Mathematics
This area of learning involves providing children with opportunities to develop and
improve their skills in counting, understanding and using numbers, calculating simple
addition and subtraction problems; and to describe shapes, space and measures.
By the end of the Early Years Foundation Stage most children should be able
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Count reliably with numbers from 1 to 20 and place them in order;
Say which number is one more or one less than a given number;
Use quantities and objects to add and subtract two single-digit numbers;
Count on or count back to find the answer;
Solve problems involving doubling, halving or sharing;
Use everyday language to talk about size, weight, capacity, position, distance,
time and money;
Solve problems and compare quantities and objects;
Recognise, describe and create patterns;
Explore Characteristics of everyday objects and shapes and use mathematical
language to describe them.
How you can support your child at home:
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Count out loud with your child saying the names of numbers clearly;
Sing songs or rhymes with numbers in them; e.g. 10 In the Bed, 5 Little Ducks,
10 Fat Sausages etc;
Practise counting on and back in ones, twos, fives and tens;
Read stories with numbers in them, e.g. The Very Hungry Caterpillar;
Use mathematical language; add, take away, number names;
Count using fingers or objects;
Point to and say numbers around the house/ local environment;
Encourage children to identify shapes around them; do a circle spotting hunt,
square spotting etc;
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Practice counting groups of objects in pictures and stories; pose questions such
as how many altogether? Which number is one more?
Be a robot and ask them to give you instructions to get somewhere and let them
have a turn at being the robot for you to instruct;
Apply mathematics to real life; shape, money, amounts of objects etc. Such as
when out shopping.
Understanding the World
This area of learning involves guiding the children to make sense of their physical world
and their community through opportunities to explore, observe and find out about
people, places, technology and the environment.
By the end of the Early Years Foundation Stage most children should be able
to………………………………………
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Talk about past and present events in their own lives and in the lives of family
members;
Know that other children don’t always enjoy the same things and are sensitive to
this;
Know about similarities and differences between themselves and others and
among families, communities and traditions;
Know about similarities and differences in relation to objects, places, materials
and living things;
Talk about the features of their own immediate environment and how
environments may vary from one another;
Make observations of animals and plants and explain why some things occur and
talk about changes;
Recognise that a range of technology is used in places such as homes and
schools;
Select and use technology for particular purposes.
How you can support your child at home:
* Talk to your child about special times; birthdays, baptism and other key events in their
lives and the lives of others they know.
* Encourage them to explore their surroundings; particularly in the outdoor area such as
rubbings from grates, floors or bricks
* Allow your child to observe animals and describe them.
* Encourage them to feel different textured objects and describe; rough, smooth, soft
etc.
* Talk about ICT apparatus, what it does, what they can do with it and how to use it
safely e.g. making a telephone call.
Expressive Arts and Design
This area of learning involves enabling children to explore and play with a wide range of
media and materials as well as providing opportunities and encouragement for sharing
their thoughts, ideas and feelings through a variety of activities in art, music, movement,
dance, role-play and design and technology.
By the end of the Early Years Foundation Stage most children should be able
to………………………………………
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Sing songs, make music, dance and experiment with ways of changing them;
Safely use and explore a variety of materials, tools and techniques;
Experiment with colour, design, texture, form and function;
Use what they have learnt about media and materials in original ways, thinking
about uses and purposes;
Represent their own ideas, thoughts and feelings through design and technology,
art, music dance, role play and stories.
How to support your child at home:
* Encourage your child to listen to and sing songs and rhymes.
* Engage in role play with your child.
* Explore different media; paint, pencils, crayons and find out what happens when you
mix different media e.g. paint and sand;
* Encourage children to notice changes in properties of media as they are transformed
e.g by becoming wet;
* Talk about what is happening, helping them to think about cause and effect;
* Using scissors and glue; encourage cutting and sticking activities.
* Dance to songs and make up actions to complement; e.g. Wheels on the Bus;
* Encourage their make-believe play and use different ‘character’ voices.
Outdoor Learning
At Hinguar Primary School and Nursery, we have made a commitment to raise
children’s attainment and development and believe that outdoor learning is a key
element in supporting this commitment.
We are fortunate to be placed in an area very close to an award winning beach and
want to make the most of this opportunity by taking the children on regular visits to the
beach to learn through play and experience. In order to maintain this however we will
require DBS checked parent volunteers to maintain a high adult: child ratio. If you feel
that you would be able to commit to regular or occasional visits to the beach, or other
outdoor visits, please ask the office for a DBS form.
Community visitors
As a community school, we value the opportunity to work with the local community and
regularly invite local ‘people who help us’ into the school to support the children’s
understanding about the area in which they live, many of whom are parents themselves.
If you feel you may be able to visit the school and inspire children through ambition or
enterprise, please speak to a member of the Early Years Team.
Parents
We acknowledge ‘Parents as partners’ as one of the commitments to the EYFS
principle of ' Positive relationships'. We have a commitment to respect diversity by
valuing all families, and providing welcoming communication by approachable staff.
We acknowledge that parents play a key part in their child’s learning journey and so
endeavor to provide opportunities for parents to be involved within the life of the school.
Throughout the year we will be offering opportunities for you to work with your child in
their class, attend parent and child conferences and watch the children perform.
We also welcome parents who would like to be involved on a regular basis as a parent
volunteer who could read with individual children or work with small groups of children
to support their learning. If you feel you may be interested in being a parent volunteer
then please collect a DBS form from the school office or speak to a member of the Early
Years Team.
Homework
We recognise the need for children to consolidate their learning and so provide
opportunities for the children to complete homework tasks related to their learning
throughout the week. When appropriate the children will also be given a reading book
which we expect to be read at least three times a week and key words to be checked
each week. Further details of which will be provided nearer the time. If you have any
concerns or comments about any homework task then a member of the Early Years
Team will be happy to help.
Transition into Year 1
As your child enters into the Summer Term we will be supporting their transition into
Year 1. The children are provided with carefully planned support as they start school
and we feel that this should continue as they move into Year 1 and enter formal
National Curriculum teaching.
To prepare the children for their transition into Year 1, a series of activities will be
planned to provide the children with the chance to work with their new teacher alongside
their current teacher and familiar adults to experience learning within a Year 1
classroom.
To support your child’s transition, their first term in Year 1 will be structured in a similar
way to that of which they have experienced within their Reception class. Children will be
supported according to their individual needs. Children who are not yet ready to
commence the National Curriculum teaching will continue to be assessed by the Early
Years Foundation Stage Curriculum until they are ready to transfer.
Comments and Suggestions
At Hinguar Primary School and Nursery, we pride ourselves in listening to parents and
working together to deliver services that meet the needs of the children and families to
whom we serve. We value the importance of reflecting on practice and learning together
with parents. We therefore welcome any comments or suggestions that you may have.
If you would like to offer any comments or suggestions on how we could improve our
service then please feel free to place a comment in our comment box located in
reception or speak to a member of the Early Years Team.