1. What will my child be doing in the Foundation Stage at St. Edwards?

2. Helping your child to settle: What to bring…. A named drink bottle. A named drink bottle. Book bag everyday. Book bag everyday. Waterproof coat. Waterproof coat. Lunchbox if having own lunch. Lunchbox if having own lunch. PE kit to be kept in school. PE kit to be kept in school. Encouraging independence. Can he/she: *Recognise his/her name. *begin to get dressed and undressed? *use the toilet and wash her/his hands. *Use a fork? *put on his/her coat?

3. The Daily Routine… 8.45 – 9.00 Outdoor play. 8.45 – 9.00 Outdoor play. 9.00 Register, calendar and morning prayers. Session 1 9.15 Session 1 10.00- 10.30 Fruit and drink time and then outdoor play. 10.00- 10.30 Fruit and drink time and then outdoor play. 10.35 – 10.45 Quiet reading. Session 2 10.45 Session 2 11.50 – 1.00 LUNCH then outdoor play. 11.50 – 1.00 LUNCH then outdoor play. 1.00-1.15 Register and carpet session. Session 3 1.15-2.15 Session 3 2.15 - 2.50 Fruit and drink time and then outdoor play. 2.15 - 2.50 Fruit and drink time and then outdoor play. 2.50 Story time. 3.10 Home.

4. Reading and homework. Colour coded book. Colour coded book. This is a book to read with your child. It is changed independently everyday in class and is linked to your child’s reading stage. Reading book (Only once individual children are ready.) Reading book (Only once individual children are ready.)Oxford reading tree. This is changed once a week and is recorded in a reading record diary. Please sign each time you read this book with your child. Library book. Library book. Every Friday the class visit the school library and the children choose a book to keep at home for the week. Letter sounds or target words. Letter sounds or target words. These are learnt at home and will be changed when your child is confident with identifying all of the sounds or reading his/her own set of words. Handwriting homework. Handwriting homework. (January) Each week the children learn 2 or 3 letters, please reinforce these at home by helping your child to learn the sound and form the letter shapes correctly.

5. The Foundation Stage Curriculum is divided into seven areas of learning: Three Prime areas: Communication and Language. Personal, social and emotional development. Physical development. Four Specific areas: Mathematics. Literacy Understanding the world. Expressive Arts and Design.

6. ‘ Personal, Social and Emotional Development’ and ‘Communication and Language’: These areas of learning are very important in the foundation stage and are worked on throughout each day at school. The key skills are: Becoming independent. Self confidence. Asking politely for help/ to use the toilet. Managing own feelings and behaviour appropriately. Making friends, sharing and being helpful to others. Taking responsibility for own actions. Learning to follow our class and school rules. Listening and attention. Understanding and following instructions.

7. Our Literacy sessions included: Sounds and word building (We follow the Ruth Miskin scheme across the whole school. ) Reading (sharing stories, finding information, role play etc.) Handwriting (in cursive style.) Spelling and sentence based work.

8. Our Mathematics sessions include: The two areas are: Numbers. Shape, space and measure. So what do we actually do?? Number games and puzzles. Number formation. Ordering numbers Counting with number fans, number lines and hundred square. Counting a number of objects correctly. Simple addition and subtraction. Using money in role play areas (recognising some coins). 2D and 3D shapes. Capacity (using the sand and water trays.) Sequence events and read o’clock times. Compare lengths and heights. Patterns.

9. Understanding The World: ICT/ Technology ICT/ Technology – Children have an opportunity to use the class computers and interactive whiteboard daily. RE RE is incorporated into this area of learning. Robins and Wrens follow the school RE scheme of work – God Matters. People and communities and The World. People and communities and The World. Thinking about the world around them. Learning about our environment and we can look after our world. Stories from different countries and different beliefs. Topic work: Topic work: Our topics, such as Mini-beasts, Growing and All about Me, help to develop the children’s interest in learning and information finding skills.

10. ‘Physical development’ and ‘Expressive Arts and Design’: The children take part in a whole school hymn singing session, a music session and a dance session each week. The children are all given the opportunity to use a range of creative activities, such as play- dough, cutting and gluing, modelling, painting and drawing every day. We discuss the importance of keeping healthy and exercising our bodies. The foundation stage class take part in PE once a week. This is normally in the school hall. The outdoor area has a wide range of activities, such as bikes, balls and scooters. The children also use the adventure playground and climbing wall every day.

11. Learning Journals: All children have a school Learning Journal. This is used to keep a record of what they enjoy doing at school and how they choose to learn. Each Learning Journal contains photographs, observations and ‘work’ carried out by the child during independent free choice time. We encourage the children to bring in photographs, certificates and work from home to include in their journal. Each half term, the learning journals will be put out in the classroom for parents/carers to view and to add comments on your child’s progress and achievements. We also arrange ‘Stay and Play’ sessions each half term, for parents to spend time in the classroom with their child. This is useful to see who your child plays with and what activities he/she enjoys in the classroom.

12. Ways to help your child: Encourage your child to draw, colour, write and cut as much as possible at home. Pencil control skills need a lot of practice! Count everyday objects whenever possible. Discuss the class topics at home with your child. They can bring books/objects relating to our topic into school. Letter sounds need to be reinforced at home. Please encourage your child to practise writing their name in cursive handwriting. Reading – Share your child’s books with them. If he/she is tired, just read to them and talk about the pictures.

13. Ways to help us! Please name everything! Encourage your child to look after their own belongings, they need to become as independent as possible at school. Please discourage your child from bringing toys to school. Read the parents’ notice board and news letters.

14. Any Questions????

15. Visits to school: *Stay and Play Sessions (10 new children at a time, with a parent/carer). This is with the older FS children. * Drop off visit 9.30-11.30 am (15 children at a time) Please can your child bring a named drink bottle and a waterproof coat (if necessary.) Please note, uniform is not needed for any visits. Thank you.