Reception Plans

Early Years Literacy Plans

Year A Autumn Term / Description
Ourselves: Non-fiction: Names, labels & captions – Weeks 1-2 / These sessions start with the chn themselves and their experiences. They share information and write imaginative captions and labels, using books as stimulation. They remember themselves as babies and create amazing self-portraits.
Journeys: Fiction: Fantasy & reality – Weeks 3-5 / Chn talk about journeys they’ve made, local & long-distance. Using books by Anthony Browne & John Burningham they explore & write about fantasy journeys. An Animated Tale about a swallow leads on to work on animal journeys & migration.
Journeys: Poetry: Mountains, penguins & shape poems – Weeks 6-7 / Penguin poems kick off this unit enabling chn to read and write shape poems on mountains and arctic creatures. Linking to continued topic work on journeys, chn think about hot and cold climates, insulation and what to wear!
Stories & Celebrations: Fiction: Traditional tales – Weeks 8-11 / Inspiring unit on traditional tales linking to topic work which includes winter festivals. Looking at ‘goodies/baddies’, using storytelling as a structure, chn end by telling & writing a trad tale. You will be amazed at the outputs.
Stories & Celebrations: Poetry: Hanukkah, lights & Christmas – Weeks 12-13 / Using some poems, chn explore their feelings about the dark & then relate these to Hanukkah & Christmas. Use an Animated Tale to think about the meaning of Xmas. Chn look at candles, cook, make Advent calendar & stars & create a Christmas poem present.
Year A Spring Term / Description
Dinosaurs: Non-fiction: Information texts Weeks 1-2 / Use a ‘dinosaur egg’ to stimulate discussion about eggs & dinosaurs. Have fun with a range of activities - count & sound out words, pelmanism, Top Trumps & Dinosaur Dash! Make various dinosaur-related objects, ‘steal’ dino eggs & draw & label
Dinosaurs: Fiction: Dinosaurs stories – familiar settings/fantasy – Weeks 3-4 / Use two Animated Tales & a book about dinosaurs. Chn find out about the structure of stories & discuss the characters. They create their own dinosaur characters, write a story, role play, make dinosaur teeth & fossil footprints & enjoy dinosaur biscuits.
Dinosaurs: Poetry: Dinosaurs – Weeks 5-6 / Play a rhyming game with chn. Read two dinosaur poems & discuss the rhyming words. Write a class poem using a similar structure & then chn write their own. Using further poems as a stimulus, chn write dinosaur couplets or a poem about crocodiles.
Growth & Change: Non-fiction: Letter writing – Week 7 / Use the Animated Tale 'The Not-So-Boring Day' to discuss new life & the animals that Winston found. Look at the layout of letters & write to the Zoo & to Winston asking about his day. Find out about baby animals & how we change as we grow.
Growth & Change: Fiction: Not so boring day – Weeks 8-9 / Use the Animated Tale 'The Not-So-Boring Day' to explore the structure of stories. Examine the sequence of events together & collect ideas about the beginning, middle & end. Chn write their own version of the story when Winston finds a different baby.
Growth & Change: Non-fiction: Explanations – Weeks 10-11 / Read books about food & compare fiction & factual texts. Relate to own experience with vegs. Make seed packets & find out how plants stay healthy. Discuss a series of changes including tadpoles, caterpillars, popcorn & babies walking. Write explanations.
Growth & Change: Poetry: Easter & resurrection – Week 12 / Watch the animated tale Phoenix Reborn & tell the story stressing the structure. Chn re-tell the story using descriptive writing & phonics to help with spellings. Look at Easter verses & discuss symbols of new life. Make Easter cards with greetings.
Year A Summer Term / Description
Space: Non-fiction: Information & instructions Weeks 1-2 / Use the Animated Tale The Baby and the Rocket to introduce chn to information texts. Compare facts & fiction. Make a large rocket & use photos of the construction to write instructions. Lots of activities for chn to investigate both planets & rockets!
Space: Fiction: Beegu, Aliens & Thad (animated tale) – Weeks 3-4 / Chn listen to two stories; they make predictions, express opinions & compare, giving reasons for preference. Chn investigate the characters & use speech bubbles. An Animated Tale further inspires chn to create their own alien characters & write sentences.
Space: Poetry: Aliens & other poems – Week 5 / Read several poems from Space Poems (chosen by Gaby Morgan) & use them to initiate discussion about stars & moon & to write a poem. Here Come the Aliens by Colin McNaughton inspires creative work on aliens. Explore rhymes, play games & make things!
Space: Non-fiction: List, recipes & invitations - Week 6 / Read Q Pootle 5 to chn who then prepare for their own Space Party & write invitations. They explore the structure of lists & simple instructions & write some recipes for the party. Chn have fun cooking, painting & making decorations, party plates & models.
Castles: Fiction: Mouse Quixote (animated tale) and other fairy stories – Weeks 7-8 / Use Don Quixote Animated Tale to learn, act out & retell the story. Create character profiles for kings & princesses, make a variety of castles, role play, dress a knight & create a 20-mattress collage! Write own version of DQ & compare traditional tales.
Castles: Non-fiction: Letters, captions & labels 9-10 / Chn explore info books about castles, indentifying features. They write captions, letters in role, produce Trump cards & a class info book about castles. Fun activities include juggling, building castles from sand, Lego & cake & making a jester’s hat.
Castles: Fiction & Poetry: Dragon stories & poems – Week 11-12 / Share Dragon Machine by Helen Ward & stimulate chn to write own version. Chn explore different dragons & create dragon profiles, then look at stories that contest role stereotypes. Activities include making dragons using various media & dragon footprints!
/ Autumn A / Spring A / Summer A /
Objectives/Units / Ourselves
wks 1-2 N_F / Journeys
wks 3-5 F / Journeys
wks 6-7 P / Stories & Celebrations wks 8-11 F / Stories & Celebrations wks 12-13 P / Dinosaurs
wks 1-2 N_F / Dinosaurs
wks 3-4 F / Dinosaurs
wks 5-6 P / Growth & Change wk 7 N_F / Growth & Change wks 8-9 F / Growth & Change wks 10-11 N_F / Growth & Change wk 12 P / Space wks 1-2 N_F / Space wks 3-4 F / Space wk 5 P / Space wk 6 N_F / Castles wks 7-8 F / Castles wks 9-10 N_F / Castles wks 11-12 P /
Listening & attention - La / La1. Listen to stories with increasing attention and recall. / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X
La2. Join in with repeated refrains & anticipate key events & phrases in rhymes & stories. / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X
La3. Maintain attention, concentrate & site quietly during appropriate activity. / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X
La4. Two-channelled attention – can listen & do for short span. / X / X / X / X / X / X / X
La5. Listen attentively in a range of situations. / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X
La6. Listen to stories, accurately anticipating key events & respond to what they hear with relevant comments, questions or actions. / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X
La7. Give their attention to what others say & respond appropriately, while engaged in another activity. / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X
U1. Respond to instructions involving two-part sequence. / X / X / X / X
U2. Understand humour, e.g. nonsense rhymes, jokes. / X / X / X / X
U3. Able to follow a story without pictures of props. / X
Understanding - U / U4. Listen & respond to ideas expressed by others in conversation or discussion. / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X
U5. Follow instructions involving several ideas or actions. / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X
U6. Answer ‘how’ or ‘why’ questions about their experiences in response to stories or events. / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X
S1. Extend vocabulary, especially by grouping & naming, exploring the meaning & sounds of new words. / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X
S2. Use language to imagine & recreate roles & experiences in play situations. / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X
Speaking - S / S3. Link statements & stick to a main theme or intention. / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X
S4. Use talk to organise, sequence & clarify thinking, ideas, feelings & events. / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X
S5. Introduce a storyline or narrative into their play. / X / X / X / X / X / X
S6. Express themselves effectively, showing awareness of listeners’ needs. / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X
S7. Use past, present & future forms accurately when talking about events that have happened or are to happen in the future. / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X
S8. Develop their own narratives & explanations by connecting ideas or events. / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X
Reading - R / R1. Continue a rhyming string. / X / X / X / X / X / X
R2. Hear & say the initial sounds in words. / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X
R3. Segment the sounds in simple words & blend them together & know which letters represent some of them. / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X
R4. Link sounds to letters, naming & sounding the letters of the alphabet. / X / X / X / X / X / X
Reading - R / R5. Begin to read words & simple sentences. / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X
R6. Use vocabulary & forms of speech that are increasingly influenced by their experiences of books. / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X
R7. Know that information can be retrieved from books & computers. / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X
R8. Read & understand simple sentences. / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X
R9. Use phonic knowledge to decode regular words & read them aloud accurately. / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X
R10. Read some common irregular words. / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X
R11. Demonstrate understanding when talking with others about what they have read. / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X
W1. Use some clearly identifiable letters to communicate meaning, representing some sounds correctly & in sequence. / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X
Writing - W / W2. Write own name & other things such as labels & captions. / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X
W3. Attempt to write short sentences & meaningful contexts. / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X
W4. Use their phonic knowledge to write words in ways which match their spoken sounds. / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X
W5. Write some irregular common words. / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X
W6. Write simple sentences which can be read by themselves & others. / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X
W7. Some words are spelt correctly & others are phonetically plausible. / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X
Year B Autumn Term / Description
Families: Non-fiction: Names, captions & notices – Weeks 1-2 / Discuss families & the various roles within them. Chn write a book about someone who cares for them using similes & also notices for family members. They learn their address too. Activities include paper people, house plans, family portraits & names.
Undersea Worlds: Fiction: Stories/ imaginative language – Weeks 3-4 / Taking inspiration from stories about sea creatures & whale song chn describe their gift to the whales & write own version of Whales’ Song. Chn also measure a whale, bake Nemo biscuits, study floating & sinking, paint pebbles, & play crab football.
Undersea Worlds: Non-fiction: Information texts – Weeks 5-6 / Chn learn facts about sea creatures (esp whales & sharks) & the features of non-fiction texts. They work together to produce class books about sea creatures. Chn also learn about endangered species, make salt paintings & move like a whale to music.
Undersea Worlds: Poetry: Shark & other deep sea poems – Week 7 / Chn listen to poems about sea creatures, write their own couplets for a class poem, learn a poem off by heart, and make a seascape covered with onomatopoeic words. Activities include baking a fishy fruity cake, a class sea painting, and shadow play.
Magical Me: Fiction: Fantasy stories – Weeks 8-9 / Using fantasy stories about magical events & people, chn retell a story using role-play & freeze frames to sequence events, & write own versions of It’s a Secret with a new problem & characters. Chn plan a magical party, making decorations & party foods.