September 2024

Welcome to the Foundation Stage at Modbury Primary School.

We are really excited to have your child start their learning journey with us and we are sure we will all have lots of fun along the way! The children have had such a lovely time, settling into the school routines and making new friends.

During this term our topic is Superhero Me. We will be listening to stories linked with our topic, finding out about the children and their families, finding out about what pets they might have and exploring the similarities and differences between them and how that makes them so amazing.

English:

In English, we will be learning to write our name, focusing on effective pencil grip and forming letters correctly. The children will also be using their phonic knowledge to write the initial sound in words and any other sounds they can identify in these words.

Maths:

In Maths, we will be developing a deep understanding of numbers to 5. The children will be practising their subitising skills and exploring how these numbers can be made up and learning number bonds to 5. We will be exploring 2D and 3D shape, hunting for them in the world around them.

Phonics:

In phonics, we will be looking at phase 2 sounds – we are using the Little Wandle phonic scheme to guide our teaching of phonics, there are some great resources and useful videos in the parent section of their website. Please take a look for further information.

https://www.littlewandlelettersandsounds.org.uk/resources/for-parents/

Phonic Sound cards:

Every week we will learn new sounds in our phonics sessions. A sheet, including the new sounds we will be learning, will be stuck into your child’s reading record (on a Monday) so you are aware of the phonic sounds your child will be learning each week. We will also be including some phonic cards for these sounds. These will be put into your child’s bookbag.

Please read the sheet and use the sound cards at home to consolidate and reinforce their learning. Any questions about the sounds, please ask us.

A few other things...

We will be doing PE on a Tuesday. Please make sure your child’s PE kit is in school on that day, the children can leave this bag on their peg throughout the half term and we will send it home for washing if needed.

Snack:

We do have fruit provided for snack however some children prefer to bring in a snack from home. Your child is encouraged to bring a small, healthy snack such as a piece of fruit to have during morning break. Please label any plastic containers with your child’s name on it. Thank you.

Individual Reading:

Reading will take place with each child every week. Your child’s reading book will be sent home every Monday. This is the book they will be reading throughout that week at school and at home. We will read this book a few times during the week, so please can you bring it into school everyday, in your child’s bookbag. Please feel free to comment and sign when you have read with your child in the blue reading record book. You will also see comments about how your child is getting on with their reading at school with us, towards the end of each week. We will change the books once a week – on a Monday. Familiarity with the same book helps to build the children’s confidence with reading. At this stage, the idea would be to share the book and identify the sounds that they recognise and discuss the main events of the story. Modelling of segmenting and blending of words is very useful at this stage too. Any questions, please just ask.

Forest School:

The children have a session of Forest School every Wednesday with Achieve 4 All. The children will be outside in our exciting, woodland area and will take part in lots of activities. The children need to come to school in their forest school clothes. Children will require wellie boots, waterproof clothing (coat and trousers) and another pair of shoes and socks to wear inside the classroom. If they have an all in one waterproof, please send their coat to be used at lunch and home-time.

Finally ...

We would like to open our door to you, both if you have any questions or queries, and if you have any resources, skills, or experiences that could help us on our learning journey. Please do not hesitate to come and see us.

Welcome to Reception! Mrs Ratcliffe and Mrs Fisher