Dear Parents and Carers,

Welcome back to Spring 2! I hope you all enjoyed the half-term break and are ready for another exciting few weeks ahead. Spring is always one of my favourite times in school the children’s confidence continues to grow and we often see incredible progress across all areas of learning. It is also lovely to begin spotting signs of spring and to enjoy brighter days!

We have a busy and enjoyable half term planned, with trips (details to follow soon), a multiskills session at Callington College, visitors into school and many other enriching experiences. We are very much looking forward to sharing these opportunities with the children and keeping you updated along the way!

Phonics

Nursery:
This half term, Nursery will continue building strong foundations. The children will take part in a variety of listening and sound awareness activities, including sound games, musical pattern play, and rhythm activities. We will enjoy listening walks outdoors to notice environmental sounds, continue with Fred Games (oral blending games such as I spy a c-a-t). These playful experiences support careful listening, speaking confidence and early word awareness.

Reception:
Reception children are continuing to consolidate  Set 1 sounds and are becoming increasingly confident with blending when reading. We are excited that many children will soon begin reading Red books as their fluency develops. Alongside this, children will practise writing CVC and CCVC/CVCC words linked to sounds and storytelling, such as bang, cash and frog. As confidence grows, we are hopeful that many children will begin moving towards Set 2 sounds during this half term.

Year 1:
Year 1 children have now progressed to Yellow books, which include a larger number of words and an increased number of red (tricky) words. Red word bookmarks have been sent home in book bags this week to support practice. As this is a significant step up in reading demand, regular reading at home —at least three times each week — is very important to maintain fluency and understanding. We will also continue building skills in preparation for the Phonics Screening Check in June.

Literacy

This half term, our learning will be inspired by the wonderful story Lost and Found. The book follows a young boy who discovers a lost penguin and sets off on a heartfelt journey to help it find home, exploring themes of friendship, kindness and belonging.

Year 1 will use the story as a stimulus for diary writing, imagining the thoughts and experiences of the characters across their adventure. Reception children will focus on creating lists, labels and captions linked to the story and its settings, continuing to apply their growing phonics knowledge within purposeful writing.

Library books will continue to be sent home for shared reading enjoyment. These books are intended for adults to read aloud, supporting discussion, vocabulary development and a love of stories.

Regular reading at home remains extremely important. Even a few minutes each day makes a real difference, and hearing your child read their school book at least three times per week greatly supports confidence, fluency and comprehension.

Maths

Nursery:
Nursery children will continue developing early mathematical understanding through play-based exploration. This includes counting during routines, using songs and stories to reinforce number awareness, and engaging in practical experiences such as sorting, matching and role-play scenarios that involve number language.

Reception:
Reception will be focusing on the composition of numbers within 10, helping children understand how numbers can be made in different ways using practical resources and visual representations. They will also develop skills in comparing quantities using mathematical language such as more than, fewer than and equal to. Alongside this, children will engage in activities involving sorting objects by different attributes and grouping items to support early reasoning, classification and problem-solving skills.

Year 1:
Year 1 will focus on developing place value knowledge, strengthening understanding of number relationships and representations. Children will also begin exploring fractions, alongside work on measure and early multiplication concepts using practical equipment and problem-solving activities.

Project

Nursery and Reception:
Our project Water for Life will explore the importance of water through stories, play and investigation. Learning will link to under-the-sea themes and our local connection to Plymouth, encouraging curiosity about marine environments, creatures and water use in everyday life.

Year 1:
Year 1 will be developing their geography skills through a focus on Plymouth. Children will explore maps, coastal features, human and physical geography, and learn about Plymouth as a significant local city. This will include developing place knowledge, using geographical vocabulary and making links between their own locality and the wider area.

Reminders
• Outdoor Learning is on Friday – please ensure your child has suitable clothing and footwear for all weathers. If possible, please provide a pair of wellies for your child to keep in school for outdoor learning and muddy walks.
• P.E. is on Thursday – children need their full P.E. kit in school. (black shorts/joggers, navy blue t-shirt, socks and trainers)
• Please ensure your child brings a coat to school every day.
• 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.
• Please can nursery children have plenty of spare clothes in school, as we regularly engage in messy and water-based play and supplies can quickly run low!
• If your Nursery child will be absent on a day they would usually attend, please inform the school office or Mrs Morgan via Class Dojo.
• It is important that Nursery children are collected promptly at their agreed time, as this directly impacts staffing and required ratios. If you anticipate an early collection or any change to normal arrangements, please notify the office or message on Class Dojo in advance.

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 continue to impress us with their enthusiasm, resilience and growing independence, and it is a pleasure to see them flourish each day. Thank you, as always, for your continued support.

 

Warm regards,

 

Mrs Morgan