Class 1: Blog items

This Week in Reception (WB 13.4.26)

Date: 15th Apr 2026 @ 8:37am

This week in Reception, we have been very busy with our learning!

In Literacy, we have been enjoying the story The Flower Thief. The children loved exploring the characters and thinking about the signs of spring in the story. We then went on a spring walk in our EYFS garden, where we spotted lots of exciting changes in the environment. We noticed beautiful blossoms growing, birds singing, fresh green leaves appearing on the trees, colourful flowers blooming, and even some lovely sunny weather!

We have also been busy in our brand new garden centre role play area. The children have been learning all about what we need to plant a flower and the different stages of how a flower grows. They have loved taking on different roles and using their imagination in their play.

In Maths, we have been learning about composing and decomposing shapes. The children used lolly sticks to create their own 2D shapes, exploring how shapes can be made and taken apart. They showed great creativity and problem-solving skills while building different shapes.

In Understanding the World, we continued our learning about spring. The children explored the outdoor environment and collected natural objects such as leaves, flowers, and small twigs. They then used these to create their own wonderful spring frames, celebrating the season and its changes.

It has been a fantastic week full of exploration, creativity, and outdoor learning!

This week in Reception (WB 16.03.26)

Date: 20th Mar 2026 @ 6:31am

This week in Reception, we have continued our learning around the story Hattie Peck. After exploring the book together last week and creating a whole-class story map, the children have now been making their own story maps. They drew pictures from the story and used their phonic knowledge to write simple captions. It has been lovely to see their confidence growing in drawing and writing!

In Maths, we have been learning about finding missing numbers in a sequence. The children have been fantastic at looking at numbers and working out which one is missing. They have shown great enthusiasm when solving these challenges—well done everyone!

In our Knowledge and Understanding learning, we have been learning about Eid. The children really enjoyed finding out about this special celebration. We made Eid biscuits in different shapes linked to the celebration. We also enjoyed talking together as a class and sharing what Eid celebrations look like at home.

We would like to take this opportunity to wish all of our families a very happy and joyful Eid!

This Week in Reception (WB 9.03.26)

Date: 13th Mar 2026 @ 10:08am

This week in Reception we have been enjoying our learning through the wonderful story Hattie Peck. We have been exploring lots of the words from the story and working hard to understand some of the bigger words, such as “colossal.” The children have been fantastic at talking about what these words might mean and using them in our discussions.

We have also been looking closely at the different animals that hatch from the eggs at the end of the story. As a class, we worked together to create a story map and took part in a story whoosh, acting out parts of the story to help us remember what happens. The children did a brilliant job joining in and we are very excited for them to create their own story maps next week.

In Maths, we have been focusing on ordering numbers. A cheeky kangaroo has been hopping into our classroom and changing the numbers on our number lines! The children used their fantastic number knowledge to work out which numbers were missing and put them back in the correct order.

During our Knowledge and Understanding of the World sessions, we have been learning about the celebration of Mother’s Day. The children created beautiful cards by using celery to print rose patterns. They also wrote special messages inside their cards. We talked about why it is important to celebrate our mums and everyone shared why their mum is special to them. The children are very excited to give their cards to their mums on Sunday!

It has been another wonderful week of learning in Reception and we are very proud of all the children’s hard work.

This Week in Reception (WB 2.3.26)

Date: 6th Mar 2026 @ 2:04pm

This week in Reception we have continued our learning all about the farm by revisiting our focus book A Day at Greenhill Farm. The children have enjoyed remembering our trip to the farm and talking about the animals that we saw there.

In Literacy, the children drew a picture of a farm animal they saw when we visited the farm. They then wrote sentences to describe their animal. We practised starting our sentences with “It is…” and “It has…”. The children worked hard to think of interesting features to describe, such as fur, feathers, tails and horns.

In Maths, we have continued our learning about subtraction. The children played a fun game in pairs using ten stones. Each player took turns subtracting 1, 2 or 3 stones each time. The aim of the game was not to take the last stone – the person who did not take the final pebble was the winner! The children enjoyed thinking carefully about how many stones to take each turn.

In Understanding the World, we continued learning about the farm, with a special focus on baby animals and what they are called. The children were very interested to learn that a baby cow is called a calf, and we also talked about other baby animals that live on farms.

It has been another lovely week of learning and the children have really enjoyed sharing their memories of the farm visit!

This Week in Reception (WB 23.2.26)

Date: 24th Feb 2026 @ 12:02pm

This week in Reception we have had a very exciting week of learning!

Literacy

In Literacy, we have been reading the story A Day at Greenhill Farm. The children loved exploring what happens during a busy day on the farm. We used our small world farm to act out the story and think about what we might see there. The children enjoyed naming and playing with the different farm animals and objects, including cows, sheep, chickens, barns and tractors. They used their imaginations beautifully to create their own farm adventures!

To end the week, we went on a very exciting trip to Cockfield’s Farm. The children had such a wonderful time riding on the tractor, feeding the animals and exploring the farm. It was fantastic to see them confidently talking about the animals they recognised from our story.

Maths

In Maths, we have been learning about subtraction. We started by listening to the story Kipper's Toybox, where Kipper’s toys reduced each time. The children were very good at noticing how many toys were left. We then used our own class toy box to practise taking toys away. The children counted carefully, removed some toys, and then counted again to find out how many were left. We were very impressed with their careful counting and growing confidence with subtraction!

Understanding the World (KUW)

In Understanding the World, we continued learning about farms. The children enjoyed talking about what they saw at the farm and discussing the different jobs a farmer does, such as feeding animals, cleaning barns, collecting eggs and driving tractors.

It has been a busy and hands-on week full of wonderful learning experiences. We are so proud of how enthusiastically the children joined in and shared their ideas! 🌟

This Week in Reception (WB 9.2.26)

Date: 12th Feb 2026 @ 11:23am

This Week in Reception (WB 2.2.26)

Date: 3rd Feb 2026 @ 11:01am

This Week in Reception (WB 26.1.26)

Date: 3rd Feb 2026 @ 11:00am

This Week in Reception (WB 19/1/26)

Date: 20th Jan 2026 @ 10:34am

This week in Reception we have been learning all about warm places, following on from our learning about cold places last week. We have loved comparing different environments and discovering how life can be similar and different around the world.

Our focus story this week has been Handa’s Hen. The children looked closely at the illustrations in the book and talked about what they could see, making comparisons with the Arctic that we explored last week. We discussed similarities and differences such as the weather, animals, clothing and landscapes. Using our small world resources, the children retold the story, learning the character names and practising recalling the events in the correct order.

In Understanding the World, we explored Africa and learned about what it is like there. The children were fascinated to learn about the different animals that live in African habitats. We enjoyed matching animal prints to the correct animals and talking about how their patterns help them to survive in warm places.

Our creative activities were inspired by Africa too. The children made traditional African necklaces using paper plates and patterns, and they also painted safari animals which are now proudly displayed along the corridor – they look fantastic!

In Maths, we have begun our two-week learning journey focusing on number bonds to 10. The children have taken part in lots of practical, hands-on activities using egg boxes and cubes, ten frames and Numicon. They explored which two numbers can be added together to make 10, showing great enthusiasm and confidence as they worked.

It has been a busy and exciting week full of learning, creativity and exploration. Well done Reception – we are so proud of you! 🌟

This Week in Reception (WB 12/1/26)

Date: 15th Jan 2026 @ 8:35am

This week in Reception we have been continuing our learning around the story A Flower in the Snow. The children have been really engaged with the characters and the snowy setting of the book.

In Literacy, we have been writing character descriptions for Luna and the bear. The children thought carefully about how the characters look and how they behave. They used lovely describing words such as kind, brave, fluffy, and gentle. We talked about using adjectives to make our writing more interesting and the children were very proud of their work.

In Maths, we have been learning about number bonds to 5. The children explored different ways to make 5 using Numicon. They found combinations such as 2 and 3, 4 and 1, and 5 and 0. It was wonderful to see them working practically, explaining their thinking, and checking their answers with their friends.

In KUW (Understanding the World), we have been exploring cold places and learning about animals that live in these environments. The children discovered facts about animals such as polar bears, penguins, and seals. We talked about how these animals are adapted to survive in cold climates, with thick fur, blubber, and special habitats.

It has been a busy and exciting week full of creativity, curiosity, and fantastic learning. Well done, Reception!

This week in Reception (WB 5.01.26)

Date: 6th Jan 2026 @ 11:42am

Winter Wonders in Our Classroom ❄️

This week our learning has been perfectly linked to the season, as winter arrived with a blanket of snow outside! The children have been incredibly engaged as we explored winter through hands-on experiences, stories, science, maths and outdoor play.

We began by talking about the seasons, focusing on winter and the changes we notice at this time of year. The snowy weather gave us a fantastic opportunity to explore some simple science. The children investigated snow by holding it in their hands and observing how it slowly melted. We talked about freezing and melting and discussed how the warmth from our hands caused the snow to change. The children were curious and excited to explore this sensory experience.

In literacy, we shared the story Flower in the Snow. We discussed how Luna lives in a cold place and talked about what she was wearing to keep warm. This led to great conversations about winter clothing and how we can look after ourselves in cold weather. We also explored our winter tuff tray, discussing which animals might live in cold environments and why they are suited to these conditions.

In maths, the children focused on the composition of numbers to 5. They loved taking part in a beanbag game where they threw 5 beanbags and worked out how many landed inside the hoop and how many landed outside. The children recorded their scores, compared amounts and cheered each other on, with the winner being the person who landed the most beanbags in the hoop.

For knowledge and understanding of the world, we continued learning about winter and enjoyed listening to winter-themed stories. We spent time outdoors making a snowman, exploring how to make marks in the snow and listening carefully to the crunchy sounds our shoes made as we walked. We also talked about what animals do during winter, including hibernation and how animals keep warm.

It has been a joyful and exciting week of learning, made even more special by the snowy weather. The children have shown fantastic curiosity, teamwork and enthusiasm as they explored winter both inside and outside the classroom. We are very proud of all their learning this week! ☃️✨

This Week in Reception (WB 8.12.25)

Date: 11th Dec 2025 @ 4:13pm

We have had a wonderful week in Reception, filled with festive learning and lots of excitement as we get closer to Christmas!

In Literacy, the children have been exploring the story The First Christmas. They have enjoyed using puppets to retell the Nativity story in their own words, showing great confidence and understanding. This has also linked beautifully to our upcoming Nativity performance, and the children are already showing how well they know the characters and events.

In Maths, we have been learning all about height. The children have been using words such as taller, shorter, tallest, and shortest to describe and compare the height of different objects. One of our favourite activities this week has been building candy cane towers with blocks and then comparing their heights. The children worked so well together, discussing their ideas and using fantastic mathematical language.

It’s been a brilliant week of learning, creativity and festive fun. Well done, Reception! 🎄✨

This Week in Reception WB 1/12/25

Date: 2nd Dec 2025 @ 12:39pm

What a fantastic week we’ve had in Reception! The children have been busy learning, exploring, and sharing their ideas with great enthusiasm.

Literacy
We are continuing our work on the story The Three Little Pigs. This week, the children have been creating their own story maps, drawing key parts of the tale and using their phonics skills to label their pictures. They have enjoyed retelling the story in their own words and thinking carefully about the order of events. It has been wonderful to see their confidence growing as storytellers!

Maths
In maths, our focus has been on 3D shapes. The children have explored a range of shapes and hunted around the classroom to find objects that match each one. They enjoyed comparing different items and deciding whether they were a cube, sphere, cylinder, or cone. Lots of brilliant shape detectives this week!

KUW
We have been learning about special people. We talked about who Jesus is and how he helped others. The children listened to the story of Feeding the 5000 and shared their ideas about how we can help and share with people today—especially how we might share food with others who need it.

Well done to all the children for their hard work and wonderful ideas this week. We can’t wait to see what learning adventures next week brings!

This Week in Reception (WB 24/11/25)

Date: 26th Nov 2025 @ 2:35pm

What a wonderful week we’ve had in Reception!

This week we began our new focus story: The Three Little Pigs. The children have absolutely loved getting to know the characters and joining in with the familiar phrases. Our literacy sessions have been full of enthusiasm as the children used puppets to retell the story, practising their storytelling voices and remembering key lines such as, “Not by the hair on my chinny chin chin!” and “I’ll huff and I’ll puff and I’ll blow your house down!” It has been fantastic to see their confidence grow as they acted out each part. We continued exploring the story by pretending to build houses from straw, sticks and bricks. The children enjoyed experimenting with the materials and talking about which houses might be the strongest—just like in the book!

In maths, we have been learning about 2D shapes. The children were introduced to squares, rectangles, triangles and circles, and used these shapes to design and build their own houses. They were brilliant at spotting shapes around the classroom and talking about their features.

In KUW, we explored different materials and investigated which ones are waterproof. The children loved testing out various objects and discussing what “waterproof” means. Lots of great scientific thinking and curiosity on display!

It’s been a busy, exciting week full of learning and fun. We can’t wait to continue our story adventures next week!

This Week in Reception (WB 17/11/25)

Date: 20th Nov 2025 @ 4:34pm

This Week in Reception (WB 10/11/25)

Date: 20th Nov 2025 @ 4:33pm

This week in Reception has been full of excitement and hands-on learning!

In Literacy, we have been using puppets to retell the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears. The children loved taking on the roles of the different characters and acted out the story with great enthusiasm. Their confidence in storytelling is really growing!

In Maths, we explored length. The children used playdough to create snakes of different lengths and practised using the words long, short, longer, and shorter. They also built trains using blocks and compared their lengths, showing fantastic investigative skills.

In KUW, we learned about Autumn animals and how they prepare for winter. The children were fascinated to discover how different animals gather food, grow thick fur, or hibernate to stay safe and warm during the colder months.

Well done, Reception, for a brilliant week of learning!

This Week in Reception (W.B. 3/11/25)

Date: 4th Nov 2025 @ 1:10pm

This week in Reception, we have been exploring the beautiful changes that happen during autumn through our literacy, maths, and understanding the world activities.

In Literacy, we have been reading the lovely story Fletcher and the Falling Leaves. The children really enjoyed listening to Fletcher’s adventures as he noticed the changes in the trees and the world around him. We used the story to inspire our own creative work — the children have been drawing and describing different things we might see in autumn, such as colourful leaves, conkers, acorns, squirrels, and hedgehogs. This has helped the children to develop their vocabulary and understanding of the season, as well as their fine motor and observational skills.

In Maths, our focus has been on patterns. The children have been busy creating their own repeating patterns using a range of autumnal objects, such as leaves, pinecones, and conkers. They have been learning to spot, copy, and extend patterns, developing their problem-solving and sequencing skills through hands-on exploration.

In Understanding the World, we have continued our autumn theme by talking about the features of the season and the changes we can see around us — from the leaves changing colour and falling, to the weather becoming cooler. The children shared their own experiences and ideas about autumn, and together we explored why these changes happen. To finish the week, the children used leaves collected from our EYFS garden to create their very own autumn frames. Each frame looks beautiful and unique, showing how creative and observant the children have been in noticing the colours and textures of autumn.

It has been a wonderful, busy week in Reception, full of curiosity, creativity, and learning about the world around us!

This Week in Reception (WB. 20/10/25)

Date: 23rd Oct 2025 @ 6:00pm

This week in Reception, we have been taking part in Curriculum Week, focusing on the Zones of Regulation and learning all about our feelings.

We began the week with a special assembly led by Mrs Glynn, who introduced us to The Colour Monster story. The children loved hearing about the different coloured monsters and what each one represents. Back in class, we continued exploring the story by linking it to the Zones of Regulation.

The children had lots of fun creating their own colour monsters out of playdough to show which zone they were in. We also made beautiful collaged colour monsters, talked about what makes us happy, and drew special things in a ‘jar of happiness’. To finish off our theme, everyone came to school dressed in the colour of the zone they were in – our classroom was bursting with colour and smiles!

In maths, we have been learning about sequencing numbers in the correct order. The children practised putting numbers 1 to 5 in order, carefully checking that none were missing or muddled. Some children even challenged themselves to order numbers all the way to 10! We enjoyed using number cards, songs, and practical activities to help us recognise what comes before and after each number.

We ended the week by learning about Black History Month. We read the inspiring story Coming to England by Floella Benjamin and talked about her journey and where she came from. The children developed their art skills by drawing wonderful portraits of Floella and thinking carefully about what they might take with them if they were travelling to a new country.

It has been a busy, colourful, and thoughtful week in Reception, full of creativity, kindness, and learning about ourselves and others.

This Week in Reception (WB 13.10.25)

Date: 14th Oct 2025 @ 12:08pm

This Week’s Learning

We’ve had another exciting and creative week in Reception, full of storytelling, teamwork, and singing!

Literacy
We are continuing our journey with Little Red Riding Hood, and the children have been using their growing knowledge of the story to retell it in their own words.
This week, we introduced story maps – a fun way for the children to draw and sequence the key parts of the tale. Working in small groups, the children drew each part of the story in order, from Little Red Riding Hood setting off through the forest to her visit to Grandma’s house! It’s been wonderful to see how well they remember the events and how confidently they talk about the characters and what happens next.

In our provision areas, the children have also been using props such as masks, baskets, and cloaks to act out the story in the home corner. They’ve loved stepping into the roles of Little Red Riding Hood, the Wolf, Grandma, and the Woodcutter, bringing the story to life through imaginative play. This has helped to deepen their understanding of the story and develop their language and social skills.

Maths
In Maths, we’ve been exploring the concept of one less. Using objects like blocks or counters, the children have been practising taking one away to find what is one less than a number.
We’ve had lots of fun singing rhymes like "Five Green Bottles" and "Five Little Ducks", helping us understand the idea of counting backwards and counting one less.

We’re so proud of how well the children are working together and showing great enthusiasm in their learning. 🌟 Keep up the great work, Reception!

This Week in Reception (WB 6.10.25)

Date: 14th Oct 2025 @ 10:19am

This Week’s Learning- LRRH 

It’s been another fantastic week in Reception, full of imagination, storytelling, and lots of counting fun!

Literacy
This week in Literacy, we have been diving into the traditional tale Little Red Riding Hood. The children really enjoyed exploring the different characters in the story and discussing the key events that take place. We talked about the big bad wolf, the kind grandmother, and of course, Little Red Riding Hood herself!
To finish off the week, the children took part in a Story Whoosh – a fun and interactive way to act out the story together. They absolutely loved taking on different roles and bringing the story to life. There was lots of laughter, creativity, and great teamwork on display!

Maths
In Maths, we have been focusing on the concept of one more. The children have been using a variety of objects and practical resources to help them count one more than a given number. They are becoming more confident with this skill, and it's been lovely to see them using their counting fingers and thinking carefully as they worked.

We’re so proud of how engaged and enthusiastic the children have been with their learning this week. Well done, Reception! 🌟

This week in Reception (WB 29.09.25)

Date: 3rd Oct 2025 @ 1:41pm

This Week In Reception (WB 21.04.25)

Date: 24th Apr 2025 @ 11:09am

This week in Reception, we’ve been embracing all things springtime as part of our learning journey!

In English, we explored the beautiful story Fletcher and the Springtime Blossom. The children were fascinated by the changes that spring brings, especially the blossoming trees. We talked about what blossom is, and how trees begin to change as the weather gets warmer. The children then used their phonics knowledge brilliantly to describe a picture of a blossom tree – they came up with some fantastic descriptive words and sounded them out with increasing confidence!

In Maths, we’ve been going beyond 10 as we dive deeper into numbers. The children have been learning to recognise numerals and match them to quantities, using a range of resources and objects. We've had lots of fun counting, comparing groups and talking about which has more or fewer. It’s been wonderful to see their confidence grow with these larger numbers!

As part of our Understanding the World and Expressive Arts and Design, we’ve been learning more about the season of spring. We observed the blossom tree in our EYFS garden and talked about the signs of spring we could see all around us – from blooming flowers to buzzing bees. The children created some beautiful observational drawings of the blossom tree, really focusing on the colours, shapes and details.

It’s been a wonderful week of learning and discovery. We’re so proud of how engaged and curious the children have been – spring has definitely sprung in Reception!

This Week In Reception (WB 31.03.25)

Date: 4th Apr 2025 @ 9:57am

This week in Reception, we’ve been having an exciting and fun filled week.

In English, we explored the delightful story, We’re Going on an Egg Hunt. The children have been practicing retelling the story using key propositional language, such as "under," "behind," and "next to." They then used their creativity to draw pictures related to the story and applied their phonics knowledge to label their pictures, reinforcing both reading and writing skills.

In Maths, our focus has been on spatial reasoning, where the children used different shapes to create and explore various images. This activity helped to strengthen their understanding of shapes, position, and symmetry while developing their problem-solving skills.

In Understanding the World, we turned our attention to the beautiful daffodils that are blooming around us. The children carefully observed the flowers and created some wonderful observational art based on what they saw. We also learned about Easter and discussed why it is an important celebration for Christians. The children made Easter baskets, and to finish off the week with some fun, we had an egg hunt to celebrate!

It’s been a week filled with creativity, learning, and celebration. Have a lovely two weeks off, and we will see you after the holidays!

This Week In Reception (WB 24.03.25)

Date: 27th Mar 2025 @ 9:58am

In Reception this week, we've been busy exploring a range of exciting topics across English, Maths, and even special celebrations!

In English, we had a delightful time reading the book Monkey Puzzle. The children were introduced to various jungle animals, and they used sentence stems like "It has..." and "It is..." to describe the different creatures. It was a wonderful way for them to practice describing features and expand their vocabulary!

In Maths, we focused on spatial reasoning and the composition and decomposition of shapes. The children explored how small and large shapes, such as triangles and rectangles, can be combined using lolly sticks to create new shapes and objects, like houses. It was a fantastic way to enhance their understanding of shape properties and build their problem-solving skills.

We've also been learning about the jungle and the diverse animals that live there. This included fun activities and discussions around jungle life, sparking lots of curiosity and excitement!

In celebration of Mother's Day, the children made beautiful handmade cards to express their love and appreciation. They worked hard to create something special, and it was heartwarming to see their creativity shine.

Lastly, we explored the significance of Eid and took part in a fun baking activity, making delicious biscuits to celebrate.

What a fantastic week of learning in Reception! We're looking forward to more adventures next week!

This week in Reception (WB 17.03.25)

Date: 19th Mar 2025 @ 2:56pm

This week in Reception, the children have been busy exploring new concepts and developing their skills across a variety of subjects. Here's a glimpse of the exciting things we've been up to!

English: Exploring ‘Hattie Peck’

In English, we’ve been enjoying the story of Hattie Peck, a heartwarming tale about a determined little bird who goes on an adventure to find lost eggs. The children have been retelling parts of the story, creating their own drawings to illustrate scenes, and using their phonics knowledge to write simple sentences that describe their pictures. It’s been a fantastic opportunity for them to practice their writing skills and show their creativity.

Maths: Missing Numbers in Sequences

In Maths, our focus has been on number sequences. The children have been exploring number patterns and learning how to find and fill in missing numbers. Using Numicon pieces, they’ve been adding the missing numbers to complete different sequences. It’s been wonderful to see their problem-solving skills develop as they worked through the challenges!

Knowledge and Understanding: Learning About Eggs

In our Knowledge and Understanding lessons, the children have been learning about the fascinating world of eggs. We’ve explored different types of eggs and their unique characteristics, with the highlight of the week being the chance to hold a real ostrich egg! The children were amazed by its size and texture, and they had many questions about how it compares to other eggs. This hands-on experience sparked lots of curiosity and led to some wonderful discussions.

Exploring the World with David Attenborough

Finally, the children have been learning about the incredible work of Sir David Attenborough. They’ve been inspired by his passion for animals and his efforts to film them in their natural habitats for the world to see. The children were fascinated by the idea of animals living in the wild, and they enjoyed discussing their favorite animals and what makes them unique.

It’s been another fantastic week of learning in Reception, and we can’t wait to see what the next week brings!