Hedgehogs' Class Summer Term

Miss Somers is the class teacher in Hedgehogs. She really enjoys the creative area and maths. Miss Somers loves to use her imagination to create different models and pictures. In the Summer Term, Miss Somers is looking forward to continuing Drawing Club. She is also looking forward to our trip to Matlock Farm Park.
Miss Bousfield works alongside Miss Somers in Hedgehogs. This term Miss Bousfield is really looking forward to enhancing our phonics and introducing new phonic phases and tricky words! Miss Bousfield is also excited to read alongside the children using our sounding out and blending strategy to keep us moving up our book bands. (This is one of many things' hedgehogs are amazing at). Additionally, Miss Watson works in Hedgehogs every morning and all day on a Wednesday. She enjoys maths, music, playing dodgeball and getting creative with paint and glitter.
Our Summer Term learning in Hedgehogs is 'Down on the Farm!' and 'People Who Help Us'.


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.