Over the next few weeks, our English lessons will be centred around the detective story Hermelin by Mini Grey. Through this delightful and engaging story, the children will explore the magic of storytelling while building key writing skills. We will focus on the key skills of sense, structure and punctuation, whilst extending children to be able to join and extend sentences using conjunctions.

We follow the Read Write Inc. phonics programme, which gives children a flying start in learning to read and write.  Children are assessed regularly and grouped to meet their needs. We teach children the initial sounds, moving into reading 'special friends' such as ng and oo.  Then children are taught to decode and blend to develop their reading skills.  Reading is the key to opening the door to learning.

This half term, our Key Stage 1 mathematicians are continuing to develop their addition and subtraction within 20. The children will learn to use practical equipment, number lines, and mental strategies (like 'counting on' and 'making ten') to solve both calculations and real-life word problems. By focusing on these core skills, we aim to build mathematical fluency and confidence, ensuring every child feels like a successful problem solver. They will also be extending and building upon their knowledge of place value from last half term, moving onto understanding numbers up to 100.

This half term we will step back in time as our young historians travel to 1605 to uncover the thrilling story of The Gunpowder Plot! Children will step into the past to investigate key figures like Guy Fawkes and King James I, unravelling the motives behind the plot and sequencing the dramatic events as they unfolded. Along the way, we will explore what daily life was like over 400 years ago, comparing 17th-century living to our world today to gain a fascinating glimpse into history.

We are getting ready for an exciting scientific adventure this half term as we explore Animals: Living Things and Their Habitats! Our young explorers will step into the shoes of nature detectives, learning what keeps living things alive and discovering how plants and animals survive and thrive in their environments. From hunting for minibeasts in microhabitats under rocks to uncovering how creatures depend on one another, children will map out food chains, identify diverse plants and animals, and discover how different habitats meet the basic needs of every living thing.

This half term in RE, we are diving into the heart of the festive season as we explore the question: "What does the nativity story tell Christians about Jesus?" The children will retell the classic Christmas story while discovering why it holds such deep meaning for Christians, who believe Jesus was God in human form. Through thoughtful discussion, they will explore how the nativity guides Christian beliefs and actions during Christmas, and they will even make connections between the celebrations of Christmas and Easter.

This half term in PSHE, our focus is all about Celebrating Difference! Children will explore the wonderful ways we are both unique and similar to one another, building empathy and appreciation for everyone in our class family. We will also have important conversations about understanding what bullying is, how it affects feelings, and identifying trusted adults to talk to for support. Alongside this, children will learn practical, positive strategies to build strong friendships and foster an inclusive, caring environment.

This term in art, we dive into an exciting unit focused on the art of drawing. Over the coming weeks, the children will be given wonderful opportunities to produce creative work, exploring their own unique ideas and recording their personal experiences through line, shape, and texture—all working towards creating their very own self-portraits!

This term in DT, we will jump into an exciting Design and Technology (DT) unit. Our mission? To design the ultimate lunchbox! The children will act as real-world designers, using their own daily experiences and knowledge of existing lunchboxes to help generate fresh, innovative ideas.

Throughout this project, the children will learn that excellent design always serves a purpose and must be aimed at an intended user. To bring their ideas to life, our mini-designers will practice explaining exactly how their product will look and work using clear talking and simple, annotated drawings. They will also learn to understand and follow specific design criteria to ensure their lunchboxes are truly fit for purpose.

We will be learning to perform actions to music and respond to musical signals and themes using movement. We will be exploring and creating rhythm patterns and learning how to use these to create a composition, writing down our compositions.

This half term in Computing, our pupils will be unleashing their creativity as we explore Digital Literacy: Online Painting! Children will gain hands-on independence using digital painting software to design and craft their own virtual artwork. From mastering brush tools, colour palettes, and geometric shapes to filling spaces and adding text, they will discover how to bring their ideas to life on screen. Along the way, they will also build problem-solving skills by learning how to independently use digital tools to edit, adjust, and refine their creations.

We link a range of learning to our woodland sessions.  The children really enjoy their time in the woods (both learning and wild play time for exploring and following their own interests).  This is a fundamental opportunity for children to develop teamwork skills and build resilience through problem-solving.  It also teaches children about having respect for our environment.

Our woodland session is on a Tuesday afternoon. Please could children wear clothing suitable for the weather, as we are likely to be outside even if it is raining.  They will also need different shoes or wellies to wear in the woods.

This half term in PE, children will be developing their skills across both Gymnastics and Invasion Games! In gymnastics, they will explore balance and control by making tense, stretched, and curled shapes, linking actions into sequences, using apparatus safely, and performing with confidence for their peers. In invasion games, pupils will dive into team play as they learn key attacking and defending concepts—exploring how to gain and keep possession, support teammates, and work together to score and save goals.

Class Dojo is our main form of communication with parents. If you have not yet signed up for Class Dojo and would like to, please do not hesitate to come and see us.  We are more than happy to help if you are having difficulty in accessing this.  It's a great space where you can view photos, videos and information about all the amazing things that are happening in our classroom and around the school. It gives you the chance to see what your children have been learning in school each week, giving you the opportunity to talk to them at home about what they have been doing.

A home learning menu will be posted on Class Dojo at the beginning of each half term.  These activities are suggestions linked to the Discovery Learning focus for the half term, but you are free to explore other home learning opportunities with your child.

Please ensure your child’s clothing and belongings are clearly labelled.