We’ve had a wonderful first week back in Reception and it’s been lovely to see everyone return with such enthusiasm and energy for our final term!

Phonics
This week, we’ve been revisiting our Level 3 sounds and tricky words. The children have been practising blending and segmenting words and using their phonics knowledge to write short sentences with increasing confidence. We’ve also been revising how to apply these sounds in our reading and writing across the curriculum.

Maths
In maths, we’ve been focusing on the composition of numbers—particularly 10! The children have been using the “5 and a bit” structure to match quantities to numerals, and exploring different ways to make 10 by splitting it into two parts. We’ve also started solving missing part problems and thinking about how numbers can be structured. Alongside this, the children have begun selecting 2D and 3D shapes for a purpose in practical tasks.

RE
We started a new unit in RE by learning about the Old Testament and exploring the story of Noah’s Ark. We discussed the idea of a promise—what it means, why it’s important, and how God made a promise to Noah. After Miss Burkinshaw made a big mess with rubbish on the floor (uh-oh!), the children helped tidy it up and reflected on how we can all promise to look after our world, just like Noah did. The children then created beautiful rainbow drawings to represent God’s promise.

PE
Sports Day is just around the corner, so this week we’ve been busy practising! The children have been learning how to complete each event step by step, showing great teamwork and perseverance. It’s been lovely to see their confidence grow as they tackle each new challenge.

New topic
We’ve dived straight into our new topic: Under the Sea! The children loved looking at pictures and examples of different sea creatures and sharing what they already know. They then drew their favourite sea creature and had a go at sounding out and writing the name—what fantastic work!

Star of the week: Congratulations to Noah R, who is our star of the week, for demonstrating huge progress in his maths. Noah R will be taking home his certificate and Wilfred the Elephant to write in the book all about his time spent with Wilfred over the next week and will bring him back next Thursday.

Please remember to read with your child, even for just 5 minutes! Please also remember to record it in the reading record. We will only change your child's book if you have read with them 2 or more times in that week! Reading books are changed on Tuesday's and Thursday's. Please remember to also have the library book in your children's book bag on Thursday to be changed. 

Any issues or concerns we need to know about, please speak to the Acorn team before and after school or email at: acorn@st-barnabas.kent.sch.uk

It’s been a busy and exciting start to the term, and we can’t wait for more fun learning adventures as we continue through the final term of Reception!