• First Day Smiles
• Circle Time
• New Climbing Frame
• Cricket
• Junk Modelling
• Diwali
• Counting Taps
• More or Fewer?
• Christmas Performance
• Christmas Dinner

Welcome aboard as we set sail on a new learning adventure for our last term together in Reception.  We will be exploring the oceans, finding out about boats and we might even meet some pirates along the way! You can find our topic web for the Summer term in the 'Files to Download' section at the bottom of this page.

Routines, Reminders & Messages

• PE is changing to Friday for the next half-term (Summer 1). Children should wear PE kit to school and pumps / trainers (no laces please)
• Show and Tell is changing this term.  Please check your email for the new timetable.
• Phonics Reading Books - your child will bring home 2 x 'Phonics' reading books that match the sounds learned in phonics lessons. It is important for the children to re-read the books (at least 3 times) at home to help them become more fluent, begin to recognise words and to feel successful as a reader. We encourage the children to read once to sound out and blend all of the words, a second time to remember and begin to read a little more confidently and a third time to help their understanding of the book and be able to talk about it.  Please ensure all books and the reading diary are kept in your child's book bag and brought in to school every day as we also read them in class. Books will be changed every Monday - we have very limited supplies of books so please ensure they are in school and availiable to be passed on to the next child.
• 'Reading for Pleasure' books -  These are lovely books for you to share with your child at home - your child is not expected to be able to read these for themselves but they are wonderful as a bedtime story or snuggling up on the sofa to read together. These books are also changed every Monday.
• Reading Diary - Please record in the diary each time you read with your child.  We will make a note of when we have read in school too.  You can use the diary to pass notes to us but please remember that they are not checked daily.  If your message is urgent or very important then please telephone or email the school office instead.
• Home Learning is sent home every Friday.  Please ensure it is completed and returned by the following Wednesday, when we will collect in the home learning books. We do not send any home learning to be completed over the holidays.
• Tapestry - we use this to share some of your child's learning.  If your child attended our Pre-School then your existing login details are still valid.  If you are new to Rode Heath then please look out for an email with instructions on how to get started. As always, please let us know if you have any problems.

We continue to focus on making sure that children are happy, safe and secure in school.  We follow our Hearts and Minds curriculum to ensure the children's personal, social and emotional development is central to our practice.  More information about our Hearts and Minds curriculum and the weekly Hearts and Mind planning can be found using this link: Hearts and Minds. 

To find year group expectations for Maths, please click here, scroll down and click on the overview. 

For year group expectations for English, please click here, scroll down and click on the overview. 

The expectations for Science and the Foundation subjects can be found by selecting the relevant heading from here.

Our Learning Journey: Monday 13th May 2024

Phonics:

We are learning the new sounds ure and er this week, ensuring we recognise them in words that we read and can write them in words, using the correct formation. We will be using our phonic knowledge to read and write simple captions and short sentences. 

We are also learning the new tricky word 'so' and recapping reading and writing our Phase 2 and Phase 3 tricky words.  We refer to these words as 'tricky' because we can't sound them out - we just have to learn what they look like!  

Phase 2 Tricky Words - I  no  go  to  the  into

Phase 3 Tricky Words - he  she  we  me  be  was  you  they  all  are  my  her

Phase 4 Tricky Words - said  so

Pure Sounds - We teach the children to use 'pure' sounds (the sounds that letters make in words)  Click on the pictures below to hear the 'pure' sounds for Phase 2 and Phase 3 phonics.

Literacy:

This week we are using our phonic knowledge to plan and write our own simple sentences that start with a capital letter, have a finger space between each word and end with a full stop.  

Letter Formation - Click on the pictures below to see the correct formation for each letter of the alphabet.

  Maths:

This week we will be learning how to group items.  Division by grouping introduce children to division as a methematical concept. We will be focusing on collecting equal amounts for groups or sharing into equal groups and counting how many equal groups can be made from a given amount of objects..

   Personal, Social & Emotional Development:

We are continuing our 'No Outsiders' learning this week.   We will be reading and discussing what we can learn from the book 'Blue Chameleon' by Emily Gravett.  A lonely chameleon tries to make friends by changing shape and colour; he thinks you have to look like someone else to be friends. At the end, Chameleon realises you can be yourself and you don’t have to change..

   Understanding the World

We are finding out about the explorer Captain James Cook this week and learning about his journey across the ocean to New Zealand.

  Physical Development:

This half term we have another round of cricket coaching and will continue to develop our skills in throwing, catching, hitting a ball with a bat and teamwork.

   Expressive Arts & Design:

This week we are using our designs to help us model a sea creature from clay.

Engineering:

Don't forget to visit our Think Like an Engineer website regularly to see what we're all busy doing: 

https://thinklikeanengineerproject.com

Our door is always open, please come and see us with any concerns, no matter how small you feel they may be. 

If you are worried about how to keep your child safe online, please follow the following link:.

https://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/parents/articles/keeping-your-under-five-safe-online