Oak Class – Reception

In Oak class we enable our Reception and Year 1 children to thrive through play-based learning, outdoor exploration and challenging opportunities in preparation for life's adventures!

Welcome to Oak class!

In Oak class we believe that the classroom is the second teacher and that with carefully thought out planning and set-up, children become autonomous learners; the children are the leaders. It is then our job as practitioners to support them in their exploration. We also have a superb outdoor learning set up so that pupils have the choice of whether they explore new concepts inside or outside. They can design and build elaborate bridges to walk across; explore under the sea creatures at the water tray; cook interesting meals in the mud kitchen; become pirates using costumes and props or create a piece of artwork.

Through play based activities and challenges we teach the Early Years Curriculum and National Curriculum in a way that inspires and encourages our children to ask deeper questions as well as providing a learning journey full of nurturing and enriched opportunities.

Children who are Year 1 in Oak class work closely with their peers from Year 1 in Chestnut class for many areas of the curriculum , joining together for phonics, reading, some areas of the wider curriculum learning and PE.

EYFS Long term plan Cycle A 2023 -2024

Year 1 Long term plan Cycle A 2023-2024

Our learning in Term 2…

In Oak class we combine our learning between the Early Years Curriculum alongside the Year 1 National Curriculum. In knowledge of the world / geography we will be exploring the United Kingdom and learn about the countries, flags and emblems within. We will also learn to recognise the seas surrounding our island.

In Knowledge of the world / science we will be investigating materials, identifying and classifying them as well investigating best materials for uses. In Music we will continue to develop keeping a steady beat with percussion and we will also be rehearsing for our school Nativity. As part of our knowledge and understanding of the world, we will learn about different celebrations that occur at this time of year. These include:Birthdays, Bonfire Night , Remembrance Day, Diwali, Hanukkah, Christmas, and Advent. We will also start to learn some songs in French!

In RE our core value this term is resilience. We will talk in circle times and assemblies about what this looks like and how we can be resilient in our lives. Our Year 1 will learn what Christians believe about incarnation. Together Oak class will explore festivals and celebrations of Hanukkah, The Christmas story and Advent.

Our PSHE learning time will celebrate differences: recognising and celebrating each other for who we are and being proud of ourselves and for each other.

In Maths, reception will be learning to recognise, count and subitise number and objects 0-5 and their value; we will link this with shapes, money and time. In year 1 we will be focusing addition and subtraction using numbers within 20. The children will have daily opportunities to consolidate learning through reasoning and problem solving.

In literacy writing will be taught using Drawing club and Quest for Year 1 which allows children to use their imagination and creativity through drawing and enriched with adventurous vocabulary. In reception the emphasis is on communication and language which will then progress into writing skills . Year 1 will continue with the next stage of Drawing Club – Quest. This will combine writing with continuous provision and ‘inventuring’! This is a mix of inventing and adventure.

Reading and Phonics with Little Wandle

We teach phonics and reading through Little Wandle. Reception continue their phonics learning in Phase 2 whilst Year 1 continue with Phase 5. All children will have practice reading sessions with Year 1 receiving whole class reading using a range of texts. All reception and Year 1 have a home folder that contains all the graphemes/phonemes we are learning along with some words to practice and letter formation. These will be updated as we progress in learning so please use these folders at home but return them to the book bag so we can update when needed. These folders allow you the opportunity to dip in and out of phonics when your child is happy to at home.

All children have a school reading book which will be based on teacher assessment and phonics. For both year groups reading books will be given out on the Wednesday and must be returned to school on the following Monday as they are often rotated between groups. This book will be familiar as we will have read the book three times in school before going home. They should be reading the book fluently, with 90% of the words being read without the need to segment. As a result of this increase in fluency, speed and accuracy, comprehension improves as cognitive overload is reduced.

The second book the children will bring home will be a ‘sharing book’. This will have an ‘s’ sticker on the front. This is a book chosen by your child to encourage a love of reading and can be changed at any time.

Please ensure you sign the purple home-school contact book/reading record each time you read with your child. The expectation is to read daily even for five minutes.

Click here for the overview of our phonics learning in EYFS and Year 1

Click here for access to the Little Wandle Revised Letter and Sounds Parents Support

Christmas activities and learning will include performing a EYFS / KS1 Nativity in the church and writing letters to Santa We look forward to our annual delivery from the North Pole, which we invite parents to. Look out in our newsletter for more information.

In DT / Creative Time we are learning to sew. We will be investigating baubles and what makes an eye-catching decoration. The children will design and make their own felt decorations. We will also be creating Christmas cards and craft learning to stick, cut and make choices.

We already have lots of exciting experiences planned, watch this space!

Please note:

PE lessons will be on Wednesdays. Please send your child to school wearing their PE kit.
All children require a water bottle in school everyday.
Children must have in school every day a spare pair of wellies for our Adventure Play and Paddock area as well as spare clothes in case they get wet.
It is important that children always have a waterproof coat in school as we will be outside as much as possible in all weathers. We also welcome your child keeping wet weather gear for outdoor play. If they have waterproof trousers they can bring in this would be useful.
Contact books/reading records are required in school every day.

Reception / Year 1 Home Learning

It is really important that children spend some time at home each week consolidating their learning at school and it is helpful if they have a quiet space to do so. You can find a copy of our Home Learning Expectation on the policies section of our website. In our class the expectation is:

Weekly phonics to practice through practice reading book including a phonics folder.
Daily reading or sharing of a book for pleasure.
Occasional themed work linked to learning at school (example – Whole school challenge to find a new animal for our core value)
Doodle maths ( all children are set up with password)

Login information for any online resources has been stuck into the inside cover of your child’s reading record.

Play Numbots

Play Doodle Maths

To contact Mrs Parker please use messaging on Class dojo, purple contact book (if not urgent ) or on pick up or drop off if urgent.