Foundation

Welcome to Foundation!
 

A warm welcome to our year page. If your child is in Foundation please familiarise yourself with this page as it will let you know the various activities the class are currently involved in. Note that this page doesn't replace the school newsletters - those can be accessed below.

This list was put together by the pupils themselves in the first week of term. All the ideas came from the children themselves, and they know they must do their best to abide by them.

1. We sit sensibly
2. We work quietly
3. We play nicely
4. We share
5. We help each other
6. We line up sensibly

 

For the curriculum information sheet for this term, please see below. 

This term's topic is 'Minibeasts'
We will be finding out about different minibeasts, their lifecycles and habitats please look at the curriculum map and key knowledge and skills document above for more details.

 

Wild Woods

This term Foundation Stage children will continue to visit the Wild Wood adjacent to the school. We will use this wonderful resource as a fantastic stimulus for literacy and creative work.

 

Waterproof clothing and warm layers are required to help your child get the most from this wonderful experience. We will be going into the woodland whatever the weather!

 

• Waterproof trousers- to enable the children to sit in their dens!
• Waterproof coat- as we will go in all weathers.
• Hat- for warmth.
• Waterproof Gloves- for protection from nettles and thorns.
• Lots of layers to keep warm and extra socks
• Wellington boots - as it can be muddy.

 

Starting on 3rd May, we will be spending Friday afternoons in the woods, which we will follow up by exciting activities in class building on our experiences.

This is a unique opportunity which develops children’s language, social skills, independence, self-confidence, resilience and love of the outdoors. Children will come home in their outdoor clothes to allow us to maximise our time in the woods.

 

We are reliant on volunteers to enable us to use this wonderful resource and need at least 4 parent/career helpers each week from 1.15pm-2.45pm, otherwise we are unable to go.

 

Please note, we will not go to the woods in high winds or thunderstorms.

Children will come home in the wild woods clothes to maximise the time we have in the woods.

 

 

Please find below above a list of high frequency words which we are teaching as part of our phonics lessons. 

 

This term children will continue to bring home next step goals to learn at home. Please practise with your child at home throughout the week. When a child achieves their next step we celebrate on a Friday by launching their rocket. Next steps will be on a range of subjects such as: handwriting, learning new sounds, reading high frequency words, learning number facts or fastening their coats by themselves. We expect some next steps will take longer than a week to achieve, but once they have returned the reply slip to say that have mastered it we will send a new next step home the following Friday.

 

Please try to hear your child read as often as you can and record it in their red reading record. Children love a routine, whilst reading daily is ideal, try to choose a time when your child isn't tired. Please keep books and red reading records in bookbags and bring bookbags to school every day. Children will be encouraged to bring home a picture book of their choice to share with you at bedtime. Please don't worry if they choose the same book frequently as young children often enjoy hearing their favourite story again and again!

This term we will continue daily phonics lessons - click the video link below to see and hear correct articulation of the phonemes we're learning.

Here is a list of the activities that take the children outside the classroom this term

• PE activities weekly on a Tuesday and Friday if we are not in the woods.
• We can store wellington boots in the classroom if you would prefer your child to wear these outside.

 

We will continue Friday Show and Tell this term. The children of one house (Dahl, Yousafzai, Shakespeare or Curie) are asked to bring in something that they can individually show and talk about to the class. The other children are then invited to ask questions. The 'talk' and questions last about two minutes. This is a very valuable part of the curriculum which helps the children to develop speaking and listening skills. The house whose turn it is that week will be displayed on the communication board outside the classroom. Please help your child to remember to bring something to show and tell. It is also very helpful to your child if they can discuss what they might say at home.

Growth Mindsets : try something new.

 

Here is an excellent article about building your child's self confidence and helping them try new things.