Welcome to Squids Class!
The Curriculum
At Weston Mill Community Primary Academy we follow the International Primary Curriculum (IPC). Each term we will be following a different topic. Our topic this term is – Family and Friends.
Communication, Language and Literacy
In Nursery the children will be following phase 1 of letters and sounds which is all about listening skills and tuning into sounds. They will be focusing on aspects 1 and 2 in which children learn to discern individual sounds and to notice the differences between sounds. Children will do a lot of really careful listening in order to prepare them to begin to hear initial letter sounds in words. The children will be introduced to elements of Read Write Inc.
In Reception we will begin our Read Writer Inc. phonics programme introducing letter sounds each week. We revise them regularly and this is the order in which we teach them:
m, a, s, d, t, i, n, p, g, o, c, k, u, b, f, e, l, h, sh, r, j, v, y, w, th, z, ch, qu, x, ng, nk
Mathematics
In Nursery the children will be focusing on number recognition and being able to recognise and talk about the properties of different shapes. There will also be a focus on colour recognition. We will be encouraging children to use mathematical language in their play and to begin to notice the numbers that are all around them and to understand that these numbers perform all kinds of different functions. The children will be introduced to elements of the Maths Makes Sense programme.
In Reception the children will be following the Maths Makes Sense programme. This term we will be focusing on number recognition, counting, positional language, such as over, under etc. and using vocabulary related to size e.g. big, huge, little etc.
Personal, social and emotional developmentThrough all areas of the curriculum we will support the children to become confident and independent learners. They will be encouraged to follow class rules that will make their environment a happy and safe place to be. Each week the children will take part in a whole class circle-time; this encourages the children to listen to each other and helps to increase confidence.
General InformationPE kit is required in Foundation. Please ensure this is in school at all times. Miss Evenden’s class have PE on a Tuesday. Mrs Ingram’s class have PE on a Wednesday.
Children in Nursery/Foundation should not wear earrings to school. If your child is wearing earrings, we will ask for them to be removed. All long hair must be tied back and headbands/clips will need to be removed for PE.
It is very important that all children wear school uniform on a daily basis. This consists of white/blue polo shirt, grey/black trousers and a navy jumper/cardigan. School shoes should be worn with white/dark socks, and not trainers.
All children in reception are eligible for free school meals. Our pupils thoroughly enjoy a wide range of 'home-cooked, hot food' at lunchtime. Each day the children have a choice of 3 meals which operate on a three week cycle. They are encouraged to try new things but leave something if they dislike it. We also offer a daily vegetarian choice and through consultation can cater for pupils who require specific diets. The children also have the option to have a school packed lunch.
Children are also encouraged to eat a healthy fruit snack at snack times. This is supplied for children in Foundation Stage. As a ‘Healthy School’, children’s packed lunches should not contain sweets or chocolate bars.
Homework (Learning Together) will be sent home weekly on a Thursday and to be returned on a Tuesday. Book bags should be brought to school every day.
The children all have their own water bottle in the classroom. So there is no need for children to bring in their own.
From time-to-time we may ask for a voluntary contribution for a school trip/visit. The school will continue to support these activities but without your support, we will be unable to run them as frequently. Thank you for your continued support. If you are able to provide support for school trips, please speak to your child’s class teacher. Again, we do appreciate your support.
At some time during the year the children will be participating in Forest Schools. You will receive a separate letter when your child’s class will have Forest School. For Forest School children are to bring appropriate clothing and footwear for each session; it must be clothes/sturdy footwear that they can get dirty/muddy. They will need:
- Long sleeved top, long trousers (not jeans), socks
- A waterproof coat
- Wellingtons or sturdy shoes/boots (not sandals or dolly shoes)
- Gloves
- Hat (sunny or cold weather)
- Sunscreen (sunny weather)
Please note children must come to school in their uniform and will change into their outdoor clothes before the session.
Forest school is linked to the children’s theme and therefore part of the curriculum; this means that children are expected to partake in all forest school sessions. Unfortunately we only have a limited amount of spare clothing available to lend out which may result in children without appropriate clothing having to do the session in their school uniform.
I hope this information in useful. If you have any queries or concerns, please direct them through your child’s class teacher in the first instance.
Things for you to practice at home.
- Children to dress independently for school, including zips and buttons on coats.
- Name writing using a capital letter at the beginning and all other letters in lower case.
- To begin to recognise numbers out and about e.g. on buses, on doors, on birthday cards etc.
- Read Write Inc. sounds that are sent home.
- Using different tools such as scissors for cutting.