Welcome to Reception!

Each week we'll be keeping you up to date with a "blog". In addition to this, please read our half-termly curriculum map to find out what will be happening in Reception. 

Important information

PE - Fridays. Please come to school in your PE kit on this day and this day only. 

Books - Change books on  Friday. Your child will come home with a library book every Friday and a phonics book every Friday.  Please make sure you have been reading at home at least three times a week. Please record any reading you have done in your reading diary. Your reading diary must always be in your bookbag so that we can read with you in school. 

Phonics - Please watch the videos on the phonics page of sounds we have been recapping in class at home with your child to help them with their sound knowledge. There are also Fred games to help your child with blending. Please log onto Oxford Owl to read the assigned book for your child. 

Maths - Please log onto Numbots and practice with your child at home. 

---

Summer 1

Week 1

What a great first week back for the summer term!

This week we have been learning all about Easter and sharing what we have been up to during our holidays. The children learnt the Easter story and even went on an egg hunt!

In maths this week, the children have been learning to double up to 10. They have been able to copy doubles and have explored this through provision. 

 

Spring 2

Week 6

What a lovely last week of term it has been in Reception with beautiful weather!

This week we have been very busy. We learnt a new poem, "A little seed".  We retold the poem using pictures to help us. We started the week by learning about Eid and how people celebrate it. We have also been looking at our timelines and the children looked at when they used to be babies and toddlers. In addition in provision we have been learning about teeth brushing and the importance of this. 

In Maths, we have looked at the composition of 7 again to ensure we are able to know different ways to make this number. We have also been exploring patterns this week and looking at more complex patterns using a range of resources. 

Week 5

Our Highlight this week was going to buy our very own plants from Sutcliffes!

This week in Literacy, we read the book "My must have Mum" by Maudie Smith. We then wrote our own Mothers day cards. In art we then used the flowers we bought to do observational drawings, which we used as the front of our cards. 

In Maths, we have been using our knowledge of numbers to 8 to explain our reasoning of when a number is more or less than another. In Science, we have been learning about insects and invertebrates this week. The children have learnt the names of some minibeasts and their habitats. 

 

Week 4

This week we celebrated Neurodiversity week and Comic relief!

To celebrate Neurodiversity Week, we had a class discussion about how everyone is different and that all our brains are different too. On Friday, we celebrated comic relief by having a Bluey party! The children played games, made Bluey face masks and had a fashion show of their outfits.

In Maths, we started the week by recapping the 3D shapes and finding them in our environment. We then learnt about the numbers 6,7,8 through the staircase pattern. The children could see the one more/ one less pattern. 

This week we have also been learning about how to take care of a plant and in literacy, the children wrote a sentence about what a seed needs to grow. 

Week 3

This week's highlight was planting our own beans! 

The children have been learning about the life cycle of a plant and understanding each stage. Next week we will be learning all about how to look after plants. 

In Literacy this week, we have been reading the story Jim and the Beanstalk and looking at the similarities and differences between this text and Jack and the Beanstalk. The children then innovated the story of Jack and the beanstalk and created their own version. 

In Maths this week, the children have been learning about 3D shapes. We have also been learning about comparing quantities, knowing that size and colour do not determine the amount.  

Week 2

What a busy week.... Pancake day and World Book Day!

The children enjoyed learning about pancake day and Lent on Tuesday and Wednesday. We learnt why we have pancakes and what we could give up for 40 days. Coming to school on Thursday in our PJs was definitely fun. The children shared lots of books, had time with their Year 5 buddies and even made their very own bookmarks!

In literacy, we have been carrying on learning the story of Jack and the beanstalk. The children wrote  a senetnece from the story. 

In maths, the children started the week by exploring capacity before moving onto learning about numbers 6 and 7.  We have been learning different ways to make make 6 and 7 using dice frames.

 

Week 1

What a lovely start to a new half-term. 

In literacy this week, we have started to learn our new Talk for Writing text Jack and the beanstalk. The children have learnt to retell the story using actions and have made their own story maps in provision. 

In maths this week, we have been practising our number bonds to 5 using the song 5 little speckled frogs to support this. The children are now super speedy last this. We have also been comparing and using language of mass and weight this week. 

The children enjoyed our music lesson this week when we were finding the pulse in songs. They have also enjoyed our P. E lesson where we began gymnastics. 

Spring 1 

Week 6

Last week before half term .... Well done Reception, you have all done amazingly this half term. Our highlight this week has definitely been the story bus coming to early years!

In literacy this week, we have been talking all about who and what we love. The children then went and independently wrote captions about who or what they loved. We have also been learning a new poem "Popcorn". The children learnt each line of this 8 line poem and the actions alongside it. We then performed. The story bus also came this week and the children loved going onto the bus, looking at all the books and listening to the story. 

In Maths, we started off by exploring track games and now know if we start on the number one the number we roll on the dice is not the number we will land on. Towards the end of the week we have been learning about the staircase pattern with numbers to 5. The children were learning that each number is one more than the previous number. 

Week 5

The children in reception have had a busy week. Our highlight has been making gingerbread biscuit! 

In literacy, we learning about instructions and how they tell us what to do. We then learnt how to make gingerbread and wrote the instructions in our books. later in the week, we used our instructions to help us to make our very own gingerbread men biscuits1

In maths, we have been learning about time and sequencing time events like our morning routines. We then moved onto learning about subitising and dot arrangements.

It has also been children mental health week, we have been talking about how feelings, making calm jars and saying what we are good at.  

Week4

This week the children have enjoyed learning about Chinese new year and Lunar new year. We have especially enjoyed finding out what year animal we were born in.

In literacy this week the children each made wanted posters for the gingerbread man as he had gone missing ...again! We talked about what key features the gingerbread had or did. 

In maths this week we have been learning about length. The Children have been learning how to compare length and how we can measure the length of objects in different ways, like using cubes. 

Week 3

This week the children had an exciting letter delivered from the little old lady from the story of the Gingerbread Man. WE had to use a map to find the gingerbread man who had escaped ... again, but this time at our school! The children have also innovated the story this week by changing one of the characters.

We have also been learning about the artist Yves Klien who is all about the colour blue! The children enjoyed creating their very own blue artwork. This week Reception went up to the main school building to have their P.E lesson where they have been learning how to travel in different directions. 

In maths, this week we have been learning all about height and how to compare heights. We found out who was the tallest member of our class and discovered we can measure heights using different objects, e.g. cubes or bricks. We also have looked at how to use tape measures and checked the height of different objects within our classroom. 

Week 2

The children have all settled back into routines so well this week. We have had a lovely week where we started learning about arctic animals and their environment.

This week we have started our Talk for Writing text "The gingerbread man". The children have been learning to retell the story with actions. We then made a class story map and in provision, children were challenged to make their own story maps.   

In Maths this week, we have been busy learning about the number zero, one more and one less and how to conceptually subitise. 

Week 1

A snowy, icy first week back. The children in Reception have all come back to school after Christmas brilliantly and full of excitement! 

We started this week with lots of discussion about what the children had been getting up to over the Christmas holiday and in the snow. The children then chose what they wanted to write about. We also looked at the season of winter this week and had a class discussion. 

In Maths this week, the children have started by learning about zero. Towards the end of the week we practised subitising to 5 and are now getting super speedy with this!

 

 

 

 

 

Autumn 2

Week 7

The last week before the Christmas break ... the children were so excited. We had our Christmas party day, which was so much fun!

This week we started off by finishing our story "A world full of cookies for Santa", which looked at how different countries celebrate Christmas and what they do. We then got to decorate our own biscuits, choosing our own designs.

We have been busy with many arts and craft activities this week and Christmas-themed maths and writing activities. On our Christmas part day we got see Santa and played many different games!

Week 6

This week was a very busy week in Reception with our Christmas Navitity Performance! The children did absolutely amazingly and were very brave standing on stage.

This week we also turned our role-play area into a post office with a post van after our trip last week. We have also been busy in provision creating maps of the route to the post office and using the bricks in the construction area to make roads to get the toy cars to the post office.  

In Maths, we have been practising our number bonds to 5 and using part- part whole models to help us. We started reading a new book this week called "A World full of cookies for Santa", which the children have already really enjoyed. 

Week 5

The start of December ... what a busy week! This week our highlight has been our trip to the post office! The children made their own Christmas cards and then in groups we went to the post office, bought a stamp, stuck it on the front of an envelope and then post it through post box. 

Our new book we have been learning this week is the Jolly Christmas Postman. the children have enjoyed seeing what is inside each letter. In Maths this week, the children have been learning about finding the parts and the whole of 4 and 5. We have been using a part part whole model to do this. 

This week have also been doing lots of practicing for our nativity performance and the children are getting very excited about singing the songs! 

Week 4

This week the children have been continuing to learn about the story how to catch a star. They have order the story and story maps to help them to write some word and caption around the story.

In Maths, we have been looking at shapes again. The children have looked at squares and rectangles and went on another shape hunt to finds them in the classroom and outside. 

The children have also been learning all about recycling and why it is important. They children have been able to out different rubbish in the classroom and put it in the correct bin. We have also learnt about the artist Paul Klee this week and made our own art work in the style of his work and using our knowledge of shapes!

Week 3

What a chilly week it has been! The children have really enjoyed playing in the snow / Icy weather. We did a experiment to see how long it would take for a whole cup of ice to melt inside. It took the whole day!

We have been learning a new talk 4 writing text this week, "How to catch a star" by Oliver Jeffers. The children have learnt to retell the story with actions, we then created our own story maps. Following the children's interests in the story we created our very own rocket too!

In Maths this week the children have been learning about one more and one less. They have used Numicon to help support this. 

Week 2

What a lovely week in Reception it has been. The children have been learning all about remembrance day, odd sock day, subitising to 4 and have learnt a poem.

To learn about remembrance day, We discussed why we wear poppies and we looked at some picture of poppies growing. the Children created their own pictures of poppies using loose parts, paint and colouring pencils. 

On Tuesday we took part in Odd sock day for Antibullying week. They children made sock puppets to use to say kind things to their friends and wrote each other card to show acts of kindness.  

In Maths, the children have been learning to subitise to 4 and making different parts using 4. This week we have also learnt the poem "Shoes" and performed in groups. 

Week 1

What great start back in Reception! The Children have come back into school happy to learn. 

Reception having been learning all about Diwali, Bonfire night and even had a visit from two PCSOs. The children enjoyed learning about Diwali especially about the Rangoli patterns which then created. We enjoyed reading and discussing the book "The best Diwali ever". On bonfire night we learnt about why we celebrate with fireworks and when the PSCOs came to visit us they spoke about different ways we can keep safe. 

In maths this week, we have been learning all about circles and triangles. The children learnt to identify them and make patterns with the shapes. We decided to go for a shape walk around Reception and the outdoor area to see where we can find circles and triangles. 

---

Autumn 1

Week 8

Wow ... Reception have completed the first half term!

What a lovely last week of term it has been. This week a definite highlight has been making our very own potions. We wrote our very own list of ingredients for a potion and then had lots of fun stirring, mixing and pouring our potions into different sized containers.   

This week we have also look at the artist 'Yayoi Kusama' and created own masterpieces inspired by her work. We made spotty pumpkin pictures and then even painted our own pumpkins! 

On Friday, the children in Reception attended their first ever assembly and did amazing. Well Done Reception for an amazing first half term!

Week 7

Reception have had another lovely week! we have had our Welly walk this week and our harvest festival! The children really enjoyed learning the harvest songs. This week we have learnt about autumn more and what harvest is. The children have discussed what fruit and vegetable we grow at this time of year. 

In Maths, we have been learning cardinality (Knowing that the last number in the count tells us how many altogether). We have also been discovering that we can count sounds and action not only objects by listening to drum beats. We used our knowledge of Maths in our P.E lesson this week when moving our body to the beats of the drum. 

Week 6

What a very busy week Reception have had! Om Monday the children wrote shopping list for the ingredients to make bread. On Tuesday we worked together in groups to make the bread at school and even got to taste it afterwards! Wednesday we went on our first outing as a class. We went on an autumn walk and looked for signs of the changes to our surroundings.

On Thursday the whole school had Yellow day for Young Minds in Reception we discussed what made us happy and then made yellow badges in the workshop. Finally, on Friday it was heritage day. Reception learnt about sheep and made woolly sheep pictures with their Year 5 buddies!

Week 5

What a lovely week in Reception! The children have been really focused this week on our learning in Maths. We have been learning all about size, weight, capacity and even patterns. The children have enjoyed using the weighing scales to discover what is heavier and lighter. We made some predictions before looking at different containers and jugs to see how much water they can hold.  

In our writing this week, we have continued to look at the story of the Little Red Hen. We used our class story map to look at the beginning, middle and end of the story. The children then draw a picture of the beginning, middle and end of the story and wrote the initial sounds of some of the words. So children challenged themselves and wrote some CVC words. How amazing!

Following on from looking at our families the children have enjoyed having the babies and the prams outside. We have also introduced Book voting this week to the children. Everyday the children will independently go and vote for book to read at the end of the day. The children have really enjoyed doing this!

Week 4

In reception this week the children have been making the most of the dry days outside.

The children have been learning the story of the Little Red Hen in English this week and have been retelling the story as a whole class and in small groups. the children have loved learning the actions (see if your child can show you them). In maths we have been learning to sort objects into two sets in different ways. some of the ways the children have done this is by colour, size, shape and touch. They have been sorting a range of object both inside and out. 

In phonics this week, the children have been practicing to blend CVC words and practicing letter formation. This week in the workshop we introduced junk modelling to the children, after learning about our picture news, they made some of their own inventions. In P.E the children have learning to reach and stretch to retrieve objects. We then split into 2 teams to do a relay race which they mastered straight away. Well done Reception!

Week 3

Another great week in Reception! The children have really started to settle in school. They are starting to known all the routines and starting to show their personalities which has been lovely to see. 

In maths this week the children have been looking at matching, identify a set and began to look at sorting. We even looked at our lunches to see if we could find matches. This week we focused on looking at our families and what were similar and different between everyone's. During phonics this week the children have been learning more single letter sounds and have began to spell CVC words using their "Fred Fingers" and magnetic whiteboards. 

The children have enjoyed playing in the water this week and reading books in the reading area. Outside the children have began to play together, using their imagination to invent games.

week 2

The first full week for Reception and they have done amazingly! The children have enjoyed being outside this week and enjoying the sun before the winter months are here. 

This week the children have building up their friendships within the class and exploring every area in the classroom. They have enjoyed having the playdough inside and having the balls and tubes outside. 

In phonics we have started to learn the single letter sounds and practice writing them. We Have also been learning how to express how we are feeling using the Zones of Regulation and using the inside out characters to help us understand. 

week 1

What a great first week in Reception we have had. The child have been getting to know each other and the classroom. We have explored the different areas of the classroom and the outdoor area. 

The children have loved playing up on the bike track using the tricycles and scooters this week. They have also enjoying playing on the climbing frame. 

In phonics this week we have been playing Fred games using Fred the frog to help using to orally blend CVC words, for example, m-u-g and s-a-t.