Reception 2024 - 2025

"Do everything in love” 1 Corinthians 16:14

Learning to love, loving to learn

Welcome to Reception

Summer Term 2025

Welcome back Reception!

Mrs Whittall and Mrs Campbell are excited to welcome you back to St Mary’s. This term we have some exciting topics and experiences in store. We look forward to a fantastic term.

General information

• Please tie up long hair.
• Please have a bottle of water at school everyday. This can be refilled as necessary.
• Reading diaries will be checked on a Friday. Please ensure your child has read at least 3 times.
• All school uniform should be named.
• A full PE kit should be in school at all times.

PE will be outside whenever possible so please account for this when sending in your child's PE kit.

 Our Aims

We offer a curriculum rich in wonder and memorable experiences. We provide a stimulating environment that provides exciting opportunities, promotes challenge, exploration, adventure and a real love of learning.
It is our intent that all children develop physically, verbally, cognitively and emotionally in an environment which values all cultures, communities and people. We aim for our children to be confident and independent, to believe in themselves and interact positively with others.
Play is an integral part of learning. A mix of adult directed and uninterrupted child-initiated play ensures the best outcomes for pupils.
Warm and positive relationships between staff and children, consistent routines and strong relationships with parents are key.

Our Christian Values

During the summer Term, our Christian values are Honesty and Determination

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." (Philippians 4:13)

Reading

This half term we will begin phase 4 of the Little Wandle scheme.

We will use the Little Wandle scheme of work for our Phonics lessons and to develop reading and spelling strategies. Our we daily routine will include phonics and reading sessions.

Your child will continue to bring home a ‘Phonics Reader’ and a ‘Love of Reading’ book. Regular reading at home is essential and we ask that you read the ‘Phonics Reader’ book with your child, at least 3 times per week. We suggest that you question your child regularly about the book they are reading to develop a deeper understanding of a range of texts, to develop new vocabulary and to strengthen writing skills.

Our class books for this half-term include ‘Silly Doggy’ and ‘Super Tato.’

Writing

We will continue to focus on our fine motor skills in order to prepare our hands for writing. We will continue to think about and plan what we are going to write and consider what letters will be used to do this. We will continue to develop our pencil control to support handwriting and will be writing sentences using our phonics.

Maths

As mathematicians, the children will learn through concrete experiences moving onto pictorial and abstract methods as their confidence builds. They will also be expected to use their learning to reason about maths and solve problems. 

During the summer term, pupils will continue to develop their subitising and counting skills and explore in great detail, numbers upto 10. we will be adding and taking away and revisiting doubles, sharing and odd and even numbers. We will begin to look at numbers upto 20 and beyond and looking at numerals and number patterns We will be exploring making shapes from other shapes. We will develop our problem solving skills using boats and brisges and making and studying simple maps.

Understanding of the World

People Culture and Communities

This term we will be learning about new life particularly in the farm yard  

Natural world

Taking inspiration from our focus text ‘Silly Doggy,’ We will be studying the change in seasons and exploring the world around us including different habitats and beginning to understand the countries within the United Kingdom. We will design, build and experimenting with dens We will be looking beyond our own world into Outer Space. We will be looking at ways to keep healthy including healthy eating.

Past and Present

We will be looking at influential figures from the past such as Neil Armstrong and Mae Jemison, finding out about how their historical role in society has influenced present time. We will also look at dinosaurs and find out lots of interesting things about them.

RE

For RE we will use the Questful RE planning. This  term we will explore different celebrations from a variety of different cultures and looking at special religious people.

Courageous Advocacy

As we continue to live our lives and act out the teachings of Jesus, we will continue to focus on justice and responsibility and will challenge big questions.

PE

Our PE will concentrate on athletics and strike and field in preperation for our first St Mary's Sports Day.

Art and DT

As artists, we will be influenced by the work of Vincent Van Gogh and Judith Ann Braun to produce our own artwork using natural resources and other media. Taking inspiration from our focus text ‘Silly Doggy.’ We will also be designing and making our own animals.

PSHE

In PSHE, we will follow the Heartsmart scheme and introducing the Heartsmart principle of ‘Fake is a Mistake’ and 'No Way Through Isn't True'. We will be guided by Boris, the Heartsmart mascot and learning about the importance of loving ourselves and thinking of others.

Music

As musicians, we will be using Charanga to explore different music genres and new terminology. This half term we will focus on the topic ‘Big Bear Funk’ and 'Reflect, Rewind, Replay'

We will also be learning lots of new songs and rhymes and preparing for our class assembly.

Possible trips & visitors

We are hoping to visit Halton Lea library and the farm  

Here are some links and videos to support your child's learning .