Welcome to Reception

Miss Mitchell and Miss Brennan are looking forward to working together with you for the rest of the year and getting to know your child, their interests and all of the things they can do.

As parents or carers, if there is anything you are concerned about we hope that you will feel comfortable approaching us to discuss such matters. As an Early Years Foundation Stage team, we want you and your children to feel happy and comfortable with our setting and if there are areas that you have concerns about we want to work with you to rectify these.

A few little reminders, please ensure that your child has a book bag and a PE kit. These can be purchased from the main office.

We have started PE lessons which run on a Tuesday afternoon and so for health and safety reasons it is vital that all children have the correct PE kit, this consists of a red PE top, navy shorts and indoor pumps.

Book bags are important for all children to have as we have started sending home conversation books, and will be sending home number activities and words to learn. We aim to change books on a Monday and a Friday. Having a book bag means that everything is contained in one place and that all children feel part of our school.

We look forward to working with you all as the year progresses.

Miss Mitchell and Miss Brennan (TA)

Our trip to the Storybarn at Calderstones Park.

Reception had an amazing time at Calderstones Park. We began our day by exploring the Storybarn, where we read our favourite stories, dressed up, searched for fairy doors and investigated some mysterious objects. We then got creative by making our own flowers with different craft materials. We enjoyed our picnic in the sun followed by a play in the Park. Finally, we went on a nature trail where we listened to stories and explored the beautiful Japanese sensory garden!

Data processing and Algorithms. 

We have been data processing using code-apillars. Reception sequenced a set of directions using arrows and watched how the code-apillar processed the information. We have learned that this set of instructions is called an Algorithm! 

Celebrating Chinese New Year

Reception have enjoyed celebrating Chinese New Year. We have learned the story of the big race and talked about the animals that make up the Chinese zodiac signs. We have decorated our classroom with Chinese lanterns, dancing dragons and Chinese writing. We then performed our very own Chinese dragon dance complete with Chinese instruments. 

‘Dress up as a digit’ day for NSPCC. 

Thank you all parents and children for your kind and generous donations! Everyone looked amazing! 

The Adventures of Smartie the Penguin

Reception really enjoy using the school iPads to consolidate their learning, play fun games and take photographs. As a class we have discussed the adventures of Smartie the penguin and talked about E-Safety. Smartie the penguin received some messages on his computer from strangers and Reception decided that Smartie needed to tell his Mum and Dad straight away! Smartie also noticed some strange picture popping up on screen and wasn’t sure what they meant. As a class, we decided that Smartie needs to tell his Mum and Dad. Reception learned a phrase to help them remember this rule, “before you tap and click, you need to stop and think and tell someone!”

Out of this World! 

Reception have really enjoyed learning about Space. We used the story ‘Whatever Next!’ To begin to discuss the moon, how we would get there, what it would be like there and what we would bring to the moon with us. We made storymaps to help us remember the story, including all the things Baby Bear took to the moon with him. We have also read the story, ‘Aliens love Underpants’ and discussed the different types of aliens we could see throughout the story. Reception then created their own aliens using 2D shapes and gave them an alien name. We also focused on the book, ‘How to Catch a Star’ and came up with our own plan on what we would use to catch a star. Finally we have written instructions on how we made our Space Fruit Cocktails! Reception loved exploring other Space themed stories such as, ‘Winnie in Space’, ‘Little Duck in the Moon’ and ‘On the Moon’.

Out of this World! 

We have been learning all about Space! One day, a Spaceship landed in our outdoor area! Reception loved exploring the spaceship, dressing up as astronauts, searching for aliens and recording their findings. Reception used their imaginations to describe all the different kinds of aliens they saw. 

Come and See-Baptism

As part of our Come and See topic on ‘New Beginnings’, we have been learning about the sacrament of Baptism. Reception enjoyed sequencing and role-playing their own baptism in class. First we named our baby and chose Godparents. Next, the Priest blesses the baby with Holy Water and wraps them in a white garment. Finally the Priest blesses a white baptismal candle and gives it to the Parents to bring home with them. 

PSHE-Friendship

Reception have been talking about the importance of friendship. We have discussed what it means to be a good friend and thought of some examples from our own class. We talked about what a compliment is and made sure to compliment each child in class. Reception have taken some special photographs with their friends. 

American Dinner

Reception loved their American style dinner! We worked hard at designing our own American flag table cloth and loved eating hot dogs, burgers, chips and home-made lemonade! 

How we became Pirates!

Reception have been learning all about Pirates! In class we have been reading 'How I became a pirate' by Melinda Long and David Shannon. Reception decided they wanted to be pirates too! We have made pirate ships indoors and outdoors, eye patches, pirate hats, and hooks for our hands. We have also made a cardboard pirate ship and love pretending we are shipwrecked! We write SOS messages in a bottle and hope someone will come rescue us. We have received letters and party invitations from Captain Braid Beard as well hidden treasure maps. Learning about Pirates is so much fun!