We are thrilled to share that we have successfully completed our first full week at school, and we are delighted to report that the children have settled in wonderfully. It has been heartwarming to see them forming new friendships and learning our daily routines with such enthusiasm.

Throughout the week, we have focused on three key concepts that are essential for our classroom environment: good sitting, good looking, and good listening. These foundational skills not only help us to learn better but also foster a respectful and caring atmosphere within our classrooms.

RWI

As we embark on our phonics journey together, we have been enjoying exciting activities to engage our little learners and develop their listening skills, which are so crucial for their reading and writing progress.

We also began our journey in learning Set 1 sounds, beginning with the letters 'm' and 'a'.

To assist with our learning, your child will bring home a pink sound book. This book will feature the sounds we have concentrated on throughout the week, and at the front, you will find a copy of the patter for writing each letter. This is a useful tool for helping us remember how to correctly form the written letters.

We kindly ask that you spend some time with your child recalling the sounds and practising writing them.

Please see the video of the children modelling the sounds we have learnt and the patter that goes alongside them.

Maths

This week in maths we have been learning an exciting new skill called subitising. Subitising is the ability to instantly recognise the number of objects in a small group without having to count them individually. It is a crucial skill that lays the foundation for more complex mathematical concepts, such as addition and subtraction, later in their education. Our children have been engaged in various activities that encourage them to think about what they see and what they notice.

Thematic

As part of our exciting journey in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), we have been exploring the wonderful world of feelings through the delightful story "The Colour Monster." This book has provided us with an engaging way to discuss the various emotions we all experience, whether they be happiness, sadness, anger, or calmness.

In our discussions, we have encouraged the children to reflect on their own feelings and to think about times they may have experienced different emotions. It has been heartwarming to see them opening up and sharing their thoughts, fostering a deeper understanding of themselves and each other.

To further support our emotional development, we have introduced a special area in our classroom called the "Zen Den." This is a calm space where children can go when they need a little time to regroup or when their feelings feel a bit overwhelming. We have talked about how to use this space, letting the children know that it is always there for them when they need a moment to breathe and reflect.

Additionally, we've been learning some strategies to help bring ourselves back to a state of 'green,' where we feel calm and happy. These strategies include taking deep breaths, counting to ten, or simply sitting quietly for a moment. You may find it beneficial to discuss these techniques at home, reinforcing the importance of recognising and managing emotions as they arise.

Dress to Express Day:

Our first mini topic is called ‘Marvellous Me’. Over the next few weeks we will be learning about what makes us all special. To end this learning, we would like the children to come into school on Friday 26^th September dressed in clothes that expresses what they like or shows us something about them (e.g. wearing a football shirt if they like football, wearing an apron if they like cooking etc). Please do not buy anything for this, use what you have at home already! Please make sure that children have sensible footwear as this is likely to be our first PE lesson day too (more details about PE to follow in future blogs).

Important Messages:

• We will let you know when PE will start.

• Please could all children have a named water bottle in school everyday.

• Please ensure that all clothes are named.

• Children are allowed to bring in a pair of (named) wellies. These can be left under their peg.

• Children will have brought a book home from the book corner. These are to be shared at home. You can return these as often as you like and replace with a new book to be shared at home.

Key Dates for Term 1:

19th September – Welcome to Reception meeting for Reception parents from 2.30pm in school hall

25th September – Chilton School’s 50th Birthday (please see separate letters for details on how we will be celebrating this)

26th September – Thrive coffee morning 9am-10.30am in the studio – a chance to meet our well-being team

7th October – 9am Reception Harvest assembly and 2.45pm Year 3 Harvest assembly (in school hall with families invited to watch)

17th October – Final day of term

It is great that we are able to talk to families at the start and end of the day. If there is anything else you would like to share with us, please email:

nicki.cotton@chiltonprimary.co.uk

kirby.walker@chiltonprimary.co.uk

We hope you have a great weekend!

Reception Team