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Early Years
Our new topic starting June 2020 is 'What can you see in summer?'
Our in school and home learning will based around our new project 'What can you see in summer?' Your child will be set a daily challenge on Tapestry linked to this topic.
The sun has got his hat on! Let’s go outside, to explore everything that summer has to offer. In this project, we’ll learn all about summer, the changes that happen in the natural world and things people do during the warmer months.
This half term, we’ll look for signs of summer, and use our senses to explore the season. We’ll have lots of fun role playing in our ice cream shop. Using ice pencils, we’ll create some cold and colourful writing. We’ll use symbols to complete a weather chart, and record the temperature. In our mathematics work, we’ll count and estimate the number of seeds in a watermelon slice. Using our green fingers, we’ll plant grass seeds and care for them during the project. We’ll look closely at objects that you might take to the beach, and technology that people use during the summer such as digital cameras and desktop fans. There’ll be lots of delicious foods to eat. We’ll taste summer fruits, make healthy lollies, and then write instructions. Outside the classroom, we’ll play with different balls and search for wildflowers. We’ll learn about sun safety, and make sunglasses using different materials.
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Areas of Learning |
Early Learning Goals |
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Communication and language |
Listening and attention; Understanding; Speaking |
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Physical development |
Moving and handling; Health and self-care |
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Personal, Social and emotional development |
Self-confidence and self-awareness; Managing feelings and behaviour; Making relationships |
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Literacy |
Reading; Writing |
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Mathematics |
Numbers; Shape, space and measures |
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Understanding the world |
The world; Technology |
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Expressive arts and design |
Exploring and using media and materials; Being imaginative |
Help your child prepare for their project
Summer is superb! Why not explore your local area to look for signs that summer is here? You could also plant seeds such as carrots, herbs or beans. What will the seeds need to help them grow? Alternatively, you could do some finger-painting to create a brightly-coloured, summery work of art.
Our aims:
Within the Early Years, we aim to develop a child’s love of learning whilst preparing them for their later school life. We use both children’s interests and the statutory framework to shape our planning and form the basis of our curriculum. The Early Learning goals are used as a starting point and are based on the following areas:
- Personal, social and emotional development
- Communication and language
- Physical development
- Literacy
- Mathematics
- Understanding the World
- Expressive arts and design
The children are given opportunities to learn in both child-initiated and adult-led activities. This combination allows children to gain the necessary knowledge and skills whilst gaining confidence ad social skills in a variety of learning situations.
Parental Engagement:
In our Early Years, there are lots of opportunities for children to share their learning with their parents across the school year. Each term we have a Stay and Play session that includes an informal chat with parents and our experienced Nursery Nurse where by the group discuss term dates and general parenting questions. This is then followed by an afternoon in the classroom where we share children’s work, organise lots of creative activities and the children explore their classroom with their parents. This is a fantastic and regular opportunity that is appreciated by both children and parents.
Regular learning updates are also posted on our Twitter account which is widely followed by our parents. This is a fantastic platform that allows for learning and experiences to be celebrated and shared with our families. Follow our updates here: https://twitter.com/BenNevisQEP
Outdoor Learning:
We are very fortunate at Queen Emma’s to have such a fantastic outdoor space in the Early Years. We are able to be outside in all weathers meaning the children have lots of opportunities to widen their learning opportunities and have fantastic experiences. We love to explore our woodland area where the children build dens, hunt for wildlife and make their own music. We see the outdoors as an extended classroom that is used every day; our children have a love of learning indoors and outdoors.
Little Oak Pre-School:
For details of Little Oak Pre-School, please see their website:
https://www.littleoakpreschoolwitney.com/
