A Busy Week in Reception: Transport, Exploration, and Outdoor Learning

Dear Reception Friends and Families, 

What a wonderful week we’ve had in Reception, continuing our exciting journey through the world of transport!

In writing this week, the children have been inspired by the delightful story Penguin’s Egg by Anna Kemp. We have been exploring the story, discussing characters and events, and writing about our own penguin and what transport they would use to help find their missing egg!

In maths, we have been focusing on parts and wholes of numbers. The children have loved exploring how numbers can be broken into smaller parts that make up the whole. We started by looking at objects and toys that can be pulled into parts that can be put back together to make a whole, then moved on to the idea of parts of images that make a whole. Finally on to numbers and representing these number with cubes.

Our topic work has been particularly lively this week: 

On Monday, we looked at road maps and worked together to create a whole-class city on large pieces of roll-out paper. The children designed roads, buildings, and spaces for our toy cars to drive around—our city is really coming to life!

On Tuesday, we continued our DT unit, exploring floating and sinking in preparation for making our own boats next week. The children loved predicting which objects would float and which would sink, and had lots of fun experimenting in the water.

At Forest Schools, the children explored their creativity and problem-solving skills by choosing a mystery insect and using a cupcake case to create a bug home or habitat. They collected natural materials independently and designed little homes for their insects, showing great imagination and care for the creatures in our outdoor environment.

On Friday, we linked our transport topic to road safety, practising crossing the road safely outside the school gates. The children remembered to Stop, Look, and Listen, demonstrating how well they can apply their learning in real life.

In RE, we have been exploring the Nativity/Christmas story. Using a virtual audio experience, the children listened carefully to the story and acted out their parts, bringing the events to life with energy and enthusiasm. We discussed the characters, such as Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, and the angels, and talked about the importance of kindness, sharing, and celebrating with others. The children also reflected on the meaning of the story and shared their own thoughts about giving, caring, and the excitement of the festive season. It was wonderful to see them connecting the story to their own experiences and expressing their understanding through both discussion and role-play.

During Adventure Time, the children continued to enjoy their Independent Continuous Provision activities. They engaged enthusiastically in a variety of hands-on learning experiences, from building and role-play to creative art and construction. This time allows them to explore their own interests, practise key skills, and collaborate with their friends, all while developing independence and confidence in their learning.

Notes for this week:

• Tomorrow, Reception are going on a class trip to Poole Lighthouse to watch Little Robin Red Vest. We’re so excited for this adventure!

Do feel free to share this social story with your child tonight in proportion for this trip:

Trip to Poole Lighthouse

• On Friday, we will be busy with craft activities. We are on the lookout for recycled egg boxes and toilet roll tubes to support our creativity—any donations would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you for your continued support. We’re looking forward to another week of fun and learning with our Reception explorers!

Warm regards,

Miss Godden and the Reception Team