Autumn Term 2020

This is a very strange year for us all.

My aim is to keep class 1 as normal as possible and to continue to help every child flourish, despite the unprecedented times.

For those of you with children that have previously been in class 1, there are a few logistical changes to the day.

We will be spending a lot more time outside using and enjoying our wonderful outdoor area. This means your child will need a coat every day. The children will then have small group literacy and numeracy activities in the classroom, on a rota, throughout each morning. 

We will not be having playtime or lunchtime with other classes and we are no longer allowed whole school Collective Worship. Please explain this to the older brothers and sisters, so that they are not disappointed when they cannot play with them on the playground.

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, favourite food, portraits, birthdays and where we live.

There will also be a mini topic on Maweni Primary ( our sister school in Tanzania) and of course CHRISTMAS!

We also like to take into consideration the children’s interests; therefore we will also cover a number of mini topics developed by the children. Keep an eye on the 'This week!' page for more information.

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.

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, active 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 to those sounds. To help you understand a little bit more about phonics I will send home an information booklet for you to read. It will be in your child’s ‘Reading folder’ along with some other games to play.

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 cursive script for writing. The children are taught cursive handwriting right from the start in class 1. This is important for parents to know in case you are writing outside of school. 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.

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 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.

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

Packed Lunch 

Coat and if needed cold weather clothes.
When hot – hat and sun cream

In Book bag – everyday :
Reading Folder & Home school liaison book.

(Details about these will follow on the ‘What are we doing this week?’ page)