Term 4 

Phonics and English

Scottish Owls have been exploring a variety of ways to develop and improve their handwriting skills this term. As part of this, the children have taken part in regular Write Dance sessions, which use movement and music to help develop the physical skills needed for handwriting. These sessions encourage large arm movements and coordination, helping children to build the strength and control required for writing.

Alongside this, we have also enjoyed participating in Dough Disco. These fun activities involve using dough to strengthen hand and finger muscles, supporting the development of fine motor skills that are essential for forming letters correctly. The children have thoroughly enjoyed these sessions and we have already seen a noticeable improvement in their control and confidence when writing.

During our writing activities, we have also begun encouraging the children to use capital letters and full stops in their sentences. Many children are starting to apply these skills independently in their work, and it has been wonderful to see the progress they are making.

Maths

In Maths, the class has been focusing on number bonds to 10. The children have been learning that number bonds are different combinations of numbers that make a total of 10. We have explored these through engaging songs, physical actions and a range of practical resources.

The children have used manipulatives such as counters, ten frames and other practical equipment to help them visualise how two numbers can combine to make 10. As their understanding has developed, they have also begun to record their findings by writing simple number sentences that match the number bonds they have discovered. It has been fantastic to see their confidence grow as they begin to represent their mathematical thinking in different ways.

Topic

Our topic this term has been Ready, Steady, Grow, and the children have had great fun exploring this theme through a range of exciting activities. One of the highlights was our recent visit to Forest School. During the session, the children took part in a variety of outdoor learning experiences, including walking through the stream, planting seeds, enjoying hot chocolate around the fire and having a turn on the tyre swing.

The children demonstrated impeccable behaviour throughout the visit and approached every activity with enthusiasm and curiosity. The adults were incredibly proud to see the children confidently trying new experiences and showing such a positive attitude to learning outdoors.

Term 3 

Phonics and English

In Scottish Owls, the children have shown an increasing interest in making marks and writing in a variety of ways. They have enjoyed using chalk in the garden, exploring the sensory tuff tray, and taking part in large-scale writing on big sheets of paper. During phonics, we have been learning to identify Red Words. The children have loved searching for these around the classroom, copying them onto post-it notes, and proudly sharing the words they know with their friends.

Maths: Positional Language

In Maths, we have been exploring positional language. The children enjoyed hiding teddy bears in different places for both children and adults to find. They used the language they had learned to explain where the bears were hidden. We also enjoyed using cars and building different ramps to explore how and where the cars could move.

Jubilee University: Safety

Our Jubilee University theme has been Safety. The children have been learning about different occupations that help us in a variety of situations. We took part in lots of activities, including drawing people who help us, writing about them, constructing emergency vehicles, dressing up, and role-playing different scenarios. We particularly focused on how to get help if we need it, and the children now know that they should call 999 in an emergency.

Term 2

This term Scottish Owls have dived into the topic’ Marvellous Machines.’ The overarching theme of this topic has been designing and creating machines as well as learning more about household machines that are useful to us. The children have had great fun being engineers and inventors using our junk modelling area to bring their ideas to life.

The books that we have studied this term in our English sessions have been closely linked to our topic. We have explored themes such as failure and success and what to do when we fail. The children have had great fun learning the texts and creating actions. It has been incredibly rewarding to see how the writing has come along in our class along with the children’s ability to read.

In Mathematics we have been exploring 3D and 2D shapes. First, we looked at 3D shapes and experimented with them discussing how they react when manipulated and why. After this, we explored the properties of 2D shape and how they can be manipulated to form different pictures and also which 3D shapes can be used to print 2D shapes. Children have learnt the differences between a shape having a curved edge and a shape that has a straight edge. Recently, we have been looking at the concept of more and less within 5. This means that children have been able to understand the terms more and less and how this relates to a given number.

This term has also given us some rich cultural opportunities whereby we have been able to express ourselves through singing and dancing for our school nativity as well as moving like robots to different songs.

Term 1 

Settling In

What an amazing start to the term it has been! All of the pupils in Scottish Owls have settled in well and have taken beautifully to our class routines. We are running like a well-oiled machine. It has been wonderful to see the children develop friendly relationships with each other and growing in their confidence. This term has been all about exploration and that is exactly what they have done throughout our amazing EYFS space. Some of the most loved areas in our room include the book nook, home corner and drawing table.

Phonics

We have recently begun our phonics learning on the carpet and the children have been so engaged and focused on learning the accurate sounds that each letter makes as well as how to form each letter. We have enjoyed seeing them recognising the letters within their environment and have been so proud of how in such a short space of time, their writing abilities have developed.

Mathematics

Song, dance and counting have formed the basis of our Maths this term as we journey through out Mathematics curriculum. This term we have been focusing largely on accurate counting, number recognition and using a five frame to assist us with our counting. We have used a variety of games and activities to support our hands on learning and watching focus develop in our room in this area has been a joy to witness.

English

In English this term we have mainly focused on effective listening and sound recognition which is vital in supporting our phonics. A favourite theme in our classroom this term has been based on the book ‘We’re going on a Bear Hunt’ by Michael Rosen. We have really enjoyed acting out and memorising the story and bringing our learning to life through lots of messy and imaginative play.