It’s Spring term!

We hope you have had a restful Christmas and start to 2022! We wish to say a big thank you for all the kind and thoughtful gifts staff were given for Christmas. They were lovely. 

We are very excited to be welcoming another adult working in our classroom on Monday called Miss Fung. She has previously worked at Leverstock Green and we are welcoming her back to come and work with the children in Reception. 
 

We have lots of exciting learning taking place this term. Our topic is Animals, Beasts and Dragons which will explore the celebration of Lunar New Year, amongst other things; there is a topic map below detailing possible avenues of learning.

If you have any questions or queries please message us on Tapestry or ask any member of the Reception team and we will be able to help.

Please find attached information about the provision we have put in place for remote learning.

’50 Things to do before you’re five’

There is a brand new app for families in Hertfordshire! It’s called ’50 Things to do before you’re five‘, it’s intention is to improve outcomes for our younger children. It’s full of ideas for activities and experiences that are free or low cost that encourage communication and language, being active and trying new things. Many experiences are outdoors and open ended so the whole family can take part! 
 

How many experiences and memories can you tick off?

The children have continued to settle into their new routines well and are now starting to bring home books each week. The children have 2 different books. One is a library book they have chosen to share at home. The other is a phonics based book to support them in their development of their phonics knowledge and blending skills. Please can I request parents share books daily with the children and encourage them to spot sounds they may know? Each day, when you share books, I would like parents to record in the reading record the date, the title of the book and any comments about it. This can be as simple as just a signature, to comments about the children favourite part, to facts they have learnt, to words and sounds they know. We expect children to be sharing books and reading 6 days a week, 5 week days and then once at the weekend. This helps us to see that they are sharing books at home and developing those reading skills. If you have any questions or concerns about this please do come and speak to one of the team. 

What a wonderful first few days the children have had. We have had our first PE session this week. Please can I request that all the children have shorts and a tracksuit to wear? We will continue to do PE in the colder months outside as much as possible and we are changing before lunch to help speed things up in the afternoon. Please can I request that all clothes and bags are named to help us and the children to identify whose are whose?

Our PE day is Tuesday. Please be conscious of this and remove any earings before school, thank you. 
 

Miss Sarah Conyard 

Welcome to our Reception class page.

We are busy getting our classroom and outdoor area ready for learning and playing, see the photos below. We can’t wait to get started with new friends and new adventures and look forward to getting to know you all. If you scroll down you can meet the team, and see the PowerPoint from our welcome meeting back in July.

Please remember to bring your book bag, PE kit and forest school kit in with you. Once inside staff will help the children put everything away in the correct place. 
 

We are looking forward to welcoming you on Monday morning at 8.45 by the garden gate. Please come onto the playground and we will come and collect you from the playground. This is the same gate that we will meet parents at the end of the day too. 
 

Enjoy the last few days of the holidays. 
 

Miss Conyard, Mrs Kenny, Mrs Highstead.

A message for any families who are due to be starting our Reception Class in September.

I have attached a pdf story of a child starting school for you to share with your child. This will enable you to introduce the idea of staying all day at school, and will help all children that will be full time in September. Read the story and talk about it with your child. Doing this several times every now and again will help your child understand some of the experiences that will be ahead for them and help them cope emotionally for what could possibly be a challenge. We are very much looking forward to meeting you and your child and begin the process of getting to know you all.
 

Georgina Wilson, Early Years Leader

Phonics Support

Below are 2 documents to help support you in supporting your child with reading over the year. 

Below are some links to useful websites to support your children over the year.