Welcome to Term 3 in Year R

We hope you have had an enjoyable and relaxing break!

 

This term we will be…

This term’s topic is ‘Dear Zoo’ – an exciting opportunity for the children to explore animals, their habitats, and the world of storytelling. We’ll be learning about different types of animals, thinking about why some might make good pets and why others might not, and exploring descriptive language. In the classroom, your child will be supported by Miss Harding, our full-time teacher, and Mrs Walls, our dedicated Teaching Assistant. On Tuesday mornings, we welcome Mr Cross from PH ActiveEd, who will lead the children in engaging PE sessions.

 

Home Learning in Year R

Home learning will be set on Tapestry each week. Children will receive a reading book to enjoy for the week, along with a ‘word of the week’ to investigate and either a phonic or number activity. Home learning will be set on Thursdays and should be handed in the following Wednesday. There is no need to return paper copies as photographs of your child’s home learning can be uploaded directly to Tapestry. If you are unable to access Tapestry, please let us know so that we can provide your child with a paper copy.

 

Phonics – early reading and writing

This term, we finish Phase 3 Phonics and then begin Phase 3 Mastery. Children will continue to read and write digraphs (two letters making one sound) and trigraphs (three letters making one sound). These sounds help children decode more complex words and build confidence in their reading and writing. We will continue to use Unlocking Letters and Sounds to guide our phonics teaching, with a new sound being introduced or revisited on most days. Reading books will be changed every Monday, but we ask that children bring their book to school each day so we can enjoy hearing them read throughout the week. Please remember to sign the reading record whenever you read together at home. With regards to writing, children continue to build fine motor skills through fun activities like threading, drawing and cutting. In our daily Phonics lessons and weekly Handwriting sessions, children form letters and use these skills to write simple words. As name recognition and writing are such important milestones, children are encouraged to identify their own name on their locker and take part in morning name-writing. Families can help by encouraging their child to write their name at home. Remember, you don't have to just use pen and paper... Get creative! 

 

Maths

This term, we’re continuing to deepen our understanding of numbers to five, with a particular focus on recalling number bonds to 5 – learning which pairs of numbers make five with increasing confidence and fluency. We’ll also begin to explore numbers 6–10, looking at how these numbers can be represented, compared and composed. Children will continue using the part–part–whole model to understand how numbers can be broken apart and put back together, supporting early addition and subtraction in a hands‑on, meaningful way. Families can support at home by counting everything, everywhere! Spot numbers on walks, in books, during play and on home appliances. Try to talk about numbers during everyday routines – how many eggs do we have left, how many socks make a pair, or how many buttons are on a coat.

 

Snack / Lunch / Water Bottles

Please ensure your child brings a named bottle to school every day, filled with water. The children are allowed to fill their water bottles up during the day if they run out. Please ensure water bottles are taken home regularly and washed. Every day at 10am, children are offered a fruit or vegetable for snack time. Since we don’t always know in advance what will be delivered, some children choose to bring their own fruit or vegetable to school with them. At lunch time, the children eat in the school hall. Please ensure your child is either registered for school meals or provided with a well-balanced and healthy lunch box.

 

Timetable of things to remember!

Day	I need to remember...
Monday	Wear school uniform
Tuesday	Wear PE uniform
Wednesday	Wear school uniform Home Learning handed in
Thursday	Wear school uniform Home Learning given out
Friday	Wear school uniform

 

If you have any queries please do not hesitate to contact the school office to arrange to speak with Miss Harding.

Kind regards, 

The Year R Team