Dear Parents and Carers

Welcome back to the first half of the Spring term! I hope you all enjoyed a restful Christmas break and a happy New Year. Spring is always such a special time in school — the children return settled, confident and ready to learn, and it’s wonderful to see just how much progress they make as their independence and enthusiasm continue to grow! We have a busy and exciting half term ahead and are really looking forward to sharing it with the children.

Phonics

Nursery

This half term, Nursery children will be continuing to develop their listening and speaking skills through a range of sound-based activities, including Fred Games. We will be focusing on tuning into environmental sounds, rhythm and rhyme, and beginning to notice the sounds we hear in words. These playful activities help to build strong foundations for early reading and writing, while supporting communication and confidence when speaking.

Reception

Reception children will be revisiting their Set 1 sounds and Special Friends, with a strong focus on blending sounds to read words confidently. As children become more secure, they will begin to move towards learning their Set 2 sounds. In writing, they will practise forming letters correctly and using their sounds to write simple words and sentences.

Year 1

Year 1 children are continuing to learn their Set 3 sounds and are developing fluency when reading longer words and sentences. We will also be building confidence in preparation for the Phonics Screening Check in June — the children are working incredibly hard and we are very proud of their progress.

Literacy

In literacy this half term, we will be exploring the story Owl Babies. The children will enjoy learning about owls through both fiction and non-fiction texts. Year 1 will use this knowledge to plan and write their own non-chronological reports, while Reception will focus on writing labels, captions and simple sentences using CVC and CCVC/CVCC words.

We will soon be sending library books home again for you to enjoy sharing together. These books are for adults to read to the children, helping to encourage a love of reading by following their interests and talking about stories together.

Regular reading at home is extremely important. Please aim to read with your child every day, even if it is only for a few minutes. Hearing your child read their school reading book at least three times a week has a huge impact on their confidence, fluency and understanding, and makes a real difference to their progress in school.

Maths

Nursery

Nursery children will be developing their early number skills through play-based learning. This includes counting in everyday situations, exploring numbers through songs and stories, and using role play — such as our toy shop — to introduce early ideas about money and number.

Reception

Reception will be working with numbers 1–5, using number tracks, dice games and songs to support counting and subitising. Children will also compare quantities and begin to language such as more and fewer.

Year 1

In Year 1, our focus will be place value, money, and addition and subtraction. Children will practise recognising numbers, understanding their value, and solving simple calculations using practical resources and written methods.

Reminders

• Outdoor Learning is on Friday – please ensure your child has suitable clothing and footwear for all weathers.
• P.E. is on Thursday – children need their full P.E. kit in school.
• Please label all clothing clearly to avoid items being lost.
• Please ensure your child brings a coat to school every day.
• Reception Bikability will take place on Tuesday afternoon. If your child has a balance bike and helmet, please send these into school, but we do have spares.
• Water bottles should be kept in school so children have access to a drink throughout the day.
• Please ensure packed lunches follow Safe Eating UK guidance, with food cut appropriately.

Communication

I have an open-door policy, so please feel free to speak to me at the end of the day or arrange a meeting if you would like to discuss anything — whether it’s a question, concern or celebration.

The children have already made such wonderful progress this term, and it’s a pleasure to see their growing confidence and excitement for learning. Thank you, as always, for your continued support.

Warm regards,

Mrs Morgan

Class 1 Teacher