Miss Bacon is a class teacher in Badgers on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Miss Bacon enjoys teaching PE and Drawing Club. Whilst Mrs Gurrie is on maternity leave Mrs Campbell-Short will be the class teacher on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. 

Miss Fox is a teaching assistant in Badgers. She is passionate about phonics and art especially drawing. In the Summer Term, Miss Fox is looking forward to getting creative in mini-makers. Additionally, Miss Wild is a teaching assistant in Badgers. In the Summer Term, she is looking forward to watching the children experience their trip to Matlock Farm Park.

Miss Watson is a teaching assistant working across the two reception classes. Miss Watson is also looking forward to seeing the children feed the animals at Matlock Farm Park.

Our topics this term are 'Down on the Farm' and 'People Who Help Us'.  Through these themes, children will explore the world around them, learning about animals, life on a farm, and the important roles people play in helping our communities.

Children will enjoy a range of hands-on experiences, stories, and role play activities, giving them opportunities to develop their language, imagination and understanding of the world. They will learn about how food is produced, the care of animals, and the different jobs that keep us safe, healthy and supported. Through play and adult-led activities, children will build confidence, develop social skills, and begin to make links between their own experiences and the wider world.

Communication and Language

Throughout the term, children will develop their communication and language skills by listening carefully and responding to what they hear during story times, whole-class discussions and small group activities. They will be encouraged to make comments and ask questions to deepen their understanding, as well as take part in back-and-forth conversations with adults and peers. With support, children will begin to share their ideas and feelings using full sentences, exploring past, present and future experiences, and using simple conjunctions to extend their speaking.

PSED/RHSE

Our PSED work will be taught through the beautiful books 'Kind' by Axel Sheffler and 'Dear Teacher' by Amy Husband. We will explore friendships and the importance of being kind, particularly around sharing.  Additionally, we will be learning more about what foods help to keep us healthy.

 

Physical Development

Children will develop their physical skills through a range of active and engaging opportunities. They will practise moving energetically in different ways, including running, jumping, hopping, skipping, dancing and climbing. Children will be supported to negotiate space and obstacles safely, showing awareness of others around them. They will also build strength, balance and coordination through play, while developing increasing confidence, control and accuracy when taking part in activities involving balls.

Literacy

In literacy, we will continue to use Drawing Club to boost literacy, language, and creativity by immersing children in stories, tales, and animations, turning pencils into magical tools to bring imaginations to life, develop fine motor skills, and build confidence for writing through fun, story-led adventures. Our focus texts will be 'The Enormous Turnip' by Irene Yates, 'The Tiny Seed' by Eric Carle 'Poddington Peas List' by Paul Needs and Colin Wyatt, 'Elf and the shoemaker' by Vera Southgate and Robert Lumley, Cops and Robbers by Alan Ahlberg and 'Fireman Sam'.

Furthermore, our children will participate in a daily Super Sonic Phonics Friends session. Each day, our shared reading sessions will bring stories to life, while our reading for pleasure time will foster a love for books! In addition, your child will have access to high-quality reading and writing opportunities within our classroom provision, enabling them to explore their creativity. Every week, we’ll ensure that each child enjoys a one-to-one reading session with an adult. We will also encourage them to understand that print can serve many purposes, name different parts of a book, and start conversations with their peers and adults. We can’t wait to see their vocabulary blossom!

Numeracy

In the Summer Term, children in Reception build on their early maths skills and begin to apply their understanding with greater confidence and independence. They deepen their knowledge of number by counting beyond 20, recognising numerals and exploring relationships between numbers, including addition, subtraction, doubling and sharing. Children also continue to explore patterns and develop their understanding of shape, space and measure through practical, hands-on activities. A strong focus is placed on using mathematical language and explaining their thinking, helping children to solve problems and make connections in meaningful contexts. Through play, discussion and exploration, children develop the confidence and skills needed to support a smooth transition into Year 1. 

Understanding of the World

The Summer Term will see our children find out more about all the people who help us. We will focus our learning on the fabulous work of paramedics, vets, shopkeepers and dentists, where we will discover more about their roles in our community.

Expressive Art and Design

Jackson Pollock is our Artist inspiration for the Summer Term. We will begin by observing some of his work, discussing how they are made, considering the movement involved. Next, tools will be our focus. The children will use a range of tools and techniques such as drip and splatter. Excitingly, we will take our learning outside to make a large-scale painting. We will encourage the children to discuss their work with their friends in our art gallery.