Monday 14th September

We really enjoyed meeting all of our new Reception children last week and are looking forward to lots of fun and learning with them this academic year. They are all enjoying exploring their new environment and we are focusing on lots of activities to support their social and emotional well-being.

Parents/Carers thank you so much for working with us and your patience particularly at the beginning and end of the day while we are getting used to all of your new faces. If you would like to speak to class teachers about any issues please contact school and we will respond to you as quickly as we can.

Welcome to Reception FS2!

So here it is the time has come,

To leave the little ones, that you love.

Please don't worry we will be here,

To show we care and wipe away the tears.

We will teach them lots and help them grow,

They will come home and show you what they know.

I know it's hard but don't be sad,

It really won't be that bad...

Because now you can leave your trust in me,

And go and enjoy a nice hot cup of tea!

The Foundation Stage Team

Meet the Team!

Staffing for FS2

RGD:

Mrs Day/Mrs Gould Class Teacher

Miss White LSA

RA:

Miss Saghir  Class Teacher

Mrs Jones LSP

RS:

Miss Supple  Class Teacher

Mrs Shaheen/ Miss Andrews LSP

Summer Shoe-Box Challenge!

Our Topic for Autumn is 'Amazing Me'. We would like you to make an Amazing Me Box over the Summer ready to bring into School when you start in September.

You can include pictures of your families, pets and friends. Maybe you want to include your favourite toys, characters, food or TV programmes. We can't wait to find out your favourite things from the boxes! 

Here are some examples from last year. 

Have a lovely Summer and we can't wait to see you all in September. 

Stay safe,

The Reception Team x

A typical day in Reception....

8:40am - Children arrive 

8:55am - 9:20am - Phonics session

9:20am-10:30am - CIL (Indoor and Outdoor Learning)

10:30am-10:45am - Fruit and Milk

10:45am-11:30am - CIL (Indoor and Outdoor Learning)

11:30am-11:45am - Adult Led Session (English or Maths)

12:00pm-1:00pm - Lunchtime

1:00pm-1:20pm - Number of the Day

1:20pm-2:20pm - CIL (Indoor and Outdoor Learning)

2:30pm-2:50pm - Adult Led Session (Topic, RE, PSED or Music)

2:50pm - Story and rhymes

3:05pm - Home time

We will have a greater focus on PSED and supporting your children’s mental health when your children join us in September.

Your child receives homework covering the letters/sounds taught that week.  We are impressed with the support that you give to your child at home so please keep it up, you make a difference.

Every child will have reading books to take home during the Autumn Term.  Please write in the diary once a week to give feedback on how your child enjoyed their books, in order for their book to be changed.   Blue book bags are ideal to transport reading books and letters to and from home but please do not carry water bottles in these book bags as they sometimes leak.  Any damages to reading books will be charged to parents.  This includes writing on pages or ripped/torn pages, so please be mindful of younger siblings when sharing books at home.

Books will be changed on the days below:

RA  -  Wednesday

RGD  - Thursday

RS  -  Friday

        P.E days:

RS  - Wednesday

RA - Thursday

RGD - Wednesday

P.E kits are kept in school and sent home at the end of each half term for parents to wash.  Please make sure that they are brought back to school on the first Monday back and check that all items are still clearly labelled with your child's name! 

Forest Schools in the Foundation Stage

At Abbey our Reception (FS2) children experience Forest Schools as part of their curriculum. We are fortunate to have an area of land behind our Reception unit, which we have developed into a great outside learning space.  Forest school, is not what the name suggests, it is not a school in a forest.  Rather it is the application of a certain set of principles and way of working with people in an outdoor area.  It is the ethos established by the practitioners and the use of the guiding principles which create a ‘forest school’.

The principles of forest schools are:

• Forest school is a long term process of regular sessions rather than a one-off or infrequent visits; the cycle of planning, observation, adaptation and review links each session.
• Forest school takes place in a woodland or natural environment to support the development of a relationship between the learner and the natural world.
• Forest school uses a range of learner-centred processes to create a community for being, development and learning.
• Forest school aims to promote holistic development of all those involved, fostering resilient, confident, independent and creative learners.
• Forest school offers learners the opportunity to take supported risks appropriate to the environment and to themselves.
• Forest school is led by qualified Forest School practitioners who continuously maintain and develop their professional practice.

Whilst we will teach various tool skills such as; using mallets, cutting tools, using saws and fire lighting, it is the behaviours and attitudes that are developed through the learning process which we believe are the most important.  Children are given the opportunity to working collaboratively as a team, make choices, become a leader, communicate with others, practise fine and gross motor skills and most important and perhaps the most important of all, we have fun and  make memories! A text will be sent out to parents informing them of the dates their child is taking part in forest school.