Foundation Stage 1
Welcome to Foundation Stage 1!
In the Foundation stage 1 team there is Miss Lathwood, Mrs Hostead, Mrs Barras, Mrs Booker and Miss Garner.
We are here to help you with child's first step of their learning journey. You can always speak to us at the gate, leave a message with the school office or use Class Dojo.
Spring 1
Happy new year to all of our families!
Right from the start we encourage FS1 children to wear school uniform. Please make sure you write their names in permanent marker on a label or inside of the collar.
Red sweatshirt black trousers dress black skirt white polo shirt Sturdy shoes & waterproof coat
Class Dojo
Please continue to check Class Dojo regularly, ensure you look at the school story as well as our class story. There is lots of information on there that you do not want to miss out on!
Labelled water bottles.
Please make sure your child brings a reusable water bottle to school with them each day. We can only allow water in their bottles. Children are offered milk at snack time and are encouraged to drink from their water bottle throughout the session.
Learning Journey
We will be asking the question “Who lives in a castle?”
We will be “peace and conflict” as part of our Global Curriculum.
Prime Areas of Development:
Communication and language:
We encourage speech in all areas of learning and the provision. We often build on children’s language by repeating their speech back to them and adding 1 or 2 extra words to extend their vocabulary. We focus on vocabulary relevant to topics and have ‘words of the week’. This term we will look at words such as castle, princess, prince, queen, king, fairy tale, character, winter, ice, snow, cold and many more. We will talk about the changes in the environment outside as it gets colder. We will encourage children to talk about what they are interested in in school and at home. We will also begin our communication and language intervention with children who need support with their speech – if your child is one of them we will let you know.
Personal, Social and Emotional Development:
As we will have new children start in January we will support them in forming good relationships with our current children and adults and support our current children with negotiating new friendships. In regards to this we will support children to develop a sense of responsibility and membership of community within Nursery but also within Darnall. We will continue to talk about feelings regularly and support children to manage their emotions. We will continue with supporting toileting in nursery as it is very important that all children become toilet trained to support their independence. It can often take a lot of time and perseverance from parents and children during toilet training however it is a key skill in life they need to learn.
Physical Development:
We will continue to support children to develop their fine and gross motor skills. We will support them to build muscles in their hands and arms ready for writing words in Reception. We will give them plenty of opportunities to mark make and draw. Supporting them to make lines and circles that are clear and have purpose. We will help children master balls skills by having large balls outside to throw and catch, play games which involve passing, throwing and kicking balls. We will provide lots of opportunities for running, dancing, skipping and jumping through outdoor play, role play and group games. We will take children on a walk around areas in school to support them with climbing up and down steps independently. We will also take part in weekly sessions of Dough Disco and Squiggle Whilst you Wiggle.
Maths
We will look at simple patterns and encourage children to notice patterns all around them. We will continue to provide opportunities to count objects and match them to the numeral. We will do this in learning sessions and during play by encouraging children to count toys, actions and people. We will recap 2D and 3D shapes and will demonstrate and encourage children to use informal and mathematical language such as ‘sides’, ‘corners’; ‘straight’, ‘flat’, ‘round’ and positional language ‘next to’, ‘behind’, ‘under’ and so on in play.
Literacy
We will introduce vocabulary related to stories, such as ‘character’, ‘tale’, ‘traditional’ and ‘setting’. We will share traditional tales and the children will be able to use small world to act out key parts. We will be looking at books such as Rapunzel by Rachel Isadora, Zog and The Princess and the Wizard by Julia Donaldson. Poetry and songs will be shared and repeated by the children. During the stories children will be given opportunities to join in by repeating key words. We will encourage mark making in all areas of provision and encourage children to write the own name on their pictures and creations.
Phonics:
Phonics links to communication and language and literacy. Foundations for Phonics- Little Wandle.
Progression of sounds children with learn to tune into and talk about: m d g o c k e
Phonemic awareness focus: We will teach children to identify initial sounds of words and names of objects.
We will teach children to distinguish different sounds.
Developing Speaking skills
Rhythm and rhyme
Oral blending focus: Teach children to blend a wider range of CVC words using oral blending.
Understanding the world:
The first week of term will be taking part in the whole school faculty week based on Citizenship and improving the local area. We will look at recycling and the importance of walking to school to help our local area. We will explore natural phenomena such as frost and ice to foster an enjoyment in exploration of the outdoors, we will also explore materials such as bark, logs, pebbles. We will look at our immediate families and talk about our own life history (we were all babies, then toddlers and so on).
Expressive Arts and Design:
We will encourage role play and small world play around our topic ‘who lives in a castle?’ we will encourage lots of imaginative language around fairy tales. We will focus on music and singing and beginning to make our own songs up in play. We will create with purpose in mind using different media, materials and skills to create objects around our fairy tale topic.
Readmore@Phillimore
Sharing and reading books will help children become great readers and writers one day. Your child will have their own book bag which they can bring in every Tuesday to borrow a book from our Readmore Library.
Books we will be reading:
Home Learning
- Share stories daily; find a regular time to share stories.
- Sing rhymes with your child – these could be traditional nursery rhymes or modern day ones.
- Tell your child what you’re doing as you’re doing it, in your home language or English. Giving your child a running commentary of what you or they are doing throughout the day helps them hear new language and hears good speech modelled by you. Doing this while shopping, cooking or even tidying can really help for example “I’m chopping the pepper now with a sharp knife, I will then put it in the pan to cook and make it hot” or “I’m taking the dirty clothes out of the basket to put it in the washing machine” even speech as simple as that can expose children to lots of words.
- Look out for numbers and letters around your house, your street or anywhere you go.
- Encourage your child to count objects around the house up to 5. For example 5 cups, 3 cars, 4 spoons, 2 toothbrushes. Once they are able to count 5 objects move on to counting amounts up to 10. Find different objects to make amounts up to 5. If you have 3 cups and 2 spoons is that still 5?
Take part in pretend play with your child, use some food from your kitchen and pretend to work in or go to the shop, use some food and some toys and pretend to have a teddy bear picnic, let your child wear their best clothes and pretend to go to a celebration. Pretend play can extend children’s vocabulary, conversational skills and their understanding of the world around them.
Self-care skills:
In Nursery it is important for the children to be independent in as many ways as possible. Teaching your child to do things for themselves helps them become fantastic problem solvers and helps to build on their learning skills.
Please teach your children to feed themselves, tidy away their toys, put on and take off their coat themselves and use the toilet independently by pulling down and up their pants and trousers. It is really important for children to start toilet training when they begin nursery, this will help their independence skills. Please put your child in pants and trousers or leggings that they are able to easily pull up and down and lots of spare clothes in their bag. We will support them and you with toilet training. Please also put them in a vest without poppers.
If your child still has a dummy, now is a great time to get rid of it. Having a dummy past 1 years old can damage your child’s teeth, it can affect the shape of your child’s mouth which can affect their speech too.
Tooth Brushing Club
- Every year there are 60,000 school days lost to tooth extractions and poor oral health. Tooth decay affects a staggering 25% of 5-year olds. It remains the leading cause of hospitalisation in children aged 5-9.
- We are going to take part in an NHS funded tooth brushing club.
- In FS1 we will practise tooth brushing in the spring or summer term. Every child will be given their own new toothbrush starting from each term, which will be stored under controlled conditions. All children will supervised while brushing their teeth. Children will need parental permission to join the club.
- In the meantime, we will be sending toothbrushes home for children to practise how to use them.
Events:
Watch out for texts and Class Dojo posts, informing you of our learning and activities happening in FS1.
Phonics workshop for parents– date to be confirmed.
Back to school Tuesday 3rd of January
Citizenship week 3rd – 6th of January
Musical Stories 19th January – Musical stories PM
Chinese New Year 22nd of January
Inset day Friday 27th January
Please make sure your child attends school as every day counts!
Especially in the early years, parental involvement has a significant impact on children’s cognitive development, reading, writing and number skills.
Autumn 2
Learning Journey
We will be asking the question “How do you celebrate?”
We will be “exploring Identity and diversity” as part of our Global Curriculum..
Prime Areas of Development:
Communication and language:
We encourage speech in all areas of learning and the provision. We often build on children’s language by repeating their speech back to them and adding 1 or 2 extra words to extend their vocabulary. We will talk a lot about the upcoming celebrations over the half term and teach the children key words such as Diwali, Halloween, Bonfire night, Christmas, Hanukkah, World Nursery Rhyme Week. We will also talk about charities such as Children in Need.
Children are encouraged to use pretend talk in play using correct vocabulary for play objects. As well as the 5 official nursery rhymes for nursery rhyme week we will continue to teach the children nursery rhymes and poems to support their vocabulary. We will also continue to read a story each session and ask questions about what is happening in the stories and what they think might happen next.
Personal, Social and Emotional Development:
We will continue to develop language around feelings and ensure they feel strong enough to express their emotions. We will continue to support children with developing relationships with adults in nursery and their peers. We will also ensure we boost their sense of independence and help them to learn how to do things for themselves. We will also support them to understand and follow the rules and boundaries set in nursery.
Physical Development:
With lots of celebrations happening this half term we will be developing our movement to music. We will be providing lots of opportunities to develop their fine motor skills by using pencils and scissors. Playing outdoors will continue to be an important part of our physical development. We will be working on large ball skills like throwing them into a net or throwing and catching between peers. We will also encourage skilful running, skipping and jumping. We will also introduce two important initiatives that help children to develop their hand and arm muscles ready for writing. These are called Squiggle Whilst you Wiggle and Dough Disco.
Specific areas of Development:
Maths
In maths, we will be exploring many maths books such as Ten in a Bed, Rocket countdown, Roald Dahl 1,2,3 and firework counting book. We will be singing finger rhymes with numbers. We will continue to look at numbers up to 5 in depth. Ensuring children can say 1 number for each item in order and can realise that the numerals match the amount. We will look at patterns and identify those in the environment. We will introduce shape and size and begin to make comparisons between objects relating to size, weight and capacity. We will talk about and explore 2D shapes.
Literacy
In Literacy, this half term we will be reading lots of books related to our topic of “What do you celebrate?” and lots of other books that interest us. The children will listen and join in with stories. We will create an environment where children are eager to look at books independently. We will encourage children to copy their name. Poetry and songs will be shared and repeated by the children. During the stories children will be given opportunities to join in by repeating key words. We also have ‘words of the week’ where we teach key words related to the topic to the children. We will have a focus on mark making, and those able to form letters we will encourage them to write their names in daily provision.
Book bag
Sharing and reading books will help children become better readers and writers. We will send a book bag with your child’s name on it, it will have a book, which we will change every Tuesday. Please help us with this, by bringing the book back to change every Tuesday.
Phonics:
Phonics links to communication and language and literacy.
Progression of sounds children with learn to tune into and talk about: s a t p i n
Phonemic awareness focus: We will teach children to teach children to hear the same initial sound for words and names of objects.
We will develop general sound discrimination.
Oral blending focus:
Teach children to blend CVC words using oral blending and objects.
Understanding the world:
Children will learn about the place they live in and all aspects of the environment. They will investigate by looking, touching, smelling hearing, and smelling (the five senses). They will explore and investigate how and why things work and test out their ideas of what will happen if they do a particular thing like pouring warm water over ice. They will also learn about the past by talking to grandparents or older people. We will go on autumn hunts. Our celebrations are: Diwali, Bonfire Night, Armistice Day, Hanukkah and Christmas. Explore and respond to different natural phenomena in their setting and on trips.
Expressive Arts and Design:
We will be encouraging the children to create with all sorts of different materials such as playdough, paint, tissue paper, foil, toilet roll tubes and so much more. We will explore colours and how colours can be changed. Explore different materials, using all their senses to investigate them. Children will be taught to make rhythmical and repetitive sounds with musical instruments. Children will be encouraged to develop a story line in their play by using props for their role play.
Books we will be reading:
Home Learning
- Share stories daily; find a regular time to share stories.
- Look out for numbers and letters around your house, your street or anywhere you go.
- Encourage your child to count objects around the house up to 5. For example 5 cups, 3 cars, 4 spoons, 2 toothbrushes. Once they are able to count 5 objects move on to counting amounts up to 10. Find different objects to make amounts up to 5. If you have 3 cups and 2 spoons is that still 5?
- Take part in pretend play with your child, use some food from your kitchen and pretend to work in or go to the shop, use some food and some toys and pretend to have a teddy bear picnic, let your child wear their best clothes and pretend to go to a celebration. Pretend play can extend children’s vocabulary, conversational skills and their understanding of the world around them.
Events:
- 31st October – Halloween Disco
- 4th of November – Firework display for children
- 5th November – Bonfire night
- 8th of November – Autumn walk with parents
- Week beginning 7th November – Parents meetings
- 11th November – Remembrance Day
- Week beginning 14th November – World Nursery Rhyme Week & Anti Bullying Week
- 17th November – Road Safety Team activity for Children
- Friday 18th November - Children in Need
- Saturday 10th December - Human Rights Day
- 15th December – Christmas Jumper Day
- 16th December – School Breaks up
- Monday 2nd - Bank Holiday
- 3rd January – Children return to school
Watch out for texts and ClassDojo, informing you of our learning and activities happening in FS1.
Self-care skills:
In Nursery it is important for the children to be independent in as many ways as possible. Teaching your child to do things for themselves helps them become fantastic problem solvers and helps to build on their learning skills.
Please teach your children to feed themselves, tidy away their toys, put on and take off their coat themselves and use the toilet independently by pulling down and up their pants and trousers. It is really important for children to start toilet training when they begin nursery, this will help their independence skills. Please put your child in pants and trousers or leggings that they are able to easily pull up and down and lots of spare clothes in their bag. We will support them and you with toilet training.
If your child still has a dummy, now is a great time to get rid of it. Having a dummy past 1 years old can damage your child’s teeth, it can affect the shape of your child’s mouth which can affect their speech too.
Research has shown that parents can enhance their child’s progress and attainment if they regularly engage in first hand experiences with their children, which encourage positive social development, understanding of the world around them and thinking skills.
Going on visits out and about in the area that they live, in is a simple way to achieve this through talking with your child and enjoying the experience. We want the FS1 visits to be the ideal opportunity to share ideas with parents of how this can be done through simple talk and open questions. More information around visits will follow throughout the year.
Please make sure your child attends school as every day counts!
Especially in the early years, parental involvement has a significant impact on children’s cognitive development, reading, writing and number skills.
Autumn 1
We would like to welcome our new parents and children to FS1. Welcome back to our families, we hope you’ve all had a lovely summer break!
Right from the start we encourage FS1 children to wear school uniform. Please make sure you write their names in permanent marker on a label or inside of the collar.
Red sweatshirt black trousers dress black skirt white polo shirt Sensible shoes & coat
Class Dojo
At admission we will share your username and password to connect to class dojo. Please check it regularly as we will share learning ideas with you. You can also communicate with us by sending us messages.
Independence
It is important to encourage your child to be independent. We find children are brilliant problem solvers if they are taught how to do things instead of having things done for them. We will encourage them to put on and take off their coats and jumpers for themselves, tidy away the toys and use the toilet independently in school, we hope you will encourage this at home too.
Learning Journey
We will be learning about ourselves and open our topic with the question;
“What is special about me?” and exploring identity and diversity as part of our Global Curriculum.
Through our learning we will begin to explore ourselves as individuals, who we are within our families, where we belong and begin to understand that we are all different, but we are all friends.
Maths
In maths, we will be exploring numbers up to 5 and using numbers in our play. Through saying number rhymes we will count, add and subtract.
Examples include:
- Five little ducks went swimming one day…
- One, two, three, four, five, once I caught a fish alive…..
- Ten little men in a flying saucer…
We will also look at shapes, recognising, naming them and making links with what we see in our environment.
Literacy
In Literacy, this half term we will be reading lots of books related to our topic of ourselves, autumn and other books that interest us.
Parents, please help us with sharing and reading books at home, this will help us become better readers and writers. We will have a focus on mark making, and those able to form letters we will encourage them to write their names.
Phonics:
Phonics will cascade through all areas of our learning including singing nursery rhymes and reading. We will start with Foundations for Phonics which includes listening to rhyming words, sharing stories and poems, developing our listening and attention skills and hearing high quality language in a language rich environment.
Books we will be reading:
And lots and lots more…
Home Learning
- Share stories daily; find a regular time to share stories.
- Look out for and read environmental print like the Lidl, McDonalds and Asda signs.
- When you are out, count things you see around. Encourage your child to notice numbers all around them.
Look out for shapes around the house, like the door shape can be rectangular, the window can be square etc.
For your information
- Please ensure your child brings a bag to school for their belongings.
- Please ensure your child has spare clothes including pants and socks in their bag.
Please make sure your child has appropriate clothing for the weather e.g. sun hats or raincoats, we explore outside in ALL weathers.
Labelled water bottles
Please make sure your child has a labelled, reusable water bottle. We only allow children to have water in their bottles.
Research has shown that parents can enhance their child’s progress and attainment if they regularly engage in first hand experiences with them, which encourage positive social development, understanding of the world around them and thinking skills.
Going on visits out and about in the area that they live in is a simple way to achieve this through talking with your child and enjoying the experience. More information around visits will follow through the year.
We want the FS1 visit to be the ideal opportunity to share ideas with parents of how this can be done through simple talk and open questions.
Please make sure your child attends school as every day counts!
Year group expectations
I promise to always try my best
I promise to always have kind hands and feet
I promise to listen
I promise to share
I promise to say please, thank you and sorry when I need to
Our Foundation Stage Vision
