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Reception - Michaelmas 2010

September 2010

Welcome to our Reception classes at Butcombe. We are pleased to say that the children are settling very quickly and happily into their new routines. During the next few weeks we will be making our initial baseline assessments of each child. We will be able to discuss the results with you at the parent conferences, which will take place later in the term.

The Reception classes are part of the Early Years Foundation Stage, which has its own carefully structured curriculum so that children are provided with experiences that support and extend their skills, knowledge and understanding. This is done in a context which makes them feel secure and which encourages them to be active learners. In the Reception year great emphasis is also placed on the development of speaking and listening skills. Children are encouraged to extend their vocabulary and to explore the meanings and sounds of new words. The development of good language skills is essential for children to make progress in reading. They also have opportunities to use ICT to develop skills across all areas of learning. They learn to use and explore a range of age related programs which support all areas of the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum.

We are looking forward to a busy and productive term as your children grow in confidence and become fully involved in the broad range of activities that will promote their learning in all areas of the curriculum.

Next week we will be starting a structured phonics programme called ‘Jolly Phonics’. It is an exciting way for children to learn the foundations of reading and writing. The success of this approach is greatly enhanced by regular parental involvement. We will be sending you a letter next week explaining how you can support your child when he or she brings related activities home.

We explore two main themes this term and plan learning activities around the interests of your children. This half term our theme is All About Me and then we move on to Light and Dark. We would be very grateful if you could send a photograph of your child and other family members into school next week so that the children can talk about their family in circle time.

The education of your child is a partnership and we welcome any help that you feel you can offer us in school, for example helping to change the children for swimming or taking small groups for cookery. Likewise, if you have any artefacts or resources which may enhance our current topics, or have a particular interest that you would be willing to share with us at school, please let us know.

The times for our physical education activities are as follows.

Gym - All Reception classes - Friday
Outdoor games - All Reception classes - Monday afternoon
Swimming RM - Tuesday 9.00 (in the pool)
Swimming RW - Tuesday 9.30 (in the pool)
Swimming RH - Wednesday 11.00 (in the pool)

Ballet will take place on Wednesday.

Every child has a yellow message book. Please use this to record any reading activities your child has done at home and for any messages you may wish to send to the class teacher. Please look in the message book every evening in case we have written a message for you. It would help us if you could initial the message so that we know you have seen it.

If you do have any concerns or queries please feel free to speak to us at the beginning or end of the school day or make an appointment if you require more than a couple of minutes. We look forward to a happy and successful time with your children.

Best wishes

Mrs Henry
Miss Michallat
Miss Wright

This newsletter is also available in PDF format.

30 September 2010

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