Reception - Summer Term
Topic
This first half term we will be learning all about imaginary superheros using the great text of Supertato to enthuse and inspire us in their writing and free play. This kicks off with our Superhero day for the return to school!
We will start to look at the Healthy Me aspect of our PSHE learning to tie in with the whole school Health Week later in the term (and superheros’ need to stay healthy to rescue others!). In RE we will talk about what we can learn from stories and special places.
After half term. we will discuss people who help us in our lives and as well as external visitors, we would love parents to be able to spare 15-20 minutes to talk about their jobs. We will also be following the wonderful, On Sudden Hill by Linda Sarah, to help develop our imaginative minds and collaborative thinking.
We have also started working explicitly on handwriting every week – ensuring all children are starting and ending letters in the correct place (using the RWI rhymes), sitting on the line, with ascenders and descenders (those tall and dangly letters) are correctly placed.
Finding any opportunities for writing at home remains a real-world opportunity: writing the shopping list; what to pack for a weekend away; birthday cards and messages to family members.
Reading
Your children have really started to embrace their reading and we have been really impressed by their progress. Many will be in their new phonics groups for this term so please do continue to encourage their reading at home – reading their book / ditty sheet on multiple occasions each week to increase fluency.
We will continue to read stories to the children every day, to develop a reading for pleasure culture – but we have also been enjoying Year 1 and Year 6 reading to us last term which has really made the children realise where their reading journey is going. We will also be celebrating reading with the whole school in week of 22nd May with an author visit, activities with Year 6 and we would also like to invite parents to a ‘Read a story’ session at 8.45 – 9.15am on Tuesday 23rd May. This will be a chance for you to share a book you love with your child / a small group of children all together in the classroom.
Maths
This term we will finish looking at composition of numbers to 10 – with addition and subtraction facts as the key focus. We really want to work on rapid fluency in knowing number facts for each of the numbers 5-10. We will also be looking at double facts, sharing (early division)
Continuing to play board games at home is a fantastic way to build numeracy skills and jigsaws are a fantastic special awareness tool. Looking out for number patterns when walking and cycling around – spotting 4 cars because there are 2 red and 2 blue or 5 birds because 3 are on the pond, 2 are not – are all great ways to help your child’s fluency.
PE – physical
We will be working on games using teamwork, score keeping, tagging and ball games across the Summer Terms. We will also look forward to our Sports Day during Health Week which all family members are invited to.
The children also have the opportunity to continue Forest School with Sue Carpenter this term which builds gross and fine motor skills as well as our appreciation and understanding of the outside world. This will take place every Friday, starting this week (for one class in the morning and the other in the afternoon). Please ensure your child has waterproof trousers and coat for these sessions.
The children will continue to work on fine motor skills, particularly with handwriting development over the term (see above).
Understanding the World
Each week we continue to cover PSHE and RE topics including Healthy Me & Relationships in PSHE and In RE we will talk about what we can learn from stories and special places.
We will be looking at different roles in society through the people who help us, and considering the differences between some of those roles in the past and today (in particular for emergency services and schooling).
We will also be looking at the King’s coronation in May and discussing its historic relevance and impact on our country. This also sits alongside our regular Picture News discussions we have every week – looking at current events in the news and considering our own views on the subjects.
Visits and visitors
In the second half term, we will be looking forward to a trip to Pitville park and surrounding areas. We hope to develop natural art, based on work from Sudden Hill, and enjoy some art and sport activities as well. We will be in touch regarding parents who may be able to accompany us nearer the time.
The children will also start preparing for their move to Year 1. In July, the children will be taught by the current Reception team but in their newly mixed Year 1 class groupings. The children will continue to play together; we are confident they will adapt to their new classes with ease.
The children will also get time to spend with their new Year 1 teacher ready for their transition to KS1 in September.
As ever, please do get in touch if you have any questions regarding your child’s learning so we can work together to ensure your child is thriving.
Many thanks
Reception Team