Reception - Ash and Oak

Welcome to Ash  and Oak Class!

Week Ending Friday 24th March 2018

This week has been another busy and productive week! The children have enjoyed their visits to Pets At Home and Aldi! During their visit to Pets At Home the children read signs and labels to support navigation of the shop, looked at and discussed what things different pets needed and met some pets which need re homing. In Aldi the children worked together to choose one healthy and one treat snack to bring back to school. The groups chose things such as strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, fairy cakes, chocolate brownies, mini rolls, apple juice and chocolate milkshake.

The children carried their own baskets, paid for the shopping and packed the shopping bags. As they walked around the store the children spotted many of the yellow price labels and could say what some items cost! Whilst walking around both shops we had many lovely comments from other shoppers about how engaged and well behaved the children were! We were all very proud of them!!!!!!!!!

In school this week the children have had great fun writing clues to guess their favourite pet, learnt how to use er and ear to read and write words, looked at a range of coins and discussed how to identify them leading on to adding a selection of coins to find a total amount, created Easter cards and have drawn and painted pictures of spring flowers.

Next week we will be focusing on the Christian celebration of Easter.

Have a lovely weekend.

The EYFS Team

Week Ending Friday 16th March 2018

This week has been Science Week at Bushmead.  Our focus for the week has been Humpty Dumpty and the children were given the challenge of finding a suitable material to make a soft landing for Humpty so that he wouldn't crack when he fell of the wall.  Lots of great discussions about different materials and their properties, lots of predicting and testing; and lots of cracked eggs!  The children have also enjoyed our new building blocks; building walls and testing how strong they are by rolling a ball at them.  We had a great workshop with James Boffin (Secret Science Agent) finding out about electricity, and on Wednesday we had a visit from a science technician at Longsands who demonstrated a number of experiments for us.

This week we were able to finish our visits to Croxton Farm.  There were lots of new lambs born, and on the Monday visit Mrs Howitt and the children got to see a lamb which had been born that very morning.  The children have been busy back in class writing about their visit.  The children are becoming so much more confident with their writing.  In Maths the children have been measuring the walls they have been building; working with a friend to take turns to build taller and shorter walls.

We've been blessed with some drier warmer weather so have been making the most of getting back outside, looking for signs of spring and making observational drawings.

Next week we will be visiting Pets at Home and Aldi as we will be focussing on money.  Please ensure you have returned your permission slip by Monday.

Week Ending Friday 2nd March 2018

This week Early Years have been immersed in a number of Book Week related activities.

The week started with the Bushmead Teaching Staff telling the story of 'The Day The Crayons Quit' by Oliver Jeffers during whole school assembly.  Following that the children created pictures with crayons, talked about their favourite colours and brought crayons to life with a range of materials.  The children have been busy all week making their own books, either making up stories of their own or retelling favourite stories.

The children also had the opportunity to visit different classes and listen to a story read by a different member of staff.

On Monday we also had a visit from staff at Medivet St Neots, who talked to the children about how to look after pets and all of the important and fun jobs they do.  The children have been exploring weight, comparing different packets of pet food in the balance scales, and using language such as heavy/heavier/ heaviest and light/lighter/lightest.

Of course we have enjoyed the snow too!  We have had short bursts of time outside exploring, catching snowflakes, making snowballs and throwing them!  Inside the children have been making snowy pictures with a range of materials.

On Wednesday we were joined by our lovely parents who together with children to produce some lovely books and share stories.

Today the children have enjoyed telling us about the book character they have dressed up as, making more books and drawing pictures and writing sentences.

Next week we will be taking groups of children each day to Croxton Farm on the minibus, so please make sure you have sent your permission slip back to school and that your children are dressed for the cold weather each day.

Have a great weekend - stay safe and warm and enjoy the snow!

The EYFS Team.

Week Ending 23rd February 2018

What a busy and exciting week we have had in Early Years this week!

We started off on Monday with our whole school Everybody Writes Day.  The theme was 'Make 'Em Laugh' and we focussed on the story of Mr Happy.  We discussed the things which make us happy, smile and laugh and the children shared some really lovely ideas.  They certainly made us smile - as they do most days!  The children then wrote down their ideas, demonstrating how far they have come on with their writing,  using their phonics, remembering to leave finger spaces and finishing with a full stop at the end.  Congratulations to Jack from Oak and Emily from Ash who were chosen as the winners.  Their work is on display in the entrance hall. 

Take a look through the photos to see the other activities children took part in for Everybody Writes Day.

This week we also started our new learning about 'Pets'. 

We started off by discussing which animals made good pets or not, and why! The children had some great ideas - ranging from "My mum is allergic to guinea-pigs, although I'd really like one but it wouldn't be a good pet for me," from Alex to "These animals are so cute!" from Leia.  We sorted soft toys and then moved on to recording this by cutting out pictures of animals and sorting into groups.

The children have been using their creative skills to make pet puppets - some with moving parts, using the skills they have been developing over last half term.

We have moved on to writing about pets which we have in our own homes, or a pet we would like to have.

On Thursday we had a visit from Helen who works at Wood Green Animal Shelter.  She talked to the children in Oak and Ash class about how to make the perfect home for Martha the Mouse.  During the whole school assembly she talked about the 5 rights every pet animals is entitled to by Law in England.

The children have also enjoyed having a closer look at the gerbils this week as Mrs Palmer has been getting them out of the cage and giving them some exercise.  The children have enjoyed stroking them and watching them travel around in the exercise ball.  Today Tyler and Nicky brought in a  skin from their pet snakes!  If you have any interesting or unusual pets which you would like to bring in to talk to the children about, please see a member of staff.

Next week is Book Week and the focus of the week will be the story 'The day the crayons quit'.  Please refer to the information which was sent out via email from the office with regard to events happening throughout the week, but please note that we have had to change the date of the our Family Afternoon to Wednesday instead of Thursday due to staff training. 

Have a good weekend,

EYFS Team.

Week Ending 9th February 2018

Kung Hey Fat Choi - Happy New Year!

This week the children have been engaged in a number of activities to help us learn about Chinese New Year.  We have looked at where China is on the globe, listened to stories from China and watched clips of children getting ready for and taking part in the celebrations.  We have found out about the lucky colour red and learnt a song about dragons.  Outside we have made firework pictures.

In Literacy the children have continued to generate their own rhyming words, linked to the animals in the story of the Chinese Zodiac.  

The children have made lanterns to hang, made dog hats and masks, practiced their Chinese symbol writing and folded paper to make fans.  We have danced to Chinese music and played along with the instruments and done Dragon Dancing.

Our Dragon making afternoon was very well attended and the children enjoyed sharing their creations with the whole school during Celebration assembly.  We are looking forward to our Chinese Banquet this afternoon.

After half term our learning will focus on Pets.  We have a number of visits on the minibus planned to Croxton Farm.  Please see the Spring Term topic web.

Enjoy your half term,

The EYFS Team.

Week Ending 2nd February 2018

A favourite story for lots of children has been our focus this week ....'The Gruffalo's Child' by Julia Donaldson. Our reading and writing activities have focussed on rhyming words.  The children have been matching objects which rhyme, making rhyming ladders by generating and writing lists of rhyming words and making rhyming word paper chains.

In our Maths work this week we have been identifying numerals within the environment and marking them off on a 100 square.  A great opportunity for identifying numerals larger than 20!  We started off in the classroom and Mr Beavis took the children on a number hunt around the classroom.  On Thursday we extended this activity by sticking number sentences around the classroom and the children had to work out the answer and mark that off on their grid.

In our Creative area this week the children have been painting pictures of the characters, using the loose parts to make a Gruffalo face, making puppets to retell the story and making their own Gruffalo books.

We were treated to a visit from Sycamore class who have been writing their own stories.  The children listened well and gave constructive feedback on which parts they liked and any improvements which might be made.  Thank you Sycamore - we can't wait for the finished stories.

The children are really enjoying their Friday morning Music sessions with Ms Myers.  They have been exploring a range of different instruments and learning to play them in time to songs.  They have demonstrated great listening and turn taking skills, and we have also observed the children using the instruments freely during their busy learning time.

Next week, the final hurdle before a well deserved half term break we will be finding out about Chines New Year.  An exciting week for all - and don't forget to collect and bring in clean (washed up) junk for the Dragon building session for Dad's on Thursday afternoon.  On Friday we hope to finish the week with a Chinese style banquet! YUM

Have a good weekend,

The EYFS Team.

Week Ending 26th January 2018

Another chilly week in Early Years this week as we focused on the story 'Lost and Found' by Oliver Jeffers, a delightful story about a penguin who turns up on a little boys doorstep, and their adventure back home to Antarctica.  We used a globe to discover where the cold places on Earth are and explored ice in the tuff tray, sharing our ideas about the changes that happen.

In our Writing this week we have been making 'Lost' posters and writing descriptions of the penguin.  The children really are becoming more confident in using their phonics to help them write.  In Phonics we have continued learning the vowel digraphs 'ai, ee & oa'.

In Maths this week we have consolidated our learning on 'one more' and 'one less' through a range of practial activities, and some children have begun to record in number sentences.  

Our creative tasks this week have had the children making penguins and boats.  They have used a range of joining skills which we have practised throughout last term.  

Outside the children have had the opportunity to make boats and test them on the water to see if they float or sink.

In our learning next week we will be focussing on rhyme through the story of The Gruffalo's Child.  Our Maths learning will be about shape.

May we take this opportunity to remind you that if your child has laready turned 5 they no longer receive milk.  If you would like your child to have milk you need to sign up to the 'Cool Milk' scheme, details from the office.  

Also, on Thursday 8th February we are inviting all Dads to join us for an afternoon of dragon making.  This will be linked to our learning about Chinese New Year.  We will provide some of the resources but if you would like to collect some bits and peices together yourselves there will be a prize for the best dragon.

Have a great weekend,

The EYFS Team.

Week Ending 19th January 2018

This week the children have all enjoyed a trip to Priory Park, where we looked for animals from 'One Snowy Night' and had a walk through the woods.  They have also all enjoyed a lovely hot chocolate to warm us up on the cold days we have had.  In Maths we have been learning 'one more and one less', and we have written lists of things to help keep Percy the Park Keeper warm on a snowy day.  On Tuesday we had a great session doing Yoga!

Have a good weekend!

The Early Years Team

Week ending 12th January 2018

This week in Early Years we have started our Winter Adventure learning.  On Tuesday when the children entered the unit they discovered that Winter had arrived and turned the cloakroom all icy and a mysterious pile of objects had been left on Oak carpet.  We spent some time exploring and identifying the objects and the children shared their current knowledge about Winter and cold places.  We looked at a globe to identify cold places on the Earth.

Leading on from this the children have learned to mix powder paint to paint snowy pictures.  They have decorated scarves with repeating patterns and practiced the tricky skill of cutting wool to add fringing.  The children have enjoyed dressing up in the winter clothes and going on their own winter adventures.  Our tuff spots have been filled with snow themed small world resources and the children have been making up their own stories.

Each child has walked a mile this week - as we all put on our wellies and walked around the school field four times.  This will become a regular mission for Early Years.

To help develop our reading skills the children have been matching simple sentences with pictures this week, and in our phonics we have learned the four digraphs sh, ch, th and ng.

In our number work this week we have been recognising numerals to 20 and building matching towers with bricks.

Today ended with the discovery that some of our number and phonic resources had been frozen in ice and the children enjoyed using a range of tools to try and set the resources free.

Next week we are looking forward to learning the story of One Snowy Night by Nick Butterworth.  Each Key Worker group will be visiting Priory Park (please remember to bring your signed permission slip in on Monday), and making a lovely hot chocolate drink.

Have a good weekend,

The Early Years Team

Week Ending 8th December 2017

This week we have been busily preparing for our Nativity performance, which is next Friday 15th December.  Make sure you have ordered your tickets from the main office!  The children have been doing a fantastic job with learning the songs and this week we have been on the stage.  If your child requires a costume to be sent in please do this by Monday 11th if you have not yet done so.

In between practices the children have been writing letters to Father Christmas, and we are now seeing that many children are applying the phonic skills they are developing during our taught phonic sessions.

Don't forget Monday is our annual trip to the Panto!  Each child will require a packed lunch on this day so please send one in a named carrier bag.

Have a good weekend!

The EYFS Team.

Week ending 10^th November 2017

Another extremely busy week in Early Years!

First of all we would like to thank parents for their supportive comments on Parent’s Evening last week about how your children have settled into life at Bushmead. We hope you found the meeting informative and enjoyed the opportunity to look through your child’s Learning Journal. Please remember if you have any queries about the report, or Next Steps, please do not hesitate to come in and ask a member of the team.

This week our learning has focused on a number of skills developed through various Firework and Poppy themed activities.

The children have been developing their language and communication skills through sharing their experiences of fireworks and bonfires. We thought about words we could use to describe fireworks and watched clips of fireworks, describing our feelings towards the colours, shapes and sounds.

The children have been extremely creative this week! Progressing on from last week printing activity of using classroom objects to print with, this week we introduced the children to the skill of impressed printing. Each child had a polystyrene tile which they used various implements to ‘score’ a picture or make marks into. They then used a roller to apply paint to the tile and then took a print by pressing the tile onto paper. The children explored layering up different colours and the effects produced from doing this. They look really effective!

Another progression from last week where the children were developing their gross and fine motor skills hammering golf tees into a pumpkin, we gave the children the opportunity to hammer and drill using the things that hammers and drills are intended for – and would have possibly seen at home – wood and nails. The children are very aware of the need for safety and are provided with safety goggles and the working section has been taped off – if you’re not wearing goggles you can’t’ come in! A number of different joints are worked during this type of activity; the elbow pivot for hammering, the shoulder rotation for drilling, the wrist rotation for screwing – all vital for good fine motor control and pencil control for writing. The children have demonstrated great determination, team work and a sense of achievement. A small number of children took this step even further and started to attach bottle tops to the wood by hammering the nail through the bottle top into the wood. Next step for progression – using the saw!

In the outside learning area Mr Beavis has been assessing the children’s ball skills and their ability to travel in a variety of ways. This enables us to plan appropriately for our outside provision based on the children’s current skills. The children love it when Mr Beavis comes down to visit us each week.

Moving on to Poppies. Towards the end of the week our learning shifted to finding out why people wear poppies at this time of year. Jack said ‘It’s to remember the soldiers’, and we briefly and sensitively discussed the origins of Remembrance Day. Again, the children have demonstrated their creative sides, using various collage materials to create stunning poppy pictures. The children took part in the minutes silence today, and again this was discussed sensitively.

We are enjoying introducing the reading scheme books to the children. We aim to read with each child once a week. Sometimes they may bring home a book which has not been read at school, so please remember that the most important step of reading a new book is to do the ‘book walkthrough’ first, and not to expect your child to attempt to read the words straight away. Your child may bring home a book without words. The purpose of these books is to encourage your child to develop skills in ‘telling’ stories, by ‘reading’ the pictures, explaining what is happening and making predictions about what might happen next. You can model ‘telling’ the story first, using storybook language for your child to copy and then have a go themselves. Please refer to the ‘Reading Workshop’ PowerPoint which is on this page. Please remember to read with your child at least three times a week, and write a comment in the reading diary. If there is not a comment in the diary we will assume the book has not been read and will not change. We will change books on a Monday and Thursday, but may read with your child any day of the week so please ensure books and diaries are in school every day.

As the days are becoming colder please ensure your child has a warm coat, hat and gloves in school, which are clearly named. If you have not done so yet, please make sure you child has a pair of wellies and a change of all clothes in school.

Wishing you all a Happy Weekend!

Kind Regards

The EYFS Team

Welcome to the class page of Early Years - Ash and Oak class.

On this page we will regularly post updates of life in Early Years, along with photographs of the children engaged in their busy learning, special events and any notices.

As we come to the end of a very busy half term, we would like to congratulate you and your children on a very successful first term at Bushmead School.  We have been overwhelmed with how settled, happy and engaged the children are on a daily basis.  During this settling in period the children have already demonstrated to us that they are eager to learn and that they are developing skills in independence.

We hope that you enjoy your half term holiday and we look forward to seeing you all back on 30th October.