Welcome to Acorn Class

PE Days Spring Term 2: MONDAYS and WEDNESDAYS

Forest School Spring Term 2: FRIDAY MORNING - RECEPTION

Forest School Spring Term 2: FRIDAY AFTERNOON - YEAR 1

At Water Primary School, Acorn Class is home to Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and Year 1 children. Your child's Class Teacher is Mrs. Smith and their Teaching Assistants are Mrs. Greenwood, Miss Ross and Mrs. Sanderson.

Class Teachers this term: Mrs. Edington (Mondays and Tuesdays) and Mrs. Turner (Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays).

We hope you have had a lovely break and are looking forward to the next half-term in Acorn Class!

Focused Learning

English

In Spring Term 2, we begin with our Traditional Tales unit, focusing on Cinderella, Billy Goats Gruff and Villains and Beasts. Next, we will Spring into Spring as we cover a range of non-fiction writing, including captions, labels and instructions based on the season of Spring, animals awakening from hibernation, flowers blooming and the celebration of Easter. 

Reception children will continue to focus on their fine motor skills in order to help with their handwriting. They will write their name, focusing on how each letter is correctly formed and they will begin to mark-make with meaning (this will look different for each child - some will use pictures, some may use symbols and others may use recognisable letters.

Year 1 children will develop their sentence writing skills; initially focusing on using their phonic knowledge and finger spaces between words and moving onto using capital letters and full stops.

Our children take part in daily phonic lessons; your child will be sent home with a reading book and these will be changed throughout the week. We always encourage parents to read with children each night. It is really important that you read the book more than once. For example:

1. Let your children try to read independently.

2. Encourage your children to use their phonics skills to segment and blend words together.

3. Model reading for your child.

4. Ask questions about what has been read e.g. Who is the main character? Can you tell me what happened at the end?

5. Please sign the reading record book, so we know the book has been read.

We will endeavour to read with all the children throughout the week too. 

Maths

In Maths, our Reception children will continue their learning on number bonds to 10 before moving onto subtraction. Later in the term they will focus on a range of simple and complex patterns. 

Our Year 1 children will continue their learning on numbers to 50 before moving onto to learning all about Measure. They will learn about length, height, mass and capacity. 

You can help your children at home by playing number games, counting and even learning to count in twos, fives and tens.

Handwriting

We will teach your child handwriting through discrete lessons. They will learn a rhyme for each letter which will help them to remember how to form each letter correctly; starting and ending in the correct place. A poster will be sent home so that you can support them at home.

Phonics

Reception children will begin learning letters and sounds. They will start by hearing and saying the individual sounds in words and will then learn what each of the letters looks like. Phase 2 phonics, followed by Phase 3, will be taught to allow them to begin their reading and writing journey.

Year 1 children will consolidate what they have been learning in reception before moving onto the next stage. This means that they will have a range of Phase 2, Phase 3, Phase 4 and Phase 5 sounds.

Not all of our learning in Acorn Class is through adult-led, focused groups. We also give children the opportunity to learn through play in time called continuous provision (independent learning).

Learning through exploring

Our classroom is set up to enhance children's independent play. This is an important time for our children as it develops so many skills, such as communication, problem-solving and understanding the world. At home, encourage your children to play and to talk to you about what they have done throughout the day.

PE 

This half-term, Acorn Class PE will take place every Monday and Wednesday. Please ensure that your child wears their full Water Primary PE kit with trainers and navy leggings or joggers so that we have the flexibility to train inside or out, depending on the weather. 

Forest School

This half-term, Reception children will continue to attend Forest School every Friday morning and Year 1 children will attend Forest School every Friday afternoon. Both sessions will be led by our Forest School Leader, Mr. Claxton. Please can Reception and Year 1 children come to school dressed in their Water Primary PE kits, bringing with them their Forest School clothes to go over the top of these, which includes waterproof jacket and trousers/overalls/puddlesuit, wellington boots/walking boots and any other items they will need to stay warm, such as a hat, scarf and gloves. 

Snack Time

In Acorn, we operate a snack system. If you would like your child to have a snack, please pay for it on Parent Pay at the beginning of the half-term, which will cover your child’s snacks for the full half-term.

Keeping in Touch

Our door is always open and if you have any questions please do not hesitate to speak to us before or after school. We always welcome any news from home so please share any exciting activities which you have done with your children.

Please see our twitter pages;

@mrsejsmith

@Waterprimary