1. PSED (Personal, Social, Emotional Development) * Takes steps to resolve conflicts with other children, e.g. finding a compromise. * Can describe self in positive terms and talk about abilities. * Understands that own actions affect other people, for example, becomes upset or tries to comfort another child when they realise they have upset them. CL (Communication and Language) * Two-channelled attention – can listen and do for a short time. * Responds to instructions involving a two-part sequence. Understands humour, e.g. nonsense rhymes, jokes. *Extends vocabulary, especially by grouping and naming, exploring the meaning and sounds of new words. PD (Physical Development) * Experiments with different ways of moving. * Negotiates space successfully when playing racing and chasing games with other children, adjusting speed or changing direction to avoid obstacles. * Begins to use anticlockwise movement and retrace vertical lines. * Shows understanding of the need for safety when tackling new challenges, and considers and manages some risks. L (Literacy) * Can segment the sounds in simple words and blend them together and knows which letters represent some of them. * Uses vocabulary and forms of speech that are increasingly influenced by their experiences of books. * Hears and says the initial sound in words. * Can segment the sounds in simple words and blend them together * Writes own name and other things such as labels, captions. M (Mathematics) * Counts actions or objects which cannot be moved. * Counts objects to 10, and beginning to count beyond 10. * In practical activities and discussion, beginning to use the vocabulary involved in adding and subtracting. * Can describe their relative position such as ‘behind’ or ‘next to’. * Measures short periods of time in simple ways. UW (Understand the World) * Enjoying joining in with family customs and routines. * Looking closely at similarities differences, patterns and change. * Completes a simple program on a computer. EAD (Expressive Arts and Design) * Manipulates materials to achieve a planned effect. * Constructs with a purpose in mind, using a variety of resources. * Creates simple representations of events, people and objects. * Plays alongside other children who are engaged in the same theme. This half term our topic is ‘Stories and Celebrations!’ We have many exciting activities planned within the topic which include messy play, exploring numbers around us, mark making, increasing our confidence around the school and how to be a good friend.

2. A few points to remember: Caption books and reading books. Please continue to read the captions in the yellow caption books, by segmenting and blending sounds. Re-reading the captions will really help your child to recognise and identify sounds in words. The children are gradually being given their first St. Mary’s School reading books. They will come home with a school reading book and a reading record. Please support your child in using their phonic skills to read the words and use the questions and ideas on the inside covers of the book. Please write in the record folder when you hear your child read and any comments you wish to add. The books will be changed when we feel they are ready for the next book. Please continue to read and discuss other fiction and non fiction books with your child as this is always beneficial. Discussions of the book content (words and pictures) is as vital as reading the words themselves! Miss Gagen, Mrs Lain and Mrs Roberts