Seedlings and Saplings

Spring Term 1 School Closure 

Dear parents and Carers,

Please find below learning activities for the children during the current school closure for most children. Look for the heading Home Learning Documents during January and February, and click on the relevant class document.

A Warm Welcome to Seedlings and Saplings 

Dear Parents and carers,

We hope you have all had a restful and peaceful Christmas and New Year. We are sure the children enjoyed the snow that fell over the festive period. A great start to our new topic which this half term is 'Where Do Polar Bears Live. To support this theme and spark the children's interest and imagination we will be using the books, 'Little Polar Bear' by Hans de Beer', and 'Ice Bear' by Nicola Davies. 

We would like to take this opportunity to thank all our families for your support and patience this academic year during these unprecedented times. Please could we remind you that if your child develops COVID symptoms you must keep them off school, inform us immediately and ensure you get a test for your child. It is vital that we all remain vigilant. Could we also ask that you wear a face mask and remain behind the red line when dropping off or picking up for your own safety and that of the staff and children. 

To ensure we are complying with all advice to ensure the safety of the children and staff we will continue to ensure that the unit is well ventilated by opening windows and, as always, providing continuous outdoor play, whatever the weather? With this in mind, please ensure your child wears suitable, warm clothing and a water proof coat. 

Thank you 

The Early Years Team

Arrival and Finish Times

Arrival and collection points for both classes will be the main entrance to the unit located opposite the main school reception.

Key Dates

Tuesday 5th January                         School opens

Friday 12th February                        School closes for half term             

Curriculum

Our topic this half term is 'Where Do Polar Bears Live'. Our featured Power of Reading texts to support our topics are 'Little Polar Bear' by Hans de Beer and 'Ice Bear' by Nicola Davies.

We follow the Foundation Stage Curriculum which is currently split into 7 areas:

Communication and Language

Physical Development

Personal, Social and Emotional Development

Literacy

Mathematics

Understanding the World

Expressive Arts and Design

Phonics

Seedlings- In the Seedlings we will be following Phase 1, Letters and Sounds. The children will take part in daily activities taken from the seven strands which are:

Environmental Sounds

Instrumental Sounds

Percussion

Rhythm and Rhyme

Alliteration

Voice Sounds

Oral Blending and Segmenting

Saplings- Saplings will be following Phase 3. A detailed explanation of how phonics and early reading and writing are taught will be provided for parent in our November information evening, details to follow.

Mathematics

Seedlings- The focus this half term is 'Numerals in the Environment' and 'Making Sets'.

Saplings- The focus this half term is 'Counting and Recognition', 'Adding and Subtracting' and 3D Shapes. 

RE

This half term our themes for RE will be 'Stories Jesus Heard' and Easter.

PE

We are delighted to inform you that Go4it Sports will be working with our children each Thursday morning. Sapling children will require a PE kit of shorts and tshirt and pumps. Seedlings do not need a PE kit but are able to come to school in their trainers on Thursdays.