Welcome to Reception Class.

Summer 2026 

Our first theme of the term is ‘Growing, Farming and Food’ where the children will learn about food and where it comes from.  They will learn what food is grown locally and what food  is grown abroad.  The children will further develop their understanding of life cycles and food chains.  After half term our theme will be ‘Once Upon a time’.  This term will be full of magic including a trip to Lowther Castle.   The children will share lots of traditional tales and make comparisons between their favourite story book characters. They will use their imagination to create, write and perform stories.

Reading

We will continue to use Little Wandle letters and sounds revised phonics programme.  The children will bring home a reading for pleasure book for you to share, this is for you to read to them and enjoy reading together. All children have now mastered blending and are doing amazing on their reading journey. We will be working on reading words with automaticity to increase fluency through whispering sounds before saying them in are heads.  Children will be bringing home a new practice book each week to show of their reading skills.   Please read with your child at least 3 times a week and comment in their reading diary. There is lots of information for parents on how you can support your child on the Little Wandle Website. 
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Phonics

Our focus this term will be on learning phase 2 phonemes, how to blend and begin to read tricky words. 

1st Half Term

Week 1 short vowels CVCC said so have like

Week 2 short vowels CVCC CCVC some come love do

Week 3 short vowels CCVCC CCCVC CCCVCC longer words were here little says

Week 4 longer words compound words there when what one

Week 5 root words ending in: –ing, –ed /t/, –ed /id/ /ed/ –est out today

2nd Half Term 

Week 1 long vowel sounds CVCC CCVC Review all taught so far Secure spelling

Week 2 long vowel sounds CCVC CCCVC CCV CCVCC

Week 3 Phase 4 words ending –s /s/ Phase 4 words ending –s /z/ Phase 4 words ending –es longer words

Week 4 root word ending in: –ing, –ed /t/, –ed /id/ /ed/, –ed /d/

Week 5 Phase 4 words ending in: –s /s/, –s /z/, –es longer words

Your child will be bringing home a home learning sheet each week with the phonemes we have learnt, for you to practise.

Writing

We will continue to focus on good pencil grips and the correct formation of graphemes. Children will practice segmenting sounds for writing in small groups.  Writing is encouraged throughout the day in continuous provision.  Each morning we will start to write captions and simple sentences to encourage independent writing and practice phonemes learnt in phonics.   

Maths 

We will be following the white rose Mastering Number programme. This is a mastery approach where childen engage in practical activities focusing on subitising, counting, cardinality, ordinality, composition and shape space and measure

PE

Friday mornings we will be learning about what effect exercise has on our bodies and the importance of keeping healthy.    Action Ants will be joining us for some fun packed sessions and we will work with Lucy our PE specialist after half term on Wednesdays.    

Forest School 

This will be every Monday afternoon.  Make sure children have the correct kit as listed in the induction booklet.   We will go out whatever the weather so be prepared for muddy children!  They will go home in their kit so it can be dried for the next week.  As the weather improves children may not want to wear full waterproofs however a  long sleeved top and trousers are essential to prevent getting stung by the nettles.   

Music 

We will be singing familiar songs and building up a repertoire of new songs. We will also explore the musical instruments and play along to the songs we learn.