Foundation Stage Newsletter - Autumn 1
This half term our topic is Ourselves, we will be learning about our bodies, our 5
senses, our favourite things, our families and where we live. We have enjoyed our
new learning environment and have settled in really well.
Foundation 1 – Ladybirds, Honey Bees and Caterpillars
We have 3 groups of children in the Nursery. Ladybirds are the morning children,
Honey Bees are the all day children and Caterpillars are the afternoon children.
 We will be participating in lots of speaking and listening activities, learning
shapes and numbers to 10
 We will be doing lots of mark making activities and colour mixing
 Over the next few weeks we will be introducing our sharing book scheme,
where the children choose picture books daily for their parents to read to
them at home.
Foundation 2 – Butterflies and Seahorses
 We will be learning the sounds that letters make in our daily phonic sessions.
We will learn to blend these sounds into simple 3 letter words e.g. cat, men,
big etc.
 We will be learning to write our names with correct letter formation
 We will be learning names of shapes, counting and recognising numbers to
20, repeating patterns and problem solving
 Over the next few weeks we will be bringing home our first reading books.
Please continue to bring in your child’s book bag daily as they are useful for
putting letters in.
Tips for helping your child at home
Numeracy
 To help your child recognise numbers, point out numbers that you see when
you are out and about on doors, cars, buses, shop signs etc.
 Play board games like snakes and ladders, this will help your child to count,
add and take away.
 Look around the house for shapes, food packages are great for this.
 Compare sizes of clothes and shoes (biggest, smallest, longest etc.)
 Create patterns using everyday objects apple, pear, apple, pear.
Literacy
 Phonics – your child needs to know the sound that each letter makes. You
can use alphabet puzzles, computer games, magnetic letters on your fridge,
look at registration plates and play I spy.
 Reading – We teach the children to read by blending sounds into words.
Start by saying each sound slowly ‘d a d’ and then blend together to make
the word ‘dad’. The reception team will be sending home the 45 high
frequency words that your child needs to know by the end of the reception
year. Some can be blended to make the word e.g. dog, cat and others by
sight recognition e.g. the, come.

Writing – Your child needs to practice writing at home, so let them write
shopping lists, letters, postcard, birthday cards etc. Do not write the
sentence for them to copy, let them have a go themselves encouraging them
to sound out each word.
Junk modeling
We want to start junk modelling as soon
as possible so we will need a regular
supply of small boxes, kitchen rolls,
yoghurt boxes, bottle tops etc.
Creative
The children enjoy cutting and sticking
so please send in old birthday cards and
magazines.
New faces
Welcome to all of the new children and their families that are starting this term.
I would like to introduce the team to you as some of you will not know all of the
staff.
Miss Williams – I am the Foundation Stage Leader responsible for all of the
teaching and learning in the Foundation Stage. I am teaching in the nursery.
Miss Smith – Full time nursery nurse in the nursery
Miss Bell – Morning nursery nurse who is also responsible for the lunch club
Miss Tandy – Afternoon nursery nurse
Mrs Coleman – Teaching assistant across both the foundation classes
Mrs Luna – Lunchtime supervisor
Mrs Sanchez- Lunchtime supervisor
Miss Redden – Reception teacher
Miss Wicketts - Reception teacher
Miss Pittam – Higher level teaching assistant
Mrs Deeks – Teaching assistant in the reception class
Mrs Pocock – Teaching assistant based in the reception class
Miss Parnell – Teaching assistant based in the reception class
Mrs Cressy – Learning mentor
Mr Shirley – Sports coach
Buggies
School Website
Buggies are not permitted in the
There is a Foundation Stage page on the
classrooms.
school newsletter with useful websites.
Foundation 2
As part of our real life learning we have developed a Café for the children to visit.
We thought it would be nice for the children to have the opportunity to pay for and
eat real food. We therefore would like to ask you for a donation of one box of
healthy cereal to use in this area e.g Porridge, Weetabix, Shredded Wheat, etc
Please can you ensure that all of your children’s clothing and belongings are
clearly labelled with their name! Thank you!
Nut Allergy
We have a child with a severe nut allergy. Please can you ensure that there are no
nut based products in lunch boxes as the child has a severe reaction to them.
Pigeon hole and trays
We will put all of the children’s work and letters in the pigeon holes at the end of
the day. Please check your child’s pigeon hole/tray every morning.
End of the day/session
The children will be dismissed from the carpet at the end of the day. We are
asking the parents to wait outside the classroom doors and we will bring your child
to you. We are committed to safeguarding so will match the children to the parent
or the person on the permission form. Apologies that this has taken longer at the
start of the term but will get quicker as we get to know all the parents/carers.
Times of the day for Nursery Children
Session times are as follows:
Morning 8.50 to 11.50 am (Please do not bring in your child before 8.50)
Afternoon 12.20 to 3.20 pm
Entrance to the Nursery is via the gates from the courtyard. All children must be
brought into the building and handed over to the members of staff. It is important
that you ensure that your child is brought to school and collected on time.
From October we will be putting all newsletters on the school web site instead of
sending home copies to everyone. These will be posted on the Foundation Stage
part of the web-site.
If however, you would like to continue to receive a paper copy of the newsletter
please complete and return the slip below to the school office.
Newsletter – Paper Copy
Child’s Name: ________________
Class: _____________________
I would like to continue to receive a paper copy of the newsletter.