Pioneers
Hill R Learning Journey
We’re so excited to welcome our Reception children for a term full of curiosity, creativity and fun!
My name is Miss Watkins and I am the Class Teacher in Pioneer class. We are supported by the lovely Miss Fisher, who inspires us everyday with her creative activities and love of phonics and Fred the Frog. We are lucky in EYFS as we share the space with Explorer Class and therefore work alongside Mr Ainsworth and Mrs Younis. 4 times the enthusiasm and help!
What Will We Be Learning About This Half Term?
Autumn Term Here We Come!
We’re so excited to welcome our Reception children to Spring Hill for a new year full of curiosity, creativity, and fun!
We’ll be diving into topics such as:
English
This half term in English, we will be exploring the traditional tale The Little Red Hen. Through this exciting topic, the children will learn the story by heart using a story map and will enjoy listening to and retelling the story in a range of ways. We will be exploring life on a farm and even taking part in some bread making to help bring the story to life. As we listen to and enjoy a variety of stories, we will begin to answer simple comprehension questions to develop our understanding and recall. Alongside this, we will continue developing our early phonics skills by identifying initial sounds, practising our letter sounds and beginning to orally blend CVC (consonant-vowel-consonant) words.
Maths
In Maths, we will be focusing on numbers to 5. The children will develop their understanding of one-to-one correspondence, ensuring they can accurately match objects to numbers when counting. We will also be practising subitising, helping children to recognise small quantities without needing to count. Through our exciting visits to Numberland, we will explore the composition of numbers, learning how numbers can be made in different ways and developing a strong foundation for future mathematical understanding.
Gross and Fine Motor Development
Our physical development focus will be on building confidence in movement and developing both gross and fine motor skills. Through a variety of activities, the children will practise large body movements, improve their spatial awareness and develop basic movement skills such as balancing, jumping and moving safely in different spaces. We will also strengthen hand muscles and improve grip through a range of engaging fine motor activities, helping to prepare children for mark making and early writing.
Expressive Arts and Design
In Expressive Arts and Design, the children will have opportunities to explore a wide range of materials freely and creatively. They will experiment with different tools and resources within the provision, developing their confidence, independence and imagination as they create, investigate and express their own ideas.
Understanding the World
In Understanding the World, we will be learning about time in relation to ourselves, talking about our daily routines and the events that make up our day. We will also explore our school community, learning about the different people who help us in school and the important roles they play. Alongside this, we will celebrate the similarities and differences within our class, encouraging children to appreciate and respect one another while developing a stronger sense of belonging.
What Does Learning Look Like in EYFS at Spring Hill...
At Spring Hill, our Early Years Foundation Stage is a vibrant, engaging environment where learning happens through fun, purposeful activities. We offer a balance of linked provision and continuous provision, ensuring children have structured opportunities alongside the freedom to explore and discover. Our classroom environment acts as a second teacher, carefully designed to spark curiosity and support every child’s development. We pride ourselves on creating a language-rich setting, where talk and vocabulary are woven into every interaction to build strong communication skills. Every area of the classroom is thoughtfully utilised and interconnected, so children experience learning that flows across all areas of development. At Spring Hill, we believe that when learning is joyful and meaningful, children thrive.
Your Child's RAISE Assembly Date:
28th Sept -
5th October-
12th October-
19th October -
26th October -
Homework:
Each Friday, we will continue to share the sounds that we have been learning in class that week. We kindly ask that you use the QR cards in your child’s reading record to access and watch the matching phonics videos together. It is very important that children watch the videos that correspond to the sounds they have been learning in school, as this helps to reinforce their learning and build their confidence. Regular practice at home makes a significant difference to children's progress, helping them to recognise sounds more quickly, develop their blending skills and become more successful early readers. Thank you for your continued support in helping your child develop these important phonics skills.
Reminders
Please ensure that your child brings a coat to school each day, as the weather can be changeable and we spend lots of time learning outdoors. We also ask that every child has a set of spare clothes that can remain in school, just in case they are needed.
Children are welcome to bring a healthy snack to enjoy during morning snack time. If your child brings grapes, please ensure that they are cut into quarters lengthways to help keep everyone safe.
Thank you for your support. We are looking forward to a wonderful term of learning together!