use of the videos and resources we have uploaded to Tapestry to help support your child at home with practising these sounds daily. Use the flashcards your child has been given in their back for your child to recognise and think of words beginning with that sound. We also ask your child practises forming each of the letters using the work sheets we have sent home with them.
Phase 1 phonics is still being taught alongside phase 2 so please continue to listen to those sounds in the environment as well as singing nursery rhymes.

Reading-
Your child has been given new books on the Collins eBook website so please enjoy these with your child. Rememeber we ask that you make a note in their home reading diary of the home learning they do at home so we can see what your child is engaging with.

Maths-
We have now been learning all about the number two Encourage your child to show you what this number looks like. Can they show you on their fingers? Can they collect objects? Can they use the vocabulary one more to explain the number two?
The children have also been looking at patterns. Encourage your child to notice pattern on materials- spots/stripes/animal print. How are they the same? How do they look different?

With the weather starting to change now, please ensure you bring in a pair of named wellington boots to leave at school so your child can have full access of the garden.

We hope you have a wonderful weekend.
Do ask us any questions that you may have; we are always happy to help

From The Early Years Team

Please find attached the Powerpoint for the Year R welcome meeting.

Welcome to Year R Meeting September 2021

To view the presentation that we recorded, please log into Tapestry and follow the link.

Please remember to join us again on Teams on Monday 4th October at 4pm for the Phonics meeting.

From The Early Years Team

This week we had an unexpected visit from the Gruffalo! The children enjoyed going on a hunt for him and then listening to the story, retelling it and talking about their favourite parts!

Here are some photos of their learning:

Here is some home learning we would like you to focus on over the weekend and coming week:

Phonics-
This week we have continued with phase 1. The children have been practising playing with words that rhyme. Over the weekend, please encourage your child to continue doing this at home, Here are some examples to say to your child and see if they can think of words that rhyme with it-
dog- they could continue with- log, bog, frog
cat- they could continue with- mat, hat, sat
van- they could continue with- can, man, tan

There are lots more of course! Please have fun with rhyme- it really helps children to tune into the sounds within words and recognising which are the same and which are different.

Reading-
Every child has recieved a log in for Collins eBook. This does not replace the books they will still get given at school but instead is an additional resource for supporting reading at home. We will add books weekly to it for your child to talk through in the same way they do with their lilac books.
Another idea to encourage story retelling at home is to use teddies/props for your child to act out their favourite story ensuring they quote key phases from the text. Could they have a go at retelling the Gruffalo to you as its a recent story they have heard at school?

Maths-
We have now been learning all about the number zero and one. Encourage your child to show you what these numbers look like. Can they show you on their fingers? Can they collect objects? Can they explain what zero is? Can they use the vocabulary one more to explain the number one?

Phonics-

This week your child will be learning the phase 2 phonics sounds s, a, t, p.
We have attached links to videos from The Department of Education to support you with pronouncing the sound correctly. It will also give you some ideas of what you can do at home to support your child further with practising this sound.

s sound- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlqMDXWEtXs&t=1s 

a sound- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-2SNtGeodQ

t sound- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdYxh-23INc&t=10s

p sound- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bBIZBegHqsE

We hope you have a wonderful weekend.
Do ask us any questions that you may have; we are always happy to help.

From The Early Years Team

We hope your child has felt settled into their new Year R classes and have been excited to tell you about their day when they have come home.

Here are some photos of the children’s learning this week. They have enjoyed lots of physical activity on our climbing frame, fine motor development using the hammers and nails as well as demonstrating expressive arts and designs at the colouring table:

Here is some home learning we would like you to focus on over the weekend and coming week:

Phonics-
This week we have started phase 1 phonics which is focusing on the sounds they can hear in their environment.
When you are out and about this weekend please encourage your child to listen carefully to the animals they can hear, vehicles passing or wind blowing in the trees. Talk about what the sound is, how loud it is and whether they can use their hands/mouth to copy the sound. We will talk about their findings next week.

Reading-
All children will have come home with a Lilac book and their homework journal. This book has no words so we encourage the children to talk through what is happening in the story/pictures. Ask questions including:
What is the character doing? Why are they doing that?
How is the character feeling?
What do you think might happen next? How do you know?
Do you like this story? Why?
We ask you read with your child for 10 minutes a day and record this in their homework journal for us to see/respond to.
We also encourge you to read exciting picture books to your child frequently so they enjoy the love of reading and are exposed to good vocabulary.

Maths-
We ask that you continue to sing counting songs with your child to help them with recalling numbers to 5/10. We have attached some song sheets to support.
Encouraging your child to count in their play/everyday life is vital to their development.
Can they count their cars? Can they count how many dolls they have? Can they count the peas on their plate? Can they count the cars that pass by on a walk?
Lots of opportunites for incorporating number into daily tasks.

We hope you have a wonderful weekend.
Do ask us any questions that you may have; we are always happy to help.
From the Early Years Team