PLEASE SEE THE ‘HOME LEARNING’ PAGE TO SEE MORE INFORMATION ON HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT YOUR CHILD AT HOME
‘What else is out there?’
This term in Reception, our learning is guided by the exciting enquiry question: “What else is out there?” The children will embark on a journey of discovery as they explore some of the most fascinating aspects of our world—and beyond!
Throughout the term, we will be expanding our knowledge of space, learning about planets, stars and what lies beyond Earth. Back on our planet, we will delve into the wonders of the rainforest, discovering its rich wildlife and unique environments. The children will also travel back in time to learn about dinosaurs, as well as investigate the power and impact of volcanoes.
As part of our learning, we will be introducing the children to the inspiring work of Sir David Attenborough, celebrating his 100th birthday and exploring how he has helped us understand and care for our planet.
We are looking forward to a term full of curiosity, exploration and awe as the children continue to develop their understanding of the world around them.
At Stoke Bishop we follow a programme called Mastering number. The children really enjoy the materials that we use to teach the programme, especially the number blocks aspect.
Mastering Number starts by building on the children previous experiences of number from home and Pre School.
During Term 5:
- Pupils will consolidate their counting skills, counting to larger numbers and developing a wider range of counting strategies. They will secure knowledge of number facts through varied practice.
Pupils will:
- continue to develop their counting skills,
counting larger sets as well as counting
actions and sounds - explore a range of representations of
numbers, including the 10-frame, and
see how doubles can be arranged in a
10-frame - compare quantities and numbers,
including sets of objects which have
different attributes - continue to develop a sense of
magnitude, e.g. knowing that 8 is quite a
lot more than 2, but 4 is only a little bit
more than 2 - begin to generalise about ‘one more
- than’ and ‘one less than’ numbers within 10
- continue to identify when sets can be
subitised and when counting is
necessary - develop conceptual subitising skills
including when using a rekenrek
In addition, continuous provision is available for the children during independent ‘explorer time’. This is where the children can develop their mathematical skills independently through their play, for example playing games, solving maths problems and exploring capacity, weight and time in the outside garden.
We use Unlocking Letters and Sounds which was validated by the DfE in December 2021. We begin teaching phonics in the first few weeks of term 1 in Reception and children make rapid progress in their reading journey. Children begin to learn the main sounds heard in the English Language and how they can be represented, as well as learning ‘Common Exception’ words for Phases 2, 3 and 4.
Term 5
After spending time consolidating Phase 3, the children will now start phase 4. With previous knowledge they will be able to represent each of 42 phonemes by a grapheme and be able to blend phonemes to read CVC words and segment CVC words for spelling. They will have some experience in reading simple two-syllable words and captions. They will know letter names and be able to read and spell some common exception words.
The purpose of phase 4 is to consolidate children’s knowledge of graphemes in reading and spelling words containing adjacent consonants* and polysyllabic words* (*see below for definitions).
Please note in this phase no new GPCs will be taught.
Reading books
As part of the phonic programme, we use regular assessment to help children keep up with the pace and provide additional support where necessary. Through this regular assessment we send home books that are matched to your child’s phonic ability. To start with the children will be sent home with a picture book to discuss. Some children will now be receiving books with words. We are only giving out books with words to children that can blend and know the sounds that are in the book. Do not panic, if your child does not have a book with words. We continue to work on learning and blending the sounds together daily.
Useful documents to help your child with their reading and writing.
More information about our phonic scheme can be found on the website under curriculum – phonics.
As always if you have any questions please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us.