Church Cowley St James Curriculum newsletter Spring 2016
‘Our aspiration is to enable all children to develop their capacities as successful learners, confident
individuals, responsible citizens and effective contributors to society.’ The curriculum is planned
around five key skills; Investigate, Analyse and Synthesise, Create and Develop, Communicate and
Evaluate, in addition we cover the Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum to enable the
children to have a broad and well balanced experience.
Important dates this term:
15th January: If your child is starting
Reception class in September 2016 this
is the deadline for applications.
A note from the teachers:
Things to remember:
Welcome back to Nursey, we hope you have enjoyed the
Fridays we will be leaving your child’s learning journey out so
Christmas break.
you can have a look through what your child has been up to.
Just a areminder that it is very important that you send your
WOW Wall: Please continue to fill in wow wall postcards. We
child to school in a waterproof coat and bring some Wellies with
them. Your children love to learn outside so please help us
ensure they can take part in this.
In the afternoon session we have some new children statring
Date to be confirmed: Our History
have loved reading them and it is great to have your input into
the children’s Learning Journeys.
Please don’t forget to apply for your child’s Reception place. The
with us this January. We look forward to getting to know you
deadline is 15th January. Below is the link. If you need any
and your child. Please let us know if you have any questions at
support or have any questions please don’t hesitate to ask.
all.
Family celebration
Thank you.
January starters this does not apply to you.
www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/admissions
Topic:
Our focus this term is ‘Our History’.
We will be looking at how the children have changed since they were babies. We are hoping to explore growth, measuring and
family.
At the end of the topic we are looking to produce a book for each child on how they have grown and changed since they were a
baby, this will consist of: photos, drawings and paintings.
If we could have some baby pictures of your child which we could photocopy that would be greatly appreciated.
Nursery Rhymes:
Each term we will focus on a particular Nursery Rhyme. This term it is, Here we
go round the Mulberry Bush. This is to link in with the current season – Winter.
Below is a link to schools radio where you can share a range of Nursery rhymes
with your child.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/learning/schoolradio/subjects/earlylearning/nurserysongs
Phonics focus:
Maths focus this term:
We are working through Phase 1 Letters and sounds
We will be putting up a Nursery height chart
with your children. This covers a range of themes
Reading books with your child is an incredibly
and looking at how your child grows across the
valuable experience. Please make time to look at
year. We will also be doing some planting and
a range of texts with your child. Below are some
including: distinguishing between environmental sounds
and instrumental sounds, moving our bodies to a beat,
rhyming and rhythm, alliteration, exploring voice sounds
will watch how the seeds grow.
and sounding out simple words.
We will continue to introduce and sing a range
We are going to start exploring Jolly Phonics songs
of number songs to help develop your child’s
which are a fun and memorable way for the children to
counting skills.
learn their letter sounds. Below is a link where you can
view the songs.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Djz82FBYiug
links which go into detail on how you can
support your child by sharing books with them.
http://www.booktime.org.uk/schools/readingwith-your-child
http://www.booktrust.org.uk/books/children/ho
We will start looking at the calendar on a daily
w-to-share-books/
basis. This will help your child to learn: the days
We will be continuing to introduce the children to what
of the week, months of the year, the seasons
their letter sounds look like. This will come through Jolly
and their numerals as we will select the date
phonics work, phonics group work and through letters
each day.
being present in the environment.
Books to share at home
We are looking forward to all the fantastic learning taking
place this term, if you have any questions or would like to
Useful websites:
http://www.foundationyears.org.uk
/2015/03/what-to-expect-when-aparents-guide/
get involved in any of the topic please see your child’s
class teacher.
Home learning projects this term:
Best wishes
We will be sending out topic webs every
Miss Wright
opportunity to discuss the following
Friday in order to give you the
weeks topic with your child.
We are starting a Library system where
every Monday you can borrow a book
from Nursery. Once you have returned
the book you can borrow another one.
Reading is such a wonderful experience
you can share with your children and
we are pleased to be providing you with
some of our books to support this.