Welcome back and a happy New Year to you all.
A New Year means a new term and of course new topics. This term we will be looking at houses and homes. We will also be including some mini topics such as winter, animals, religious festivals and other themes that the children would like to learn more about.
Within the topic ‘houses and homes’ we will be talking about our homes, different types of homes, and famous homes e.g. The 3 Little Pigs. We will examine several religious celebrations including the Chinese New Year and Easter. There will also be a mini geography field trip in and around Hanley Swan and we will find out about building materials and mapping a route. Mixed in with this will be the mini topics and topics chosen by the children. Keep an eye on the 'What are we doing this week' page, to keep up-to-date with what is happening in class 1.
In Literacy, we will continue to use our sound knowledge to read and write words. We will be developing our cursive handwriting and attempting to write simple sentences. Alongside these, we will continue to learn the High Frequency Words. Please continue to read regularly with your child – it is already noticeable the difference between those who read very regularly and those who do not.
In Numeracy, we will be developing our number skills by looking at and counting numbers to 10 and beyond. We will also be writing numerals 0 – 10, working on addition and subtraction, exploring 3D shapes and re-creating patterns.
The PSHE focus is ' dreams and goals'. We will be exploring aspirations, how to achieve goals and unpicking the emotions that go with this.
Forest School will continue this term. It would be helpful if your child could bring a set of warm old clothes (named) in a plastic bag. The clothes can stay in school for the half term, and it means they have something warm to wear on the colder days.
Autumn Term 2025
Who Am I?
This will be our first topic this year
Within this theme, we will be looking at ‘Who we are’, our likes and dislikes, our families, our senses, parts of the body, our favourite food, portraits and birthdays.
Within this topic we will also be looking at seasonal changes; ‘Autumn and Harvest’, and in line with a whole school litter pick we will be learning about ‘Recycling’.
Reception (Class 1) is part of the Early Years Foundation Stage. We work from the same framework as your child’s nursery or preschool. If you are unsure about this or would like information about the end-of-year expectations, then please take a look at the ‘Supporting your child in class 1’ page. The Early Years curriculum has a Government baseline assessment to be completed in the first few weeks. The baseline assessment is a literacy and numeracy activity that will be completed one-on-one with me once the children are settled. If you would like more information about this, then please do ask.
Reading and Writing
Every day we will be learning a new sound. At Hanley Swan, we follow the ‘Read, Write, Inc’ scheme (Please see the ‘Read, Write, Inc information page). It is multi-sensory and particularly suitable for young children. It also means that the children are being taught the main 42 sounds of English, not just the alphabet sounds. With this knowledge, they are taken through stages of blending sounds to form words and then to reading. At the same time, they are taught to write by identifying the sound and relating the letter symbol to those sounds. To help you understand a little bit more about phonics I will send home an information booklet for you to read.
Reinforcement of the sounds is very important, and each week I post on the 'This Week' page the letters that we will be covering. Please spend a few minutes each evening going over the sounds with your child and helping them to learn them. You can read them, spot them around the house, spot them in magazines & newspapers and find them in reading/story books. Most important of all is to have fun with them.
At Hanley Swan Primary School we use the pre-cursive script for writing. The children are taught pre-cursive handwriting right from the start of class 1. If you ask your child to do any writing at home, make sure they are trying to do pre-cursive writing. All letters start and finish on the line, if you are unsure about the letters there is a printable alphabet on the ‘Supporting your child in class 1’ page.
Maths
Activities in maths will involve sorting, matching, counting and shape/pattern work. Initially, these will be largely practical and include the playing of number games and singing and acting out number songs and rhymes, followed by the undertaking of simple recording activities. We follow White Rose Maths and there will be headings to the daily activities on the 'What are we doing this week?' page.
Afternoons
We will be starting Forest School in a couple of weeks. The children will need wellies (and these are best kept in school). I will let you know on the ‘This week’ page when it is due to start.
PE will take place each week. Please make sure they have their PE kit (named) in school every day. When it gets dirty and/or at the end of each half-term they will bring it home for a wash. They will need their labelled PE kits in school straight away.
Things to bring to school:
PE Kit – Stays in school and sent home to wash if dirty and/or at the end of each half term.
Wellington boots– Stay in school.
Water bottle - returned each day with water in.
Packed Lunch or hot dinner (please order)
Coat and if needed cold weather clothes.
When hot – a hat and suncream
In Bookbag – every day:
Reading Folder & Home school liaison book.
(Details about these will follow on the ‘What are we doing this week?’ page)
If you have any queries about school, please do not hesitate to pop in and ask.