Dear Parents,

We have been very impressed with the children’s curiosity and determination this week. In PE we have been practising for sports day and the children have thoroughly enjoyed themselves. We have also been exploring our learning environment and spending quality time delving into the play opportunities.

Special Person

This week we introduced the word ‘unique’. In Puffins and Penguins, we support children to understand that they are all special in their own way. We take it in turns to celebrate one ‘Special Person’ each day. They wear a special badge, carry out special jobs (giving out snack) and stand at the front of the line. It is important for children to feel confident in their own abilities and recognise the talent in others. We support and encourage the children to articulate how they use our school values and this half term we are focusing particularly on the school value Respect.

In Foundation we learn our school values in dinosaur form! Each dinosaur has a special name, and we talk about how we can demonstrate that particular value in our learning and everyday life.

Here is the school value Respect in dinosaur form. "I am Respectosaur. I am always in the right place at the right time doing the right thing. I always use kind words and have kind hands and I am great at sharing. I show respect by being polite and using my manners. When it is listening time, I always look at the person talking and do not use my own voice."

Maths

In maths lessons this week we have been sorting, comparing, and matching objects. We provided opportunities for the children to find and match objects which were the same. We asked the children the following questions. ‘Can you find one like mine?’ ‘How do you know it is the same?’ ‘Can you find one that is different to mine?’ ‘Why is this one not like mine?’.

The children particularly enjoyed sorting socks and hanging them on the washing line. We had some wonderful discussions about how some of the socks had some similarities but were not a matching pair. The key vocabulary we used was: same, different, matching. We hope the children will be able to help you sort all the washing and match the socks at home! We extended their understanding by providing lots of sorting opportunities during choosing learning including sorting shapes, blocks, and animals.

Read Write Inc

In Read Write Inc (RWI) this week the children learnt the sounds t, i, n. The children are continuing to orally blend sounds in cvc words. You can do this at home using pictures or real objects. Ask your child ‘Please could you get me the b-a-g’ and give your child chance to jump in and blend the sounds to make the word bag. Do this for simple words like hat, dog, bin, mug, leg.

Your child has a RWI handwriting booklet in their school book bag. We have assigned a short video on Seesaw explaining how to use the booklet.

Every morning the children practise writing their name. Please help your child practise at home and be as creative as you like using chalk or a paintbrush and water on the pavement.

Choosing Learning

The children have a period of time in the day called ‘Choosing Learning’. This is time where they can choose what and where they would like to play. It is important for the children to have the freedom to be curious and become independent in making choices. Our learning environment is a safe space where they can explore, revisit, rehearse skills and challenge their learning.

 This week the children have been exploring the learning environment in small groups to enable them to ask questions and gain confidence in all areas. We talked about the different play opportunities in all the areas of learning including inside the classrooms, the patio area, and the mud kitchen. We also discussed behavioural expectations and respecting one another and the learning environment. The children were very good at explaining that they needed to take turns and share. We also demonstrated specific skills including putting on a mud suit (for the mud kitchen) and using scissors and sellotape.

We also introduced the choosing board for the first time this week. During ‘Choosing Learning’ the children choose an activity and put their name by the corresponding icon. This system promotes independence, turn taking and personal challenge, skills that they will use throughout life. We value children learning through play as it enables children to explore their thinking and curiosity.

We have also introduced the Learning Ladder. During Choosing Learning time the children are encouraged to challenge themselves and demonstrate what it means to be a good learner. They are given the opportunity to talk to the rest of the class about the things they have created, what challenges they have experienced and what they have learnt. They gradually move up the ladder and when they get to the top they get a dip in the special box to choose a small treat to take home and keep. They then go back to the bottom to try and climb the ladder again. We are sure the children will tell you about these innovative ideas over the next few weeks.

Sports Day

We are so excited for sports day next week. The children have enjoyed practising and they continue to impress us with their determination. We are incredibly proud of them, and we cannot wait to show you on Thursday 30^th September.

Our races will start at 2pm and access to the pitch will be via the Key Stage 2 gates, beside the office. Spectators will be able to sit/stand on one side of the Astro pitch and the children will sit on the other side together with their friends. This is a big event for the children and for it to occur so soon after starting school is a wonderful and unique experience. Some of the children may find it a little overwhelming having their parents watching but if any of them do become upset we will do our best to comfort them and get them back in the race!

At the end of the races, we will take the children back to the class to collect their bags and we will meet you on the playground as usual. The children will go home in their PE kits, please could they be returned on Monday ready for their PE lesson. Any children booked in after school club will stay with us at the end of the day.

It is going to be a fun afternoon and a wonderful opportunity for the children to build their confidence and self-esteem.

Messages

· You will have received an e-mail regarding a school entry questionnaire from the school nurse team and Action for Children. They are gathering information to help them plan the most appropriate support for your child. Please can we ask that you click on the link in the letter to complete the forms by Friday 15^th October.

· Please continue to contact the school office by email admin@preston.torbay.sch.uk or phone 01803 607075 with any questions or queries. There is also lots of useful information, as well as event dates and term dates, on our school website  https://www.preston.torbay.sch.uk/

· Please ensure your child is wearing full school uniform at all times. This includes a shirt (not a polo shirt) and a tie. Long hair must be tied back. A full school uniform list can be found in the welcome booklet on the school website or alternatively, e-mail the school office for details.

· Please ensure your child brings a drinks bottle to school daily. Can we please ask that they are only filled with water, not squash.

Home learning options

• Enjoy sharing your new library book.
• Practise the m, a, s, d, t, i, n pages in your new RWI (Read Write Inc) phonics booklet. Also practice writing your name.
• Complete the sorting activity on Seesaw
• Enjoy the story ‘There’s a Dragon in your book’ by Tom Fletcher. Read by Mrs Clague.
• Join in with the oral blending activity on Seesaw.

Dates to remember

Swimming—Every Tuesday until half term.

Trip payment deadline— Friday 24th September.

Sports Day—Thursday 30th September— Unit 1 (Puffins and Penguins) 2:00pm - 3:15pm.

Last day before half term - Friday 15th October

Return to school - Monday 1st November

‘Stickman’ Theatre Trip - Friday 5th November

From Mrs Bastin, Mrs Clague and the Foundation Stage Team