As we reach the end of another long, hot week, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on our recent Hungry Caterpillar assembly and to extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone who was able to join us.

It was truly a delight to see so many familiar faces supporting our children as they showcased their hard work and creativity. I hope you agree that the children did amazingly well, bringing the story of the Hungry Caterpillar to life with their performances.

RWI

I’m thrilled to report that our little ones are becoming increasingly confident in using their sounds while writing. This confidence is leading to some fantastic developments, with many children showing independence in their writing. Some are now writing at length, which is a significant milestone for them at this stage.

As we navigate through the Reception year, it is perfectly acceptable for children to spell words phonetically, even if they haven’t yet mastered every sound. The emphasis at this point is on applying their phonics knowledge and expressing their ideas through writing. If a child's spelling may not look quite right, rest assured—it is a natural part of their learning journey. Our goal is to encourage them to be creative and fearless in their writing!

Maths

This week, the children have been exploring the concept of subtraction in a very hands-on and engaging manner. We learned that when we subtract, we start with a whole quantity and take away a part, which leaves us with another part. To help illustrate this idea, we used Numicon, a fantastic resource that assists in visualising numbers and their relationships to one another. The children enjoyed demonstrating how taking away one part from the whole affects the remaining amount.

In addition to using Numicon, we played a fun game involving throwing balls into a hoop. The total number of balls we began with represented the whole, while the balls that landed inside the hoop counted as the part we took away. The balls that remained outside the hoop represented what was left. This interactive activity allowed the children to actively engage with subtraction and write calculations that depicted their findings, reinforcing their understanding of the concept.

Furthermore, we introduced another method of subtraction where the children crossed pictures out to visually show how many were left after taking away a part. This practical strategy enables them to develop a firmer grasp of the subtraction process and the relationship between numbers.

Next week we will be recalling number bonds within 10.

Thematic

Our thematic learning focused on exploring the names and features of various dinosaurs, which not only sparked the children's curiosity but also enhanced their understanding of this prehistoric era. The children have shown an impressive enthusiasm for learning about these magnificent creatures!

To reinforce their knowledge, we encouraged the children to write sentences describing different dinosaurs. They demonstrated great creativity in their descriptions, using their newfound vocabulary to bring these ancient beings to life. This writing activity allowed them to practise their literacy skills while expressing their individual thoughts and ideas.

To make our learning even more engaging, we transformed our descriptions into a song! Adapting the well-known tune of "Heads, Shoulders, Knees and Toes," the children collaborated in small groups to create a lively dinosaur song. This activity not only fostered teamwork but also promoted their confidence in performing in front of others.

After some rehearsals within their house groups, the children shared their delightful dinosaur songs with the whole class. It was a joyous occasion filled with laughter and teamwork, and I am so proud of how well they performed. Their enthusiasm was infectious!

Important messages

- Please ensure your child comes to school ready for the weather. As it has been hot, we will need sunhats and suncream (named and in bags).

-Please ensure your child comes to school with a water bottle.

-All clothing should have your child's name.

- Reading record books are changed every Tuesday and Friday, please sign the record and put them in the basket to be changed. 

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

Dates to remember

23rd June – Book fair this week

27th June – Thrive coffee morning 9am in hall

1st July – Music evening at 6pm

2nd July – Year 1 class assembly 2.50-3.05pm

4th July – Summer fair from 3.30pm

10th July Sports Day – KS2 9.15-12 Reception and KS1 1.30-3

11th July – Reports go out to parents

14th, 15th 16th July – Transition days; children to spend these days with their new class teachers

17th July – Inflatable fun day in school for all children

18th July – School finishes at 2pm for Reception to Year 5

 

Thank you very much for your continued support.

From the EYFS team.