This year you are lucky enough to have Mrs Russell teaching you. 

You will also have Mrs Stringer and Mrs Copeland each day. 

Our current topic is: Celebrations

This half-term we are going to be learning all about different celebrations and how people celebrate these occasions. We will be focussing on our life examples as well as looking at different celebrations that we might not be aware of. We will be exploring each occasion through sensory experiences, oracy and language, photographs and role play. 

Our Learning focus will be: 

Week 1 

Book week! We will be focussing on the key text 'Elmer the Elephant". We will be looking at differences and similarities, talking about what makes us special and exploring colour! We will be doing some story matching and sequencing and creating our own Elmer, as well as creating our own version of Elmer too. 

Week 2

EYFS Learning Intentions

- To talk about experiences, express feelings and notice similarities and differences between events.

-Explore a celebration story, use puppets to describe a party.

-What makes us feel special? Practice sharing and turn taking in party role-play

-Make marks to represent party invitations – give meaning to marks, create pre-writing shapes, develop formation of familiar sounds.

-Explore photos from different celebrations – talk about similarities and differences.

Key Stage 1 Learning Intentions

- To explain what a celebration is, identify reasons people celebrate and compare different occasions.

Week 3

EYFS Learning Intentions

- To talk about growth and change.

- To sequence events that are significant to us, in our lives.

- To develop early counting and mark-making skill – create milestone cards – first birthday, 2 today etc.

Key Stage 1 Learning Intentions

- To sequence events chronologically, write for a purpose and solve problems involving number, measure and time.

Week 4

EYFS Learning Intentions

- To explore light, shadow, colour and pattern.

- To listen to stories and talk about different traditions.

Key Stage 1 Learning Intentions

- To compare festival traditions, looking at similarities and differences.

- To investigate light and shadow.

- To create artwork inspired by patterns and light.

Week 5

EYFS Learning Intentions

- To explore natural materials.

- To observe seasonal changes.

- To develop counting skills.

- To talk about caring for living things.

Key Stage 1 Learning Intentions

- To understand the journey from farm to table.

- To investigate plants and materials.

- To explain why harvests are important.

Week 6

EYFS Learning Intentions

- To recognise similarities and differences in people's experiences

- To draw on previous experiences and significant events in their lives.

- To develop respectful language.

-To learn about Christmas and the meaning behind this for Christians.

Key Stage 1 Learning Intentions

-To compare traditions.

-To use sources to find information and explain how celebrations can reflect culture, belief and community.

-To talk about traditions around Christmas – to create a Christmas list.

-To begin to understand the story of Christmas.

Week 7 

EYFS Learning Intentions

- To experiment with sound, movement and expressive materials.

- To develop confidence in performing and communicating ideas.

-To perform a familiar song using actions

-To learn about Christmas celebrations and actively engage in these.

KS1 Learning Intentions

- To recognise rhythm, tempo and dynamics.

-To perform collaboratively.

-To create a planned performance for an audience.

-To compare different celebrations – talk about which celebrations they enjoy / do not enjoy.

Our curriculum is flexible and unique to each individual and will be adapted to suit the different stages of development that the child is currently working at. 

Our routine will be flexible based on the needs of the children. However, there will be structured elements to the day. 

You can drop your child off between 8:40am-9am through the entrance to the classroom. 

Children will take part in indoor and outdoor play each day, so please send in coats/hats/sun cream etc. depending on the weather. 

Children will have access to snack each day, as well as take part in our toothbrushing programme. 

They will do phonics daily, access their specific interventions as well as learn new concepts and skills within their current topic. 

Specific learning activities will be mapped out throughout the week for your child to access, depending on their developmental level. Our activities will be ambitious to encourage all learners to reach for the stars! 

Communication and language will be at the heart of everything that we do, removing barriers and encouraging communication within all elements of the school day. 

Children will have the opportunity to work with staff, build relationships with other children and integrate into different social situations with tailored support. 

The children will have lunch within the classroom and will be supported by staff when doing so. 

Forest school will take place on Wednesday's - please bring suitable footwear and waterproof coats. 

PE will take place on Fridays. 

Children can be collected between 3pm-3:15pm at the latest, via The Nurture Centre entrance. 

Should our routine change in any way, Mrs Russell will inform you of this. Children will be prepared for any changes, whether this is planned or at the last minute. 

We will be doing lots of intervention that is specific to your child during their time at school with us. This will involve 1:1 activities, small group and larger group scenarios, depending on where your child is currently working at. We will assess each child throughout the half-term on their engagement with this and adapt where necessary. We will have a focus on communication and language and this will be threaded through the curriculum and the interventions that we will engage in. 

We will be communicating through Tapestry each week. Please look out for observations, photos, messages and letters. We would love for you to add some of your own pictures. Share with us your weekend adventures. We will use these as a talking point within the class.