As we reach the penultimate week of Term 4, we wanted to thank you for taking the time to engage in our recent parent-teacher consultations. It has been a pleasure speaking with you about your child’s progress, achievements, and areas where they can thrive even more. Your involvement is invaluable, and together we can make a significant difference in their learning journey.

RWI

The children have been working incredibly hard during their Read Write Inc. (RWI) sessions. It has been truly amazing to see them recalling the sounds they are learning with such increased speed and accuracy.

As you know, reading at home provides our children with valuable extra practice that reinforces what they learn in school. We cannot thank you enough for the support you continue to offer—they are making fantastic progress, and your involvement plays a crucial role in their success.

Following your parent-teacher consultations, I trust you have gained insights into your child’s next steps in reading. If you have any questions or require further clarification regarding their progress, please do not hesitate to reach out to their class teacher. We are here to support you and your child every step of the way.

Maths

This week we have explored a range of 2D and 3D shapes. We started our exploration with 2D shapes, using a variety of resources to recreate them. The children had an engaging time creating pictures and discussing the shapes they chose and the reasons behind their selections. For instance, when creating rockets, many of the children opted for triangles to shape the nose of their rocket, as they explained that triangles are pointy and fit perfectly for that part of the design. It was wonderful to see them making connections between the properties of shapes and their practical applications.

Following our exploration of 2D shapes, we took our learning outdoors. The children ventured around the school to identify 3D shapes in our environment. This hands-on approach not only reinforced their understanding of shapes but also encouraged them to see the world around them from a mathematical perspective. They were thrilled to discover spheres in the playground, cuboids in the school building, and cylinders in everyday items.

Next week we will be consolidating our learning around repeating patterns.

Thematic

This week, our exploration of thematic learning introduced the vibrant Hindu festival of Holi, often known as the festival of colours. The children thoroughly enjoyed delving into the rich narrative behind this joyous occasion, centred around the characters of Hiranyakashipu, Prahlad, and Holika.

Our story began with the evil king, Hiranyakashipu, who possessed special powers that rendered him invincible. His desire was for everyone to worship him as a god, but his son, Prahlad, firmly opposed this, remaining devoted to the Hindu god Vishnu. In his rage over Prahlad’s defiance, Hiranyakashipu conspired with his sister Holika. Holika, who possessed a magical cloak that protected her from fire, deceitfully led Prahlad into a bonfire. However, the outcome was quite different from what she had planned; the cloak flew off Holika and onto Prahlad, symbolising the ultimate triumph of good over evil.

To enrich our understanding further, we listened to traditional music associated with Holi, which beautifully captured the essence of the festival. The children expressed their creativity through art, using paints to create their own colourful masterpieces. Additionally, we learnt that Holi is celebrated with lively dances. The children enthusiastically participated, mimicking the actions from the story, and performed in front of their peers in their house groups.

To conclude our festivities, we celebrated with our own version of a bonfire, where the children enjoyed snacks and participated in a delightful activity by throwing chickpeas into the fire, representing the spirit of Holi.

Next week, we will shift our focus to the Christian celebration of Easter, discovering the significance and traditions associated with this important festival.

Home learning

We will be sending home love to learn books this week to give you a head start before the Easter holidays. Please see details below.

Next term our topic will be ‘Growth’.  For your child’s love to learn challenge, we would like you and your child to plant a seed of your choice.  Please could you detail the changes that happen to the seed/plant as it grows. Also note what you need to do to the seed/plant in order to help it grow.  You could do this by taking photos or asking your child to draw a picture of the seed/plant at various stages of growth.  We ask that you return your child’s love to learn book by Wednesday 23^rd April. We understand your seed may not be fully grown by then but hopefully the children will have seen some changes. They are welcome to bring in their plant to show if they wish.   

Many Thanks 

From the Foundation Stage Team 

Important information

• As part of our topic learning next term, we would like to ask you to please email a photo of your child as a baby, or from when they were younger, to your child’s class teacher by Friday 4^th April.

• PE kits need to be worn in to school each Thursday please.

• Please ensure that children have a named water bottle

• All clothing to be named please

• Please complete the WOW moment sheets regularly so that we can add these to the children’s learning journey books.

 

Important dates

28th March – The Viking Speaker Final; 4 winners from Chilton to attend

2nd April at 9.05am – Easter Bonnet Parade for Reception, year 1 and year 2 in school hall

3rd April – Easter Egg Hunts in school

3rd April – Last day of term. School finishes at usual time.

 

Many thanks for your continued support.

From the reception team