Squirrel Class
Summer 2017
Welcome back.
I can’t believe that we are about to start the final term! And what a busy term it will be!
As the weather gets warmer we will be spending more of the time outside. Could you please ensure your child has a sun hat
and sun cream in school at all times. I am happy to help the children apply sun cream but if you do not wish me to apply sun
cream to your child could you please let me know. All bottles must be named. The children will continue to need wellington
boots as there will be lots of digging and water play over the next few months.
This term we will be spending time on a number of three week mini topics including: Mini-beasts (outdoor topic), Space,
Traditional Stories and Water (including Pirates and Winter the Dolphin)
Curriculum Outline
PSED
This term the children will be
developing their listening and
concentration skills, increasing
their awareness of their own needs,
views and beliefs as well as those
of others. I will also be encouraging
the children to work independently
for longer periods of time on set
tasks in preparation for Year 1.
With lots of exciting activities
planned I hope that the children
will continue to be motivated and
excited to learn!
UW
The children will be finding out
about the world in which they live.
They will be looking at the
different parts of a plant and what
they need to grow. They will then
be journeying to the Arctic to
study water in its different states,
going under the sea and looking in
detail at dolphins. We will be
journeying into space to study the
planets and to see what it is like
for Astronaut Tim Peake. The
children will continue to have daily
access to the computer, I-pad and
cd player. We will be visiting
Ringsfield Hall.
Weekly German sessions will
continue with Mrs Ward.
Literacy
The main emphasis this term will be
developing the children’s reading and
writing skills to enable them to become
more independent. Particular attention will
be given to tricky words and increasing
the children’s sight vocabulary. We will
continue to have a daily phonic session in
which we will play fun games and look at
spelling patterns. I will be sending home 6
spellings each Monday (starting 24.04.17)
for the children to learn, as I feel that
they have made so much progress and are
ready to be stretched further. I will see
how well they can spell them on the
following Monday. This will not be in the
form of a test but through fun activities.
Please continue to practise the words in
the yellow book – your child should be able
to read most of these by sight when they
leave Squirrel Class.
Expressive Arts and Design
In art we will continue to experiment with
colour and texture through collage and
weaving. The children will be making their
own puppets, large and small scale box
models and observational
drawings/paintings of both plants and
animals. In dance and role-play the
children will be given the opportunity to
express their own ideas, thoughts and
feelings in response to stories.
Maths
There will be an emphasis on counting
to 100 and number recognition to 50
and beyond this term. We will
continue to count in 2s, 5s and 10s.
We will also be concentrating on
counting up to 20 objects accurately
and looking at patterns in numbers.
The children will be looking at
different ways of adding and
subtracting to 20 including counting
on and back as well as being
introduced to number lines. They will
be encouraged to use their
mathematical knowledge to solve
simple problems.
Throughout the term we will also
focus on shape, time, length, capacity
and weight through fun, practical
activities.
Physical Development
We are aiming for some form of
physical activity everyday. There will
be one planned P.E. lesson a week as
well as daily access to the outdoor
area and hall. Emphasis will be on ball
skills and the effect of exercise on
the body. Children will be taught
about the importance of a healthy
diet and exercise on the body.
Fine motor control continues to be a
priority and children will be involved
in lots of cutting, threading/weaving
and handwriting activities.
PE.Kit
This should be brought into school on Monday and taken home on a Friday. Please check that your child has a
top, shorts and plimsolls in their bag each week. ALL ITEMS OF CLOTHING NEED TO BE LABELLED including plimsolls!
50ps and Toasty Tuesdays
Thank you to everyone who gave in their 50ps last term. These enabled me to buy the children art resources
and consumable equipment for the role play area. Most children are no longer entitled to free milk, as they have
turned five, so I will be using your contributions to buy milk and bread each week. It would, therefore, be
preferable if you could pay in advance. It is £3.00 for the first half term, £3.50 for the second half term or
£6.50 for the term. I will tick your name off once we receive your contribution.
Show and Tell
Only objects of interest or models that the children have made can be brought in. Please ensure that your
child only brings in one object on their designated day and that they know what they are going to say about it.
Reading
The children will continue to be heard read once a week by either myself, Mrs Pigg or Mrs Brown. Children will
be asked questions about what they have read and encouraged to express personal opinions about the events in
the books. It is important that your child reads regularly at home and that they read their book more than
once in order to familiarise themselves with the shape of words and increase their fluency and expression.
The children will visit the school library on a Thursday and will be able to take out one book a week. A new book
can only be taken if the old one is returned and signed back in.
Home-School Diaries
Thank you to all of you who have filled in these books. They continue to be an invaluable source of assessment,
especially at this time of the year when I am completing your child’s Profile. Please continue to let me know of
any achievements however small to ensure that I give Mrs Ward and Miss Brown the best possible picture of
your child and their abilities during my discussions with them.
Transition Visits
In order to ease the transition into Year One, the children will have the opportunity to visit Fox Class this
term. These visits are designed to familiarise them with the classroom, experience a range of lessons and get to
know their new teachers. Learning in Key Stage One is very different to the Foundation Stage so Mrs Ward will
be holding a meeting to explain what it is like to be in Fox Class and answer any of your questions.
How Can You Help?
Hear your child read every night – remember to talk about the story and the characters and get them to
predict the ending. When the book has been read get them to tell you the story in their own words.
Go through the sound cards daily – use the cards to play reading and spelling games.
Practise counting in 2s, 5s and 10s.
Get them to count on and back from a given number up to 20.
Find out about mini-beasts, the Arctic and Planets.
Help your child to learn their spellings. Once they can spell them get them to practise putting them into a
simple sentence.
Challenge them to get dressed and undressed as quickly as possible.
Please remember to make these activities fun.
Thank you for your continued support
Mrs Newbery