EYFS – Newsletter – 25.10.24

Looks like we’ve made it! At the end of our first half-term in Reception, we have had a whale of a time with all things spooky in the run up to Halloween. The children have loved having a go at some creepy crafts like making faces on pumpkins and building skeletons from cotton-bud bones. A very popular activity was the potion making station. Children had to pick a potion bottle which showed them three letters that they had to use as clues to select their ingredients from the pumpkins. Once they had found the right animal ingredients to add to their pot, the children sprinkled over some magic powder and learned their magic words (nonsense words using the sounds we have learned in phonics so far this year). As they recited their magic spell, the final ingredient was poured over to hopefully reveal a bubbling concoction of magic potion – which Mr Verdi was brave enough to sample (and be magically transformed into various creatures!).

Phonics sessions this week have introduced the next three phonemes of our scheme: ‘m’ (meatball) ‘d’ (drum) and ‘g’ (girl). The children have all engaged well in games and activities that help to practise hearing these sounds in words and begin to use them to spell simple words by blending sounds together (m-a-d blends to make mad). Apologies to those that were inconvenienced by the last-minute cancellation of the Early Reading and Phonics workshop last week. This has now been re-arranged to Wednesday 13th November 5pm. 

In Maths this week, we have continued to explore the numbers 1, 2 and 3. The children have used practical apparatus to explore how these numbers can be deconstructed (how 3 can be 2+1, 1+2, 1+1+1). The children particularly enjoyed showing this concept in large ‘part/whole’ models outside on the playground. 

We know it’s early but we have had to bust out the Christmas card making in October! The children all had a go at making a Christmas card design, painting with sponges around a tree or star stencil. As these designs are sent away to be professionally printed, the orders need to be received in the first week back after half-term so they can be sent off in time. Thank you to those who already sent theirs back the next day!

Our topic of All About Me is drawing to an end and this week we have been discussing differences in beliefs and how we can grow to have different faiths and religions. This involved some discussion about what children knew of different world religions and what experiences they may have had. Some children were able to share about visiting churches and mosques and we took a look at other places of worship that are used by people of different faiths. Some children chose to follow this up by making their own stained-glass window like the ones we looked at in Christian churches. We also discussed how people celebrate different festivals as a part of their religion and Miss Walsh taught us all about the Hindu festival of Diwali, the festival of lights. The children then were invited to have a go at making their own paper lantern to mark the upcoming festival and to colour in some intricate rangoli patterns.

Finally, on Friday afternoon (as if our energy reserves were not entirely depleted already) we were invited to the dinner hall for another session on the mini-trampolines with the Bounce team. The children loved getting all their jiggles out and followed the instructors moves brilliantly!

It has been a fantastic first half-term in Reception and it’s been a delight getting to know the children so well over the past eight weeks. We hope you will all have a lovely week off school and enjoy some family time together. 

Have a great week!

The Reception Team 

Dates for the Diary:

Monday 4th November – First day back after half term.

Monday 4th November – Individual photos and sibling group photos to be taken (on the first day back!).

Wednesday 13th November – Early Reading and Phonics Workshop (5pm)

Tuesday 26th November & Wednesday 27th November – Parent consultations (More information about booking will be released nearer the time)

Thursday 19th December – Reception CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION – Parents invited to join us from 2:30pm for a performance of Christmas songs.

Friday 20th December – School closes for the Christmas break.