Willow - Reception 2025 - 2026

Welcome to Willow class        

We are 25 wonderful, bright and curious children and together we are Willow Class. Mrs Heath is our class teacher and we are very lucky to have support from Mrs Harper, Mrs Molyneux and Mr Blears. 

Throughout the year we will be having endless amounts of fun exploring, investigating and learning through play. Our curriculum is based around seven key areas which consist of  Personal, Social and Emotional Development, Physical Development, Communication and Language, Literacy, Mathematics, Expressive Arts and Design and Understanding the World. At times, our learing can be messy but we LOVE that because it fosters curiosity and imagination, it develops our language and communication and it enhances our physical development. We ask that children bring in a puddlesuit and wellies that can be left in school so that they can truely immerse themself in the EYFS provision.

How are we in Spring Two already?! The year is FLYING by!

This half term we will be reading the text The Extraordinary Gardener by Sam Boughton. This wonderful and vibrant picture book is about Joe, a boy living in a grey, ordinary world who dreams of nature and colour. After planting a tiny seed that unexpectedly grows into a beautiful tree, Joe transforms his dull balcony into a lush, tropical jungle, inspirairing his community to being nature into their lives. We will be using this text as a vehicle for this terms topic, 'At the Bottom of the Garden.' 

In handwriting, we will be continuing with our big movements, improving our pencil grips and focusing on forming known letter sounds and numbers. In maths we will be learning all about the numbers 9 and 10, exploring length, height and time and looking at doubles. As usual, we will be continuing to focus lots on the composition of number and subitising. 

We will be looking out for the signs of Spring and getting our hands dirty planting seeds and looking after our environment. We will we be learning about wildlife and how to stay safe whilst out and about in the countryside and in our locality. This term, we also plan to go on our first Welly Walk!

This term we have some important dates planned in, such as Willow Parent/Grandparent Lunch, our Class Worship and the Easter Service and Bonnet Parade. Look out for these oN Class Dojo, the school calendar and on the fortnightly newsletter. 

The weather is beginning to change, but some mornings are still particularly chilly! For us to entend our learning as much as possible outdoors, please continue to send coats into school, along with hats and wellies. 

As always, please keep referring back to the class website page or classdojo for updates and important announcements.

We love to hear about what Willow Class have been busy doing outside of the classroom. Please share these with us, along with any exciting home experiences or milestones.

Forest School

Forest school will take place every other week starting on Tuesday 5th January. This is a brilliant outdoor learning session that the children look forward to and enjoy - prepare for MUD! Children must come into school in their forest school clothing and bring their wellies/walking boots in a separate bag if they are not already in school.

P.E.

Our P.E. lessons take place every Friday morning. Please ensure that your child has their P.E. kit in school all week.

Helping your child at home

Reading: Please read regularly at home with your child and our school expectation is to read a minimum of 4 times weekly. Allow your child to listen to you read, as well as listening to them. 

Writing: Use lots of opportunities to write; shopping lists, cooking and baking, writing instructions. Any mark making is valuable to children forming letters.

Maths: When out and about look out for numbers on doors, packets, signs and clocks. At home count when you are laying the table, going upstairs and when playing games. Try making patterns using different natural items such as pine cones and leaves.

If at any point throughout the year you have anything you wish to speak to me about please do not hesitate to get in touch via ClassDojo.