Key information for parents:

PE: This half-term our 'Get Set For PE' unit will be 'Introduction to PE.' In this unit the children will be introduced to physical education through the topic of ‘fantasy and adventure.’ They will spend time learning basic principles of a PE lesson, such as finding space, freezing on command, using and sharing equipment and working individually, with a partner and a group. They will take part in activities which will develop fundamental movement skills such as running, jumping and skipping.This will take place on a Friday. Please ensure that your child comes to school in their PE kit on this day. Long hair MUST be tied back and earrings removed. Velcro plimsolls MUST be worn unless your child can tie their own laces. Please avoid brightly coloured trainers. 

Library: The children will visit the school library once a week. All children will be able to choose a book from the library to take home and share. Ruby class will visit the library on a Wednesday and Red class on Thursday. Please ensure that library books are looked after and should be kept in the bookbags. Damaged or lost library books and reading books will incur a fee. 

Phonics: The children will begin to learn phonics in Week 4 (the second week of being full time). Please support your child in learning the new sounds as they are inroduced. The sounds covered will be shown on the weekly newsletter so please keep a look out for this in your emails each Friday). Play oral belnding games with them as this will help them on their reading journey, e.g. 'I can see a c/a/t. What can I see?' Please indicate in their diary that you have practised 'speedy sounds' (saying the sounds as they are shown letter cards). Read, Write, Inc. phonics flashcards cards can be purchased on Amazon for aound £7. They will need Set 1 to begin with. 

Reading books: It will be a little while before your child brings home a reading book, as initially the focus will be on learning sounds and starting to orally blend. Children learn to read at differnt speeds so please don't worry if this takes a little time. When your child does receive a reading book, please ensure that they read this with you daily as well as signing your child's reading record when the book has been read. Feel free to comment, tick or initial, whichever you prefer to show the book has been shared. The books will be stored in a named plastic bag as this keeps the books protected and together when placed in baskets to be taken to their Read, Write, Inc. groups. Please leave the books in these bags. Water bottles should not be placed in book bags. 

Homework: Once your child is issued with a Read, Write, Inc book they should read this every day. They will also receive logins for Purple Mash and Numbots (these can be found in the front of their reading diary). Purple Mash has a wealth of learning resources for all topic areas, whislt Numbots is a maths platform. Please support your child to work at their own pace with the tasks on Numbots. Logins will be issued for this in Autumn 1. A maths challenge is given each half term, starting in Autumn 2. Later in the year the children will be given wordwalls to help them learn to read and spell common words. 

Tapestry: We will be sharing 'wow' moments with you via Tapestry and encourage parents/carers to share those moments with us too! Please ensure that you have returned your child's permission form to school in order for us to allow your child's learning to feature on this platform. As the year progresses and the children are introduced to more book work, the Tapestry observations will become fewer.