Happy Christmas

Hello everyone,

Well, we have completed one term of the reception year. A BIG thank you to all parents & Grandparents for the help and support they have given us this term. It has been fantastic to work with you so far and I am looking forward to the rest of the year. Most of all, a massive well done to all the children! They have been fantastic to teach and are a wonderful mix that ensures we are always kept on our toes. I have to remind myself that they have only been in school since September, because how much they have learnt and matured has been remarkable. Congratulations to all of those who won awards and certificates yesterday in the awards assembly. The team and I would also like to say thank you for all the gifts that were received yesterday - we'll probably still be eating chocolates in March!

Mr. Farrington had his last day yesterday and we all wish him a very happy retirement. From January, in reception, we will continue to have Mrs. Emerton and Mrs. Gardner in the classroom. So if you have any questions please feel free to ask them as well. 

Once again, thank you for your support. Have a lovely Christmas and enjoy your well deserved break. I eagerly look forward to seeing you all again in the new year - after a few hundred chocolates.

Merry Christmas - Reception team

Christmas jumpers on last day...

It has come to our attention that tomorrow is causing some confusion as to whether children can wear jumpers or not. We are aware that tomorrow is a National charity day which highlights the wear of jumpers in support. We have chosen due to our three big fund raisers this term not to ask you to support this charity. We are also aware of many parents and children who wish to wear a jumper tomorrow and have been asking the class teams.

So, the simple is yes, jumpers can be worn, but we will not be collecting for charity. If you do wish to donate, then please use the website link highlighted in the press.

We apologise for the lateness and confusion, this event seems to have grown since last year, we will therefore be clearer next year with plenty of time to plan accordingly.

Also -Games are also allowed on the last day of term, named please and nothing expensive in case bits are lost!

Merry Christmas!

Mrs Mewett (Deputy Head)

Reminder for tomorrow & Friday

Hi all,

Just a very quick reminder that tomorrow is our class party in the afternoon and children can bring in their favourite toy or teddy for the day. Also, on Friday children are welcome to come to school in a Christmas jumper with their uniform. There is no donation required for this and it is optional. We do have some spare things to wear at school if you do not have a Christmas jumper. 
We hope you enjoyed receiving the Christmas tree decorations that the children brought home tonight. There will be more things coming home in the next couple of days.

Reception team

1 down, 2 to go!

Hi all,

Really big well done today for all the children! They were fantastic in the Christmas play. We have two more shows to do but if they are like today, they will be brilliant - even if they're not like today's they'll be brilliant!

Tomorrow when you come in the costumes will be on the tables to get changed into straight away. Thank you for all the help that has been given by parents and grandparents with helping children to get changed.

We have had a few bits in for the class party lunch on Thursday so if you would like to bring savory foods in tomorrow please feel free to do so. 

Finally, tomorrow we will begin sending children home with some bits and pieces for the end of the term! 

Reception team

DT competition results!

We had excellent DT entries brought into school on Friday for the DT Christmas competition. A particularly good amount of entries from the Reception class and Year 1 class, so well done to these two classes.

All entries were super, lots of thoughts had been placed into designs, clearly child participation in all entries and all were able to attach to the Christmas tree and look eye catching.

What was also pleasing to see was the good sportsmanship from all children, never mind if they ‘won’, it was super to see such kind hearts and congratulations being given to the winner with handshakes and pats on backs!

Each class had a winner:

Reception: Philippa Hoskin

Yr 1: Thomas Grant

Yr 2: Odette Mistry-Dyer

Yr 3: Millie Goldstone

Yr 4: Alex Mistry-Dyer

 

Well done to everyone and their family helpers for participating in the competition. These are now on display in the foyer area near the ‘big’ tree.

Friday 18th December

POW Carols – everyone welcome, come along and join us singing with the children carols to end our term, to begin in hall from 2.45pm.

Musicians – please dust off those old instruments you may have once played (like myself) and come on in and join the parents/ community group, we gather around the piano and offer our sounds to compliment (?!) the pianist and the school singing. We have simple music to follow; sight reading is an easy level. The children love seeing the adults who turn up and show off an instrument! Any qus, please pop by the office and come and see me.

Mrs Mewett

Teddies for Thursday...

Hi all,

On Thursday afternoon we will be having our Christmas party. We discussed what we could do with the children and one idea that came up was bringing in a teddy for the day. So on Thursday, if you would like to, you can bring in your favourite teddy! For the last part of the afternoon we will be turning our classroom into a small cinema with a film and extra treats! I will certainly be bringing in my teddy!

Reception team 

The Last Week!

Hello everyone,

Whilst the last week of this term is usually fun, it is also very busy, with lots of things happening pretty much every day. Below I've put a small break down of what will be happening. As always, if you have any questions please come and see us. Thank you to everyone for bringing in your red t-shirts and Santa hats.

Monday - Dorset Echo will be coming in to take a class picture with us all dressed up. We will also be having our final rehearsal for our play and watching what the years 3 & 4 have been up to. 

Tuesday - The first performance of the play. For the rest of the day we will be getting creative with Christmas activities.

Wednesday - The same as Tuesday. This is also the day of Christmas lunch over at hot dinners.

Thursday - The last performance of the play. In the afternoon we will be having a class party. This begins with lunch being in the classroom. The sheet for food to bring in is still up outside the classroom if you haven't already added your name to something. Anything will be appreciated. After lunch we will be playing lots of games and we'll join years 1 & 2 for a bit of a dance in the hall. We'll also be watching a film on Thursday where you can bring in a teddy to school to snuggle with. There might even be popcorn.... who knows!?

Friday - Last day of term. We will be enjoying the final day with more games and activities as well as finishing everything off. At 3.00pm we will be going in to the hall to take part in the annual carol singing. Parents are welcome to come to this from 3.00pm. Please note that children will have to stay in school until 3.30pm this day. 

Throughout the week children will be coming home with different bits and pieces too. Art work will come home as well as PE kits for a wash. Finally, we will be changing the group reading books one final time but in a slightly more informal manner. 

The end - phew.

Reception team

Technology day tomorrow

Hello everyone,

Tomorrow is reception's first Christmas Technology Day. They will have the opportunity to visit lots of different teachers and classrooms throughout the day and will get to make something different in each one. They will be bringing all of their creations home at the end of the day in a bag for you to have a look at. 

Just a reminder that the Christmas performances are next Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at 10.10am for you all to attend. If you haven't already done so, you can book your tickets through the school office. They are free! The tickets are just to ensure everybody doesn't turn up on the same day as we have limited space. Thank you.

Reception team

Sounds this week

Hello everyone,

We are working our way through the last few sounds before Christmas. We may still have some left to do after we return due to the busy timetable. This week's sounds are listed below:

• 'ar' as in hard - Tilt head back as if you are at the dentist and say 'aaahhhhhh'.
• 'or' as in fork - Same as 'ee' sound - place hands above your head, like ears, and say 'eeyore, eeyore'. 
• 'oo' as in book - this is the first instance where one written sound can look the same as another. this 'oo' is referred to as the short vowel sound. The action is the same as for the long vowel sound (as in 'moon') - extending your neck, pretending to be a cuckoo from a cuckoo clock.

Finally, thank you for the brilliant caliber of work that is coming in from home! It is fantastic to see it all and observe how proud children are of their accomplishments.

Reception team

Christmas Class Party!

Hi all,

Next week we will be having a class party on the Thursday afternoon! The children today finished filling up the stone jar in the classroom - which is a whole class reward system. Once to the top, the children get a special treat. So there will be some extra surprises for next Thursday. It was discussed with the children as to what they would like, so we will act upon the ideas we received. 

From tomorrow you will notice a sheet stuck up outside the reception classroom door. this is for food on the Thursday. Instead of hot dinners children are invited to join in with a party meal in the classroom where we all eat together - staff included. It would be very kind if everyone could provide just one thing each for the class to share. You are welcome to bring in anything - the list put up is not exhaustive. Please note that all hot dinners will be canceled unless expressly ordered. Please come and see us if you would like to have a hot dinner as usual - they will still be available. 

We will then be playing games, dancing and joining in with years 1 & 2 for some fun and games, in the school hall, at the end of the day. If anyone has any questions, please don't hesitate to ask!

Reception team

This weeks news!

Hello everyone,

The weeks are flying by and we now only have 2 weeks let before we break up for Christmas. This week we will be joining years 1 & 2 to practise the Christmas play as well as our own part. Thank you to everyone who has brought a red t-shirt and Christmas hat in so far! Please do not panic though - the first show is not until Tuesday 15th!

Other then that we will be squeezing in the last few phonics and maths lessons. In maths this week we are going to be looking at time and counting in 2's. We will not be teaching children how to tell the time using a clock yet but more the language associated with the passing of time; later, before, soon, earlier, after, evening, minutes, seconds, hours etc. As well as this we will be practising the days of the week and months of the year. 

On Friday all the reception children will take part in their first technology day! This is where they go and participate in lots of different making activities all over the school, They will be bringing their work home on the Friday. If anyone is available to volunteer to help on Friday with the reception classroom job please come and let us know! It is a very busy day. 

Lastly, we are in the process of copying the Gruffalo video that we made for our class assembly on to discs. These will be sent home by the time we break up for Christmas for you all to watch.

Reception team

Non-school uniform tomorrow

Hello everyone,

Just a very quick message about the non-school uniform day tomorrow. You are welcome to come to school in non-school uniform if you bring in a donation towards the Christmas Fair. This can be a bottle of something or a tin of food. You are also welcome to come in to school from 3.00pm to take your child to the Christmas fair. We would be very grateful if you could sign a register to say that you have taken your child. Thank you very much! 

Reception team

Phonics session in the hall tomorrow

Hello everyone,

Just a quick message to remind everyone about the phonics session that is taking place in the hall after school tomorrow (Thursday). Please feel free to head straight through to the hall at pick up time. If you haven't handed in your permission slip you are still more than welcome to come! The more the merrier! All reception children can stay with the after school club until the session is finished. This will be in the reception classroom just for tomorrow. 

Reception team

Can we have your help please?!

Hello everyone,

We are busy beginning work on our Christmas show at school. Every year it is tradition for reception to dress up as something and do a little something during the show. This year we would like to dress the children up as Father Christmas'. With this we need your help: if you have a red t-shirt at home could you please bring it into school for us to use. We will stick a father Christmas belt on it for the performance to add to the authenticity. If you don't have a plain red t-shirt, one with a pattern on will be great; we'll just turn it inside out. Additionally, if you could provide a Christmas hat for your child that would be fantastic. I hear there are some available from a well-known discount retailer in town. If we could have these by next Friday (11th) at the latest that would be very helpful.

Thank you for your help, it is much appreciated. 

Reception team

Ho Ho Ho! Christmas is here!

Hi all,

Today we started our latest topic about Christmas! This will take us up to the end of the term and is an incredibly busy time of year for everyone. Over the next three weeks we'll be making Christmas decorations, Christmas cards, Calendars, taking part in our first technology day, rehearsing for Christmas performances and having parties and carols! More information will follow on each of the above. Naturally, there will be less time devoted to other subjects like reading, writing and maths. However, we will continue to change your child's reading book every week.

This week we have begun our Christmas topic by having another very successful joint day with Pre-school. We had a bit of a Christmas tree theme with the art jobs that we did. Children will be coming home with one of these at some point in the week and the other will be on display for you to see! Also this week we will be making our Christmas tree decoration - a picture can be seen below. In literacy we will be having a go at making Christmas lists and writing cards and in maths we are having a look at 3D shapes. These include: cube, cuboid, pyramid, cone, cylinder and sphere - so if you happen to see any of these out and about or at home, please point them out to your child!  

Reception team

Sounds being covered this week

Hi all,

The sounds we are covering this week are below. Te reception children are doing really well to take in all of these new sounds, as they are getting tricky. 

'th' - as in thing - stick your tongue out and point at it saying 'ttthhhhhh'.

'ng' - as in strong - hold your arms out and pretend to life a heavy weight saying 'ng, ng, ng'

'ai' - as in rain - cup your hand over your ear and act as if you didn't quite hear something saying 'ai, ai, ai'.

'ee' - as in green - put your hands above your head like donkey's ears saying 'eeyore, eeyore, eeyore'. 

Some of the books coming home from group reading will contain some of these new sounds next week.

Reception team

Sad news!

Hello everyone,

Just a quick message to confirm some sad news. As many of you are already aware, Mrs. Collis will be leaving the Prince of Wales school at the end of this week. She will be sorely missed in the reception team and the school as a whole. She has been at the school for many years and is leaving to embark on a new chapter of her life. We wish her the best of luck with this. From next Monday we will have two new adults in the classroom: Mrs. Emerton and Mrs. Gardner. They will be helping us until the Christmas Holidays. 

Reception team

What's going on this week...

Hello everyone,

This week we are continuing with our Hungry Caterpillar topic! You will notice a new display going up along the back wall of the classroom with all the different things that we have been up to. This will continue to be added to this week. 

In literacy we are going to be learning about information (non-fiction) books and how these are different from story (fiction) books. We are beginning to focus more on cursive writing as the weeks go by. This may look a bit messy to begin with but please persevere as it will get there in the end! We practice writing in phonics, group reading and literacy but any practise at home would be great too. It has been lovely to see all the home learning coming in with writing on so thank you! 

In maths we're leaning about length this week. We will be using non-standard measures; so measuring something using hands, shoes or paper clips. The language of cm and m will be covered, but later on in the year. We'll also be making pom-pom caterpillars which can be seen above. 

Finally, on Tuesday we are having a whole-school 'Switch Off' day. All essential things will be on but lights, computers, printers etc will not be used for the day to encourage children to think about saving energy. 

Reception team

Sounds this week & Phonics Workshop

Hello everyone,

We are starting to cover some of the more tricky sounds now in class. These take a little longer for children to consolidate but lots of practise and seeing the sounds in different contexts and places will help greatly. 
A letter will be coming home this Friday about an upcoming workshop concerning phonics. This will be held in school on Thursday 3rd December after school. Children will be able to access the after school club for free whilst you're at this session. More details will be on the letter but it is an opportunity for you to see what we will be teaching your child in school and how we teach the beginnings of reading. 

Anyway, the sounds we are doing this week are listed below.

'z' & 'zz' - as in buzz - Hold your hands out to the side and flap your hands like a bumble bee saying 'zzzzzzzzzzz'

'qu' - as in quack - make your hands into a beak and place over your mouth saying 'qu, qu, qu'

'sh' - as in shop - put your finger to your lips and say 'ssshhhh'

'ch' - as in chip - move your arms at your side like a train saying 'ch, ch, ch'

Finally, you should have an updated sound pot. If you don't have any new sounds please come and see us and we'll make sure you get all the sounds you need. Please use these to revise the sounds, make words (nonsense too) and play games. 

Reception team

The VERY Hungry Caterpillar

Hello everyone,

Today we started our new topic - surrounding the book by Eric Carle: 'The Very Hungry Caterpillar'. We read through the story today, which a large number of children already knew. Over this week and next week we'll be doing a number of different activities based on the story. This week we will be retelling the story, using the days of the week and creating some labels to go alongside our fruit paintings being done in school. As well as this we will be creating a large collage caterpillar to go up on display - you may notice the beginning of this in the classroom already. In maths this week we are focusing on matching the correct numeral to a group of objects and counting objects that cannot be moved. Below I've put some possible home learning ideas for you to have a go at. As always, any home learning is fantastic and we love to see anything that is done at home. 

• Research a caterpillar/butterfly life cycle and draw each stage in a big circle.
• Look at symmetry with butterflies, do some painting by painting half a picture and then pressing it down on to the the side. 
• Do some fruit printing. 
• Make a list of all the food the Hungry Caterpillar eats in the story.
• Write down your own list of what you would eat everyday if you could.
• Try eating some of the foods in the story - especially if you haven't before.
• Using pictures of a caterpillar and butterfly, write down some similarities and differences. 

Sounds from last week

Hi all,

Just remembered that I hadn't put the sounds up from last week. We will be moving on to two letter sounds from next week. This is where it can become more tricky and take longer for children to recognise each sound. 

'j' - as in jam - Pretend to wobble on a plate and say j, j, j.

'v' - as in van - Pretend to be holding the steering wheel of a van and say vvvvvv.

'w' - as in wind - Blow on to open hand, as if you are the wind, and say wh, wh, wh.

'x' - as in box - pretend to take a photo of someone, clicking down and saying ks, ks, ks.

We are in the process of giving all the children new sounds in their sound pots so please make sure they are in their book bags this week. 

Reception team

Afternoon tea tomorrow afternoon!

Hi all,

We had a very successful joint morning this morning with pre-school. Some children went over to pre-school whilst others remained in the classroom. It is amazing to see how far the reception children have already come in such a short space of time and how they conducted themselves was a credit to them!

Just a quick reminder that tomorrow afternoon you are welcome to come in to school from 3.00pm to enjoy a scone that we have been busily making this week! The picture above doesn't do it justice.You will be able to enter the classroom via the gate that is normally used. Look forward to seeing you! 

Reception team

British week - update

Hello everyone,

Firstly, reception did very well today with their individual photos. Lots of lovely smiles. All children should receive an ordering form soon, for you to choose what you would like. Once ordered, the photos should be with you soon after. 

We are chugging along nicely with our British week. We have read 'The Queen's Hat' and had a guided tour of some of London's landmarks. There was lots of knowledge that children already had! Tomorrow we will be having a joint morning with Pre-school. We will do a few of these throughout the year as it helps reception children with expectations and responsibilities as well as being a good introduction to school for Pre-school children. Tomorrow we are going to be making Union Jacks, London skyline pictures and looking at London Underground.

On Thursday afternoon, parents & Grandparents are invited to come in to school early for an afternoon tea! We have been making scones this week for you to try with some clotted cream & Jam! Look forward to seeing you all.

Reception team

British Week

Hello everyone,

This coming week reception will be taking part in a whole school themed week surrounding Britishness! We've got lots of things lined up in another very busy week. We're going to be taking inspiration from 'The Queen''s Hat' by Steve Antony - a story about the Queen losing her hat and chasing it all across London. We'll be looking at landmarks like Big Ben and The London Eye as well as London Underground and the Royal Family. 

On Thursday afternoon - from about 3.00pm - we'll be inviting parents into school to early to take part in activities/celebrations. For reception this will take the form of a quintessentially British afternoon cream tea. We'll be making scones during the week for you to come and try. There will also be a chance to see some of the work we will have created over the week and listen to some classic British music. 

As well as all of this we have our first joint morning with Pre-school. You may remember your child taking part in several last year - as a pre-school child. This will be on Wednesday so if anyone would like to come in and help for the morning, we would be very grateful! 

Finally, as if that is not enough, we will be continuing going through the next set of sounds in our phonics! 

We'll keep you updated with what happens as the week goes on. 

Reception team

A big well done!

Hello everyone,

Wow! What a fantastic effort everyone in reception showed today for their first assembly! It was brilliant to see so many confident children and as a team, we are very proud! Thank you to all those that came along to watch, I understand there was some confusion about the assembly being on so apologies for that. Thank you for any help at home learning lines etc too. The video that was shown in today's assembly will be available for you to have on disk soon - if you would like a copy. Once again, really big well done! You have all certainly earned you weekend break! 

Reception team

Children in Need 2015

Children in Need is fast approaching. You should have all received a letter today explaining about Friday (13th).

 

The Children's Voice will be selling Children in Need merchandise from Monday in the area outside Year 1.

 

On Friday our dress up theme is 'Britishness'  (maybe they could dress up in the colours of our flag or famous British person)

 

Just like the country file team all children and staff at The Prince of Wales School will be partaking in a 1 mile ramble around our school grounds.

 

After school on Friday we will be having a cake sale. We would love to have lots of cakes (whole and cupcakes) and biscuits to sell. Please give all the cakes to your class teacher to store in the morning.

Harvest fundraising

Harvest fundraising.

 

To let you all know that a super amount of £350 pounds has been raised! This will be sent to UNICEF to buy water kits as the children requested.

Many, many thanks to everyone for the generosity towards such a needy cause.

Assembly this Friday

Hello everyone,

I hope you've all had a really good week off to recharge the batteries and enjoy yourselves. We are back tomorrow and will be delving straight in to our shortest topic of the year - Bonfire & Remembrance! It will only last this week. Next week we will be taking part in a whole school themed week: 'British week'. More information to follow. 

Just to remind everyone that the Reception class' first assembly is this Friday at 9.20am. We'll be showing you some of the things we have been up to during the first half-term. You are welcome to head straight through to the hall once you have dropped off. We will be giving all children an assembly line to learn and although we will practise in school any help at home would be greatly appreciated. They will hopefully be in book bags tomorrow evening.

Look forward to seeing you all tomorrow!

Reception team

Home learning for half-term week...

Hello everyone! 

Reception have completed their first half-term in school and have really settled in to the routine of the day and the expectations that we have in school. Big well done! Please take the time to recharge the batteries over the week ready for the busy Christmas half-term. However, if you get a chance to do any home learning that would be great! Any practise with the group reading books/sound pots would be fantastic but there is also a list of possible ideas below. As always, these are not compulsory and are optional activities. We're always interested to see any work that is done at home so please continue to bring it in. Thank you to all parents/grandparents for the first half-term too - you have been very supportive. 

• Create a firework picture using crayons or paint. Using straws to blow paint around the page is fun. Alternatively, use painted hands. 
• Talk about keeping safe with fire and make a poster - we will be covering this in school when we return. 
• Make leaf faces (see picture above).
• See if you can find all the things on this Autumn checklist out and about:

1. Conker
2. Yellow leaf, 
3. Brown leaf
4. Red leaf
5. Pine cone
6. Berry
7. Squirrel
8. Bare tree

• Find out about Guy Fawkes.
• See how many 2D shapes you can see in your home; square, triangles etc.
• Talk about the picture below - we will be using this picture and others in school when we come back in inspire us in a 'Big Write'! 

Have a great half-term!

Reception team

Award assembly today. 22.10.15

Today we had our first of the year ‘Award assembly’. This is the assembly when we ask teachers and their teams to select children who they think have worked particularly hard during this first part of the year in subject areas; writing, reading, maths, ICT, Creative arts, PE and displaying our Citizenship qualities.  Some awards have a certificate and a trophy to keep for half a term! You may have found one of these when you got home!

For our Reception parents; the awards can stay at home with your child until we send a letter inviting it back in for our next ‘Award assembly’.

Happy half term everyone, we will see you all back on Tuesday 3^rd November!

Learning Journeys

Hi all,

This Thursday we will be sending children home with their old learning journeys - from Pre-school. These are for you to keep and share with children how you see fit. The learning journeys that we are currently using will be sent home at the beginning of next year (year 1). However, you are more than welcome to see your child's learning journey at any time - just come and ask and we'll get it out for you. We do have some mornings where we have them out on the tables instead of doing teddy jobs. 

Reception team

A visit from DMS year 5's

Hello everyone,

We were lucky enough to be visited by some DMS year 5 students today! They came down to read the reception children the stories that they had been working on in school. They were centered around extraordinary reasons why you haven't got your homework. Super listening and concentration all round from reception. It was a great opportunity for them to see the direction they are heading in! 

In other news, this week we will be looking at The Gruffalo's Child story and thinking about making up our own alternative ending! In maths we are learning about patterns; seeing them as well as creating them. 

I will put up a blog with some home learning ideas for the half-term week based on what we will be covering when we come back! 

Just a quick reminder that this is the last week in school before half-term and children are not required in school on Friday (23rd)! 

Reception team

Book Fair

The Prince of Wales Book Fair started today. Every year we have a selection of books delivered to the school for you to have a look at potentially buy! Please go along to the hall after school to have a look at the books for sale, there are some exciting reads to be had and maybe even some ideas for Christmas!  The more books sold, the more we raise for POWSA! The class will make a visit to the Book Fair in school time so they can have a look at what is available! 

Reception team

Sounds, glorious sounds...

Hi all,

I apologise for not placing the sounds that we covered last week on to a blog so I've listed the last two weeks of sounds below. We will be consolidating all the learnt sounds next week before beginning the next phase after half-term.

'f' - as in flat - Let hands gently come together as if a tyre was deflating and say f f f f f f.

'l' - as in late - Pretend to lick a lollipop and say l l l l l l.

'b' - as in bat - Pretend to hit a ball with a bat and say b, b, b.

'h' - as in hat - Hold hand in front of mouth panting as if you are out of breath and say h, h, h

Reception team

Our trip to Thorncombe woods...

Hi all,

Reception had their second trip in a week today with their visit to Thorncombe woods. Good news! We found the Gruffalo! All the children had 3 activities to join in with including a seek and find activity, a collecting activity and a den making activity. We then had to follow some clues to find the Gruffalo - very enthusiastically done. Finally, we had a hot chocolate and a biscuit to finish off the trip. The children were well behaved and were certainly quite tired this afternoon. Big Thank you to all the adults that came and helped today, always lovely to have extra pairs of hands available.

For the rest of the week we will be making symmetrical butterflies using a paint and print technique. In maths we'll be looking at 2D shapes; more specifically - square, circle, triangle, rectangle. If you see any of these shapes out and about that children recognise we would love to hear about it! We've also introduced children to the vocabulary of side and corner for shapes! 

We have almost finished all the phase 2 sounds in phonics and sound pots will be updated to reflect this soon. Great to see so many children coming in and telling us about how they are reading their group reading book at home. We are still trying to find the correct level of book for each child so the books may change in content as the weeks go on. 

Reception team

Thorncombe woods tomorrow

Hi all,

Just a quick message to remind you all that tomorrow is our trip to Thorncombe Woods. Children will need to wear play trousers and their school top (just like the farm) and bring a coat as it can be quite chilly being outside all morning. 

Another quick note to say that the appointments list for parents evening is up outside the classroom door. These are for the 3rd/4th November. If any of these times are unachievable for you then please come and chat with us and we will arrange another time. 

Reception team

Bake off winners!

Hello everyone,

Firstly, I apologise for not putting the photos from our trip to the farm up on the board this morning! I'll remember to do it on Monday (hopefully). 

A massive well done to all the reception children for a very successful Harvest assembly this morning! They did their own song very well and were brilliant in the joint song too. Thank you to everyone that came along this morning. After break we also had the judging for our 'Masterpiece' piece of baking that was done in school. We were lucky enough to be visited by Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood - sort of! After much deliberation, the reception entry won! We were rewarded with a gold star that we have displayed in the classroom. There is a picture of our entry below. Lastly, thank you for all the lovely bread that has been brought in this week - lovely to try all the different styles! We will give out all the tubs/trays on Monday.

Have a lovely weekend,

Reception team

Maiden Castle Farm!

Hi all,

Reception went on their first trip to Maiden Castle Farm today. Thank you all for sending children in with their wellies - it was quite muddy. They did very well to walk up there and back. We found out how a farm works at Harvest time; gathering crops and preparing for the winter months. See if your child can remember the two types of seed we were shown! Hint: one is used to make cereal and the other a juice drink! We got to see sheep being herded in as well as the cows in their sheds. We will put some pictures up on the whiteboard tomorrow for you to see. 

Final reminder that tomorrow morning is the Harvest assembly. You are more than welcome to head straight through in to the hall after drop to grab a seat. Then, in the afternoon, there will be the Harvest cafe from 2.30-3.30pm. You are invited to come in to school from 2.30pm to collect your child and head in to the hall to buy cake and tea/coffee. 

Reception team

Group reading books

Hello everyone,

Please don't forget that we have our farm trip this Thursday. Children will need to come in to school wearing play trousers and their school top. You can arrive wearing wellies or shoes but please make sure you place the one that you are not wearing into a bag and place it on your peg. We will let you know as early as possible if the trip will be cancelled due to weather.

This week we have begun our group reading sessions! By the end of the week all the children will have their first book. Some children will have books that reinforce learnt sounds, others will have short stories and some will contain no text but will be useful for having a discussion. Everyone will have 2 group reading sessions a week at school but any extra practise at home will be fantastic. Please can you put your group reading book into your book bag and pop it into your tray - thank you.

Reception team 

This Friday - Harvest

Hi all,

Thank you for the lovely bread we have had in today! We had a try with some of the soup that we made last week - it went down very well. 

This Friday will be the reception children's first Harvest experience at school. For the last week we have been busy making things ready for the special assembly and Harvest Cafe that will take place. At 9.20am on Friday Reception, year 1 and year 2 will be putting on a special assembly that you are invited to come to. We will be singing our own song as well as a collective one with years 1 & 2. 

From 2.30pm onwards there will be a Harvest Cafe taking place in the hall. You are invited to come in early that day and collect your children to take them to the cafe. There will be the food available that has been created by children throughout the school. There is also teas and coffees available. The cafe does continue after half 3 so please do not worry if you cannot make it to school any earlier than usual. 

Reception team

Sound pots

Hi all,

Today all the children will have come home with their sound pots. These are named but are to be used at home. Initially we have put in the first set of sounds that we have covered - s, a, t, p, i, n. We will be adding more sounds as we press on with them and the children become familiar with them. We will not send sounds home that have not been covered in school. Below I've put some potential uses for them - but please feel free to use them how you see fit. 

• Practise individual sounds by showing them one at a time or asking children to pass you certain sounds.
• Begin to make words with the sounds that you have got - sit, sat, pin, pat etc. 
• Hide the sounds around the house and see how quickly children can find them. 
• Practice writing them at home - we have looked at the cursive style of writing for all the sounds we have sent home. If you have any questions about cursive writing please come and ask. 
• See if you can spot certain sounds elsewhere around the house - newspapers, food labels etc. 

Please let us know if you've done some work with the sounds by sending in a Wow! Moment or other home learning. Finally, we will begin sending home group reading books next week. These are kept by your children for a week and are changed in school. For this reason please could we ask that all children come to school with a book bag and place it in their tray. This helps maintain the books as well as give children ownership over the book. Have a lovely weekend! 

Reception team