01454 868 610

Wheatfield Drive, Bradley Stoke, Bristol, South Gloucestershire, BS32 9DB

Reception Class Page

We have two Reception classes at Wheatfield Primary

    RM and RB         

Mrs Midlane (RM Teacher)  and Miss Bendall (RB Teacher)

Mrs Goldstone (RM), Mrs Binding (RB)

PPA will be on Thursday afternoons. This is when Mrs Midlane and Miss Bendall spend time preparing and planning for the weeks ahead.

(During this time, our class teaching assistants will lead sessions linked to our topic, alongside changing library books with the children.)

Welcome to Reception

About Reception:

In Reception our teachers are Mrs Midlane (Class RM) and Miss Bendall (Class RB). Our teaching assistants are Mrs Goldstone and Mrs Binding.

 

What should my child bring to school?
Please label every item that belongs to your child including their school uniform and belongings i.e. water bottle. You could use a permanent pen or buy personalised name labels which you can stick onto their belongings. Your child will have a peg in the cloakroom where they can store their coat and welly boots. Your child will have a drawer in the classroom for their book bag and snack.

 

Term 1 Learning

PSED



At Wheatfield Primary we follow a scheme called Jigsaw. We use the focus for each unit as an overarching ‘theme’ for each term, linking this to our other learning, as we really value the importance of PSED in your child’s development.

The theme for Term 1 is ‘’Being Me in My World!”

We will be focusing on within this theme…

    • Exploring our big question: ‘What are my five senses?’
    • Getting to know one another
    • Making new friends
    • Learning the routines and rules at school
    • Exploring our feelings and emotions
    • Learning about our special 'In the Spotlight' recognition board!

Each day, when children demonstrate going 'above and beyond' by representing our school values, they can be 'In the Spotlight' on our class display. If they reach this, they will be given a special sticker. When they come home with this sticker, make sure to ask them why. 

Writing

During Term 1 we will develop our fine and gross motor skills to strengthen our hand and body muscles, supporting our writing. We are helping to support each child so they can effectively form the Phase 2 phonemes as we learn them. We will be developing our story telling and vocabulary through 'Story Dough' where we will let our imaginations develop and continue to build our muscle strength.

Our writing focus:

  • Develop and strengthen our fine and gross motor skills in preparation for writing / helping form letters correctly
  • Develop our pencil control and grip
  • Learn to recognise and write our own name
  • Begin to write captions, labels and simple words.

Reading and Phonics

We will be looking at books linked to our PSED overarching 'big questions'. We will also be enjoying our 'Fab 5' books. Each term we have five books that we read each week. On Monday we will read Alphabet Ice Cream, Tuesday is Lots of Dots, Wednesday is Bumblebear, Thursday is Solomon Crocodile and every Friday we will read The Day the Crayons Came Home. We will use these books to support our story dough sessions too! 

Through whole class book talk sessions, we focus on listening to stories, asking and answering questions and orally rehearsing to develop our vocabulary.

We will have daily phonic sessions as a whole class. We will begin by practising our oral blending and quickly move on to learning our Phase 2 phonemes and common exception words. Each week we will update you through Tapestry about which phonemes we are learning that week and ways you can support at home. 

Once children are secure in oral blending and start to read words, we will send them home with a phonetically decodable reading book which gets changed once a week. Please write in your child's Reading Record book and ensure it is in your child's book bag each day, so we can see the reading you and your child have done at home. Every day they read at home, it counts towards a read in our whole school 'Reading Bug' challenge. When they reach a multiple of 50 reads, they will go to see Mrs Carver and choose their own book that they can keep at home.

Children will choose a book from the school library during our PPA sessions on a Thursday. When they return their book the following week, they can swap it for a new one. This is a book for you to share with your child together, not one you should except them to be able to read on their own.

Your child will come home with a 'Wheatfield Phonics' booklet and a word list to practise their orally blending and reading words (when we have started teaching phonemes).

Supporting reading at home... 

  • Your child will be able to borrow 1 school Library book which will be changed on Thursday's 
  • Your child will receive a ‘Wheatfield Phonics’ booklet
  • Your child will receive 1 phonic book each week
    We will continue to work towards achieving 'reads' on our whole school ‘Catch the Reading Bug’ challenge. For every 50 reads your child will get to choose a brand new book to keep from Mrs Carver!

Maths

In Term 1 we will be covering the objectives of:

  • Learn to recognise, count and subitise (recognise and amount without counting) numbers 1, 2 and 3.
  • Seeing patterns, continuing and copying them.
  • Positional and directional language (in, on, under, down).

 

Complex repeating patterns

We teach maths through class inputs, adult led groups and reinforcing the objective and learning in our provision.

Your child will have received their Bronze rings 1 booklet, which will have our termly objectives in. In this booklet, we have written suggested games and activities to support these objectives at home.

Each term your child will receive a new maths planet booklet which includes the objectives we are teaching in class. To earn a certificate, please upload photos/videos to Tapestry of your child engaging with the suggested activities in the booklet. If you have any difficulty with this please come and see us so that we can support you. The booklets can be kept at home and do not need to be returned to school.

Bronze 1 (Term 1 booklet) = Certificate will be awarded at the end of term 

Bronze 2 (Term 2 booklet) = Bronze Badge will be awarded at the end of the term

Silver 1 (Term 3 booklet) = Certificate will be awarded at the end of term

Silver 2 (Term 4 booklet) = Silver Badge will be awarded at the end of term

Gold 1 (Term 5 booklet) = Certificate will be awarded at the end of term

Gold 2 (Term 6 booklet) = Certificate and badge will be awarded at the end of term  

Term 6 Wider Curriculum

 Throughout our entire curriculum for EYFS, we always centre the needs of the children as well as their interests as the focus of our learning for our wider curriculum.

At Wheatfield Primary School we are very fortunate to have such fantastic outdoor spaces including our amazing onsite forest ‘The Wild Wood’. Each week your child will take part in one whole class and one small group Wild Wood session. We think about and explore our four seasons and use our school grounds in all weathers, so it is essential your child has a waterproof coat and wellies in school every day. This term we will also create:

We will also be exploring…

  • Our 5 senses
  • Looking after our bodies, including self care
  • Seasonal changes and the weather
  • Day and night
  • Getting to know our new school environment and where things are

During Term 6 the children will develop their confidence in self-selecting by using the classroom resources. This may include junk modelling and using craft materials by using their imaginations to design, build and make creations. The children will be focusing on exploring digital media and printing within their art sessions.                                                  

We also learn many rhymes and songs from Poetry Basket Summer Booklet, as well as enjoying the many songs on the BBC Teach website. (Nursery Rhymes and Songs - A to Z - BBC Teach)

 

Home Learning

How can I help my child at home? 

Phonics/Reading

  • 1 x School Library book each alternate week (changed on Thursday's)
    Library books are provided to help children develop a 'love for reading'. The children are not expected to be able to read them themselves. 

  • 1 x Phonic book each week (changed on Friday's)

  • Phonic booklet
    Your child will be provided with a phonic booklet and will be given strips of words to read (called word lists and common exception words). Common exception word lists need to be read by sight. When your child can successfully and confidently read their words put your booklet into your child's class communication box located outside of the cloakroom.

  • Phase 2 sound booklets This is to complete at home with your child. These will be handed out once they have completed the in school section towards the end of the term.

 

The "Reading Bug" incentive - please write in your child's yellow reading record book each time you read with them.

We will acknowledge your child's reading at home and these reads will count towards earning a '50 reads certificate' and brand new book to keep from Mrs Carver.

Julia Donaldson 10 Book Collection Set The Gruffalo The Gruffalo's Child  The Snail and the Whale Room on the Broom What the Ladybird Heard The Troll  Tyrannosaurus Drip: Julia Donaldson: 9781529020618: Amazon.com:Gold Star Stamp | stamptastic-uk

Maths

We recommend practising practical maths skills in a fun and playful way, weaving it into every day life - maths is all around us!

  • Maths Planet booklet
    Your child will be receive a maths planet booklet which has guidance on how to support maths at home. Their booklet doesn't need to be returned to school, but we would love to see photos of your child practising their maths at home on Tapestry! We will give out certificates at the end of each term for children who have had a go at maths learning at home! 

How do we learn in Reception?

 Every day children will have carpet time sessions consisting of daily Phonic, Maths and 'Book talk' sessions.

We support children through adult led activities as well as through child led play and have
access to the outdoor environment all day. Every child is provided with a weekly adult led writing and maths group session as well as being given time to read 1-1 with an adult.

We also have regular outdoor learning sessions inspired by Forest School principles in our very own onsite
Wild Wood! Click here to find out more about Outdoor Learning at Wheatfield.

Our Classrooms

Our classrooms are designed to create a calm, nurturing and homely environment, which research suggests is the best environment for children to feel safe, learn and thrive in.

We have lots of natural and 'real' resources which encourage curiosity, discovery, awe and wonder through open ended experiences. 

Both Reception classrooms mirror one another with the same (or similar) resources purposefully planned to support children's learning and development. We have continuous provision organised within learning stations around the classroom (resources which are always available) as well as enhanced provision (new or additional resources) which are added in each week by targeting specific skills, with a focus always including early reading, writing and maths. 

We use our knowledge of children's interests and abilities to engage them in play and to
'continue their learning when an adult is not present' during child led choice time. This develops a wide range of skills such as consolidating their learning, developing their levels of independence and their resilience. 

 

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Reception Autumn Newsletter 2023

An overview of what we will be up to for the Autumn term in Reception!

See the source image

Tapestry

Smile! :-D – English-Language Thoughts


We use an online 'learning journal' known as Tapestry to track the achievements and interests of your child.

EYFS staff regularly update your child's journal and we strongly encourage families to upload their own contributions.

We often upload class notices and other important information regarding just Reception children on our Tapestry page.

Check your notification settings to ensure you receive all updates. If you do not have access to your account, please speak to a member of the Reception team.

Tapestry Classic – Apps on Google Play
Click the icon to log in or find out more

Communication box

Gratnells Jumbo Storage Tray - Yellow - G240064 | GLS Educational Supplies

We have a yellow communication box by our cloakroom doors each morning. Please put your child's letter and sound booklet/math planet booklet and any letters/notes.


There will always be one member of staff from the Reception Team on the cloakroom door each morning to greet your child, so if you have any queries they will be available to help and pass messages on.

 

Whole school notices including key dates and information will be published in the weekly
school newsletter.


(Click above for school newsletter)

What should my child bring to school?

Please label every item that belongs to your child including their school uniform.

You could use a permanent pen or buy personalised name labels from the internet which you can stick onto their belongings. 

 

P.E Kit 

Our P.E days will usually be on Fridays.

Please make sure that your child comes into school on a Friday wearing their school P.E kit.

*We will be starting PE once the children are all in full time*

Please provide a spare change of clothes in case they get muddy/have an accident 

(Spare clothes: this should be keeping with the school colours - a top, bottoms, underwear and socks)