Seedlings and Saplings

Welcome Back to the Summer Term

Dear Parents and carers,

Welcome back to the Summer Term. We hope you have all had a lovely Easter Break. Our new topic this half term is 'What is a Minibeast?'. To support this theme and spark the children's interest and imagination we will be using the books, 'The Very Hungry Caterpillar' and 'What the Ladybird Heard' as well as a range of good quality fiction and non-fiction books about minibeats. 

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

Monday 19th April                         School opens for the summer term 

Monday 3rd May                           May Day

Thursday 6th May                          Election Day- School Closed

Friday 28th May                             School closes for half-term

Monday 7th June                           School re-opens 

Friday 23rd July                              School closes for summer         

Curriculum

Our topic this half term is 'What are Minibeats?'. Our featured Power of Reading texts to support our topic are The Very Hungry Caterpillar and What the Ladybird Heard.

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 'Number, Separating groups and Talking About Shapes.

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 Friendship, Special Places and Special Times.

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.