The Shire

Our Reception starters have joined our Year 1 and Year 2 children in “The Shire.” The first few weeks will be focused on helping the children to settle into their new environment, build new friendships, and become familiar with the routines of school life. We will spend plenty of time supporting them as they grow in confidence and independence. 

Our topic for this half-term is “We Are Explorers.” The Reception children will begin by exploring 'ourselves' – learning about who we are, our families, and the things that make us unique. From there, we will widen our explorations to our school and the local environment, encouraging the children to notice, question, and discover the world around them. We'll finish the half-term by learning about and celebrating the Harvest, which will give us the chance to reflect on community, sharing, and thankfulness. 

Years 1 and 2 will be exploring the North and South Poles and finding out about the Ice Explorers. In Science, children will be finding out about living things and their habitats. We will be visiting Cotswold Wildlife Park to observe polar animals. 

A few practical reminders to help the children settle into a routine: 

• PE kit and trainers should be brought in on a Monday and will remain in school for the week. 
• Children should bring a water bottle and a raincoat to school every day. 
• It is helpful if you go through the lunch menu with your child in the morning, so they are ready to make their choice at registration. 
• Please ensure that all items of clothing are clearly labelled with your child’s name. 
• Your children will come home with a home-school link book which parents will need to write in and return the following day. 
• Spellings for Year 1 and 2 will be sent home on Mondays and tested on Fridays.

We will be sending information home separately about 'Little Explorers'. 

We are looking forward to an exciting and rewarding term ahead.  Thank you for your support as we begin this journey together. It is a privilege to be part of your child’s early learning and development. 

Dragons Class

In the Dragons Class this term we will be finding out about the Spice Road and the explorers that travelled to the Far East. We will be looking at different biomes and the herbs and spices that grow within them.

In cookery, the pupils will be making chutneys with chillies grown in the outdoor classroom and preserving food.

This term the children will be working towards getting their 'pen licence'. They will all start writing in pencil and when they have earned their licence they will get to use a pen. 

As general housekeeping points: 

• Spelling will be sent home on Mondays and tested on Fridays.
• PE Kit needs to be in school all week but will be on Tuesdays and Fridays.
• Children need shoes to change into for the outdoor classroom.
• Coats always need to be in school.
• Dragons will need gardening clothes on Mondays and Wednesdays.
• Mrs Wallace will be teaching the class Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and Mrs Bartlett on Thursdays and Fridays.
• There will be brass lessons on Tuesday mornings.

Wizards Class

In the Wizards class we will be looking at the question 'How can exploration change how we act today?'

We will be finding out about the early exploration of America. We will be researching the stories of explorers' lives and writing biographies and radio interviews. In Maths, we are learning about the place value of larger numbers as well as solving more complex number problems. In English, we are thinking about using more challenging vocabulary, finding definitions for words and applying this to our extended writing.

Some housekeeping points:

• In cookery, on Tuesdays, we will be thinking about making jams and preserves using local produce.
• We'll need outdoor clothing for gardening on Thursday and Friday afternoons.
• Please bring PE kit into school on Monday.
• Brass lessons will be on Tuesdays.
• We are planning a visit to Pitt Rivers and the Natural History Museum in Oxford and organising a meeting with parents and carers to discuss this year's residential.