Headteacher: Miss V.M. Hunt Tel: 01442 389040 Fax: 01442 390589

email:

February 2015

Foundation Stage Curriculum Letter Spring 2015 (second half)

Dear Parents and Carers

Welcome back to the second half of the spring term, we trust you enjoyed the break.

Our whole school theme this half term is ‘The world around us.” In the foundation stage we will be looking at our immediate environment (where we live).

General Information

We would like to remind parents to regularly check that nametags are in clothes/footwear and make sure that your child always has a pair of wellington boots in school. It is also necessaryfor your child to have a change of clothes (non uniform is fine) in a bag that can be kept on your child’s peg.As always, please ensure water bottles go home for a daily wash/refill. Please be aware that the little link book in the tray by the gate as you come in each morning is for the use of nursery parents only. It serves as a link between nursery, lunch club and pre-school. Messages intended for reception should be written in their children’s link book and placed in the tray for the teacher’s attention.

Supporting Your Child’s Learning at Home

Phonics

To support your child in learning phonics, remember to say the sound that each letter makes in a word and try not to add an ‘uh’ sound at the end. Also, if you are helping your children to write, please remind them where they need to start the letters. This is an important skill and will enable them to join their writing effectively when they are ready. An effective pencil grip is also important.

Sharing Books and Reading

All the children will have an opportunity to choose a book from school to bring home each week. It would be useful for the books to be kept in the bookbags when not being read,as this allows for them to be changed regularly. Please continue to share all kinds of books with your children at home.

Mathematics

You can support your children in learning maths by counting and recognising numbers, shapes and patterns together. The children are always keen to help ‘solve a problem’. You can encourage their use of mathematical skills and thinking by posing problems for them to resolve.

Reception Homework

There is a blue box on the gate in the morning for you to return the homework once it has been completed. New homework will be set each week so it is an idea to complete it weekly.

Weekly contributions of 50p

This helps us toprovide a richer learning experience for your childrene.g. food tasting, play dough, plants/seeds/soil and cornflour.

Many thanks for your continued support. Please do not hesitate to contact any member of the Foundation Stage Team if you have any worries or concerns,

Yours sincerely,

The Foundation Stage Team

An overview of learning for this half term in Foundation Stage

Communication,Languageand Literacy. / Physical Development / Personal, Social and Emotional Development / SEAD
-The children will have regular speaking and listening activities planned such as; show & tell.
-There will be plenty of opportunity to develop speech through role-play. The outside role-play area will be initially set up as a builders’ yard complete with relevant books, a word wall and forms/plans for children to practise their writing skills.
- Reception children will continue to develop their phonic knowledge graduating to list writing, cvc words and simple sentences. We shall discuss full stops and capital letters.
- Role-play area indoors will be decided by the children
- In nursery we will be reading ‘The Three Little Pigs’ story and acting it out as well as looking at different types of houses using books and computers.
-Nursery children will continue to follow activities in the Letter & Sounds scheme but also dipping into the Read, Write Inc program to build on the letter sounds learnt to date. / -We will continue to learn about the effects of exercise on our bodies and the importance of healthy eating and hygiene.
-Fine motor skills are developed daily through busy finger activities and opportunities throughout the day; these develop writing skills and are vital.
- The Foundation Stage garden provides a rich environment for children to develop both fine and gross motor skills.
- As the weather improves, we will be able take advantage of the larger playground, field and the pirate ship climbing frame.
- Both Nursery and Reception have opportunities to use the hall for PE.
- The importance of safety measures when using tools will be discussed and observed especially within our construction and creative activities. / - Our SEAL theme is Good To Be Me,
-We shall continue to play games that involve turn taking and sharing.
- This half term we shall continue our work on understanding emotions
-We shall learn vocabulary linked to emotions and will use literature and role pay to help demonstrate how to cope with different feelings.
- We will continue to encourage independence when the children change for PE and when accessing/putting away classroom resources
- Everyone will be encouraged to care for the resources in class and everyone will be responsible for putting them away as soon as they have finished with them. Caring for resources is key to the children learning responsibility for their own actions.
Understanding the World. / Mathematics / Expressive Arts and Design
-The children have opportunities to design and build using a variety of tools and materials.
-ICT will be used by the children to support their learning for example; completing a simple computer program and using equipment such as cameras and CD players.
- We shall investigate the seasonal changes.
-As mentioned earlier, we will be looking at the immediate environment and what it contains (church, shops etc.)
-We will be looking at how the Chinese celebrate their new year and how it differs from England / -We shall begin to use language related to time and develop our understanding of time.
-Reception children will learn about measuring, ordering items by length and weight.
-The concepts of addition, subtraction and dividing will continue to be developed and the children will be recording their work using pictures and numerals.
-Throughout these activities there will opportunities for the children to count, order and recognise numbers.
- We shall continue to develop our knowledge of 2d and 3d shapes and their properties
-Activities provided during ChIL are planned to encourage children to put concepts taught into practise when trying to work out the solution to a problem. / -The children will have opportunities to explore different media and techniques.
- We will also be learning some songs and rhymes related to our theme.
- Child initiated learning provides a wide range of opportunities for imaginative role play
- This term we shall continue to explore powder paint and colour mixing.
- The children will learn how to plan a model house, choosing and joiningmaterials.
Any boxes and containers are greatly welcomed for this. Thank you!
Religious Education
-The value this half term is Thankfulness
-The focus of RE teaching this term will Easter
-Prayer will continue to be part of the daily routine in Foundation Stage and we will be sharing Bible stories. Reception willjoin the rest of the school for Assembly on Thursdays. Nursery will attend at least two assemblies this half term.
-Jonathan Gordon, our Vicar, will visit the Foundation Stage to read Bible stories to the children.

Love one another John13V.34