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Blog 2025 - 2026

Autumn Term 1

Wow, can’t quite believe how quickly this first half term has gone! The Acorn class has settled into school life fantastically. Very proud of how well they have coped and how confident, curious and kind they have all been.

We’ve had a jam-packed few weeks! One of the biggest highlights was the Harvest Festival, the children sang ’Oats and Barley’ beautifully and really enjoyed performing. This half term has been full of fun, learning and muddy adventures! One of our favourite outings was our trip to the allotment where the children got stuck in (literally!) shovelling manure and exploring the outdoors. Back in class, we’ve been celebrating the season with hedgehog playdough, planting acorns, pumpkin tasting – some loved it, some weren’t so sure! – and making our very own harvest loaves.

In Funky Fingers, we’ve been strengthening those fine motor skills with lots of pinching, squeezing and snipping – all helping us get ready for writing. We’ve had an enthusiastic start to our phonics journey, and all the children are doing brilliantly learning new sounds and beginning to blend. They have learnt 20 sounds so far and everyone is enjoying practicing their letter formations and having a go at blending simple words in school and at home.

Within maths, we’ve explored simple patterns, compared mass and capacity, and even measured length using all sorts of creative tools. PE has been full of movement and listening games – lots of giggles and some great imagination!

In RE, the children have begun to learn about the importance of God to Christians by thinking about the people that are important to them. In preparation for the Harvest Festival service, at St George's church, the children learnt about how Christians thank God, at this time of year, for his wonderful creation and everything that he provides for them.

In Music, the children have been learning to keep a pulse. To begin with, they clapped along to slow and fast pulses then moved onto using musical instruments to play in time to a variety of instrumental tunes. They thoroughly enjoyed listening to different genres of music and their enthusiastic playing was a joy to behold!

We’ve also been diving into some wonderful stories, with new stories to vote for daily and weekly trips to the library. The Colour Monster helped us talk about our feelings, and Beegu sparked lovely conversations about kindness and inclusion.

It’s been amazing seeing their confidence begin to grow and new friendships and interest’s blossom. 

Blog 2024 - 2025

Summer Term 2

As we come to the end of a wonderful year in Acorn Class, we want to take a moment to reflect on all the incredible progress, adventures, and memories we’ve made together. It has been a joy to watch each and every child grow in confidence, independence, and curiosity throughout their Reception year.

One of the most exciting journeys this year has been in phonics. Every child has made fantastic progress and has now moved on to reading books. It has been such a pleasure to hear them read aloud with growing fluency and expression. Their enthusiasm for stories and their pride in their achievements have been truly heart-warming. We are so proud of how far they’ve come and how much they’ve embraced the joy of reading.

This half term, we’ve placed a strong focus on handwriting, particularly on letter formation. The children have worked incredibly hard to develop their fine motor skills and ensure their letters are formed correctly. It’s been lovely to see their determination and pride in their writing, and the improvement across the class has been remarkable. These strong foundations will support them as they continue their writing journey in Year 1.

In maths, we’ve explored numbers beyond 20, deepened our understanding of sharing and grouping, and revisited important concepts such as odd and even numbers and number bonds to 10. The children have enjoyed using practical resources and games to embed their learning, and it’s been fantastic to see their mathematical thinking develop and their confidence grow.

In RE, we’ve been thinking about places that are special—to us and to others. We’ve had thoughtful discussions about what makes a place special and how different people express their beliefs and values. We’ve explored similarities and differences between these places and enjoyed our visits to Crafty Church, where the children engaged in creative and reflective activities in a warm and welcoming environment.

We’ve made the most of our beautiful surroundings this term, spending lots of time outside. Whether it’s been tending to our allotment, playing games on the field, exploring the playground, or going on village walks, the children have loved being active and connected to nature. These experiences have helped build teamwork, resilience, and a sense of wonder about the world around them.

Two highlights of our term were our visits to Nothe Fort and Saltpig the Farm. At Nothe Fort, the children were fascinated by the history, the views, and the chance to explore such an exciting place. At Saltpig the farm, they loved meeting the animals, learning about life on the farm, and discovering new things about the natural world. These trips were full of awe and wonder and gave the children rich, hands-on learning experiences.

We also had a fantastic time at Sports Day, where the children showed great team spirit, determination, and joy in taking part. Another big moment was our transition morning, where the children spent time in their new classroom with their teacher. They approached this with excitement and confidence, and we know they are ready for the next step in their learning journey.

As we say goodbye to this Reception year, we want to thank all our families for your support, encouragement, and partnership. It has been a privilege to be part of your child’s first year at school, and we are so proud of everything they have achieved.  We wish you all a wonderful summer holiday—full of sunshine, laughter, and special moments together.

Acorn Class Summer Term 2 2025

Summer 1

As we come to the end of Summer Term 1, we are delighted to reflect on the wonderful progress and achievements of the children in Acorn Class. It has been a term full of growth, exploration, and joyful learning, and we are incredibly proud of how far each child has come.

 One of the most noticeable developments this term has been the growing confidence of the children. It has been heartening to see them becoming more vocal and self-assured in class discussions, sharing their thoughts and ideas with increasing enthusiasm and clarity. This positive shift has enriched our classroom environment, encouraging collaboration and mutual respect among peers.

 In Literacy, the children have made significant strides, particularly in their writing. We are thrilled with the progress they have shown in developing their ability to express themselves through written language. Their enthusiasm for storytelling, using Mighty Writer, has been evident, and they are beginning to take more pride in their work. While we continue to focus on improving letter formation, the foundations are strong, and we are confident that with continued practice, their handwriting will become more fluent and consistent. The children have enjoyed a rich variety of texts this term, including The Tale of Peter Rabbit, Oliver’s Vegetables, and Handa’s Surprise. These stories have sparked lively discussions, inspired creative responses, and deepened their understanding of narrative structure and vocabulary.

 Phonics has also been a key focus, and the children have worked diligently to expand their knowledge, particularly in learning an increasing number of digraphs. It is a delight to see their growing confidence in decoding words and applying their phonics skills in both reading and writing. Their progress in reading has been particularly impressive, and it is wonderful to witness their excitement as they become more independent and fluent readers.

 In Mathematics, the children have been exploring a wide range of concepts with curiosity and enthusiasm. They have enjoyed learning about 3D shapes and have taken this knowledge beyond the classroom, engaging in shape hunts in the garden and identifying shapes in their environment. Their counting skills have developed well, with many confidently counting up to 13 and beyond. We have also explored patterns, number bonds to 10, and matching numerals with corresponding amounts. These foundational skills are crucial, and the children have embraced the challenges with resilience and determination. Next term, we will focus on consolidating their understanding of odd and even numbers and deepening their fluency with number bonds.

 In Religious Education (RE), the children have been introduced to stories from a variety of faiths, fostering a sense of curiosity and respect for different beliefs and traditions. They particularly enjoyed learning about Bilal and the Beautiful Butterfly, Noah’s Ark, and David and Goliath. These stories have provided meaningful opportunities for reflection and discussion, helping the children to consider themes such as bravery, kindness, and faith.

 Forest School continues to be a highlight of the week, offering the children valuable opportunities to connect with nature and develop a range of skills. They have loved creating outdoor art, building dens, and identifying plants. Outdoor Classroom Day was a particular success, with activities such as working on the allotment and building an obstacle course sparking great excitement and teamwork. These experiences not only support physical development but also nurture creativity, problem-solving, and a sense of environmental stewardship.

 In Physical Education (PE), the children have enjoyed developing their ball skills and participating in team games. These sessions have helped them to build coordination, cooperation, and confidence. It has been wonderful to see their growing ability to work together, take turns, and support one another in achieving shared goals.

 Throughout the term, we have been consistently impressed by the children’s increasing resilience and their appetite for learning. They are becoming more independent, more willing to take risks in their learning, and more reflective about their progress. These qualities will serve them well as they continue their educational journey.

 As we look ahead to the final half term of the year, we are excited for the opportunities that lie ahead. We will continue to build on the strong foundations laid this term, with a focus on consolidating key skills in literacy and numeracy, deepening our understanding of the world around us, and nurturing the social and emotional development of every child.  Thank you for your continued support and partnership. We are so proud of all that Acorn Class has achieved this term and look forward to a busy and rewarding final half term together.

Spring 2

We have had an exciting half term, and have been delighted to see the progress that the children have made.

In phonics the children have been consolidating their learning in order to be able to spell words to use in their independent writing. There has been lots of repetition of word building and word reading, and we have used pictures as a stimulus to encourage their writing, so for example, they may now be confident to write “the black cat”.  We have spent some time discussing sentence starters such as “the” or “it is a” to help scaffold their independent writing. The children have made fantastic progress in their handwriting and this will now be a stronger focus in the summer term. The children are beginning to feel proud of their writing and extend their imagination which is lovely to see.

We have loved reading this term. Many of the children are becoming more confident readers and starting to use intonation and expression when reading which is lovely to hear. The children are still enjoying using the book corner to read quietly or explore unknown books, and have also been fascinated by the growing and gardening books on our interest table.

The topic this term has been ‘Traditional Tales’ and the children have enjoyed joining in with “once upon a time” and “they lived happily ever after”. They have enjoyed playing in the fairy-tale shop and acting out our stories of the week. They particularly enjoyed Jack and the Beanstalk and have been building models which reach “the giant in the sky”.

In maths we have been looking at 9, and 10, doubles and odd and even numbers. The children have continued to show interest in our refocused maths area where they have opportunities to explore new learning, such as using the part part whole model for numbers 9 and 10, as well as revisiting prior learning, such as measuring objects and using previous vocabulary such as longer, longest, shorter, shortest. The children have enjoyed strolling around the classroom in hi vis jackets with a clipboard and ruler measuring anything that they can find! It has been lovely to watch.

We have enjoyed more activities out in the garden this half term too, such as reading in the story shed, making cards at the table, building obstacle courses and dressing up in the home corner shed.

Continued changes in the classroom have inspired the children in their play, and we have seen more examples of the children taking their learning into their exploring time and knowing and remembering more as a result! What a wonderful half term we have had and we look forward to the start of the Summer term when we return.

Spring 1

This half term has seen all of Acorn class make huge strides in their learning. Lots of progress has been made in all areas which is so exciting to see.

In phonics the children have been introduced to digraphs and have started to explore when 2 letters make 1 sound. So far learning about sh, ch, ng, wh, th, qu and ee. Adding these to all the other sounds they have already learnt makes over 30 sounds! Letter formation has been a focus with lots of time spent practicing using a range of materials from playdough, pens, chalks to sand. The children are beginning to recognise their progress and are showing pride in their achievements.

Reading is a big focus and developing the passion to be a reader and the adventures that books can take you on. Lots of great reading has been happening including sharing books with other classes, weekly library visits, book of the week focuses, daily reads and paired reading. Removing some of the books and changing the book corner has inspired children to use the space, and our topic on animals has been a driving force for all the children to want to look at the non-fiction books on our interest table exploring animals and their habitats.

Lots of interest for our topic this half term which has been great! The children have been passionate about animals and learning more about them. We have done lots of work around animals and their habitats, exploring different homes. We have looked at ‘animal superpowers’ and lots of fascinating facts, everyone, including staff have learnt so much. Did you know that sloths are great swimmers and have been around for 65 million years! One creature that got a lot of talk time this half term was the dung beetle, who knew they would be so popular! Think anything that involves poo is going to keep the children entertained.

In maths we started the half term looking at mass and capacity which encouraged lots of talk, problem solving and mathematical language. Refocusing our maths area has seen an abundance of effective learning and interest. The children have been keen to estimate how many objects in would take to fill a certain container. They have experimented with filling the scales to make them as heavy as possible and filling the buckets to see which items are heavier. This was learning they took to other areas, including the construction and outside.

Making changes in the classroom has seen a boost in effective self-directed play this half term, which has been wonderful to see. Lots of talking and using their imagination. Collaborative play and working together, sharing and taking turns. We have more ideas for the environment and look forward to supporting more development in Spring 2.

Autumn 2

What a busy half term it has been! We cannot believe that the children have now completed their first full term in Reception. We have enjoyed a visit from Swanage Library, a Remembrance Day service, Science Day, the whole school Church Service at St George’s Church, a visit from The Swanage School who performed The Sleeping Beauty, and finally our wonderful Nativity.   It has been wonderful getting to know your children, and we are very excited about what the Spring term will bring! 

In Maths this half term, the children focused on numbers 1-5. They have learnt number formation, one more and one less, sharing, composition and …. They have explored number outside in the garden playing games, using props to tell stories, though songs and interactively on the whiteboard.  

We have got out and about as much as possible. Talking about the changing seasons from pumpkin carving to leaf rubbings, apple picking, putting our allotment to bed, chalking on the playground and enjoying outside classroom day.  

We have continued with Sounds Write, in phonics and we now know a sound for every letter in the alphabet. We have been doing lots of word building and word reading, and we are thrilled with the progress the children are making with their reading books. We have continued to work on forming our letters correctly, and we will be doing more handwriting next term. We have continued to think about strengthening our hands and arms with lots of outdoor play, big writing on huge sheets of paper, and chalking outside.  

In RE we have learned about the Nativity story, ready for our fantastic performances of Prickly Hay! We all enjoyed practising and learning our words. All of the children did a fantastic job, and we were so proud of them all! We enjoyed our trips to the Church to practise and started to identify features of the Church that we recognised.  

We have thought about ‘Joyful Journeys!’ in our topic work, exploring the story of ‘The Jolly Christmas Postman’ which led us to make a Christmas Post Office role play area. We also explored ‘We’re going on a bear hunt’ and learnt some bear hunt yoga moves! We’ve thought about the journeys our letters and Christmas cards go on and different forms of transport.  

We simply cannot believe how quickly the time has flown; it has been a long half term but a very joyful one! We wish you a happy and relaxing break over the Christmas holidays and we look forward to seeing you in the Spring term, when our new topic will be ‘Amazing Animals’!

Autumn 1

We have had such a fabulous first half term in Acorn Class , the children arrived full of confidence! We are so proud of each and every one of them for settling into school so well, making friends, enjoying their learning, and joining our very special school family. It has gone so quickly and we’ve enjoyed the Harvest Festival in Church surrounded by our community and performing so beautifully, our House Sports afternoon and visitors from the Dog’s Trust.  

We started off by settling in, reading The Colour Monster goes to school, engaging in story times, learning our school rules, and being introduced to our school routines. We learned how to play safely in the playground, enjoy snack and lunch time, and walk safely during visits to the nature trail and our allotment! We have explored our outdoor area, where we’ve loved building with blocks and making obstacle courses with tyres, crates and giant bricks.  

We have started Sounds Write in phonics and we can do lots of word building as well as well as recognising some phoneme- grapheme correspondences. We are beginning to form some letters correctly, and our handwriting will be a focus next half term. We have enjoyed lots of big movements this half term, playing, climbing, building, and working on the allotment to build up strength in our core, arms and hands ready for writing.  

In our ‘It’s me you see!’ topic we have learnt about each of our families, who we live with, and where we live. We’ve found out about when our birthdays are, celebrated some birthdays already, and discovered that all our families might be different but they are all special!  

In Maths we have explored matching, sorting and comparing, measure, patterns and it’s me 1, 2, 3! We have been counting blocks, building towers, making sets and groups, matching patterns, continuing repeating patterns, singing counting songs, playing musical instruments and completing ‘how many?’ tasks as well as ‘one more than’ activities.  

The children have really enjoyed trips to the allotment looking for signs of Autumn and collecting leaves to do leaf rubbing. They also enjoyed learning about God during RE lessons and visiting Church to perform our Harvest Festival. 

It has been such a pleasure getting to know the children this half term, hearing about their families and watching the children become part of our school family, it was wonderful to hear from the lunchtime supervisors how well they settled at lunchtime, and we saw how quickly they integrated into the games on the playground with the rest of the children.  The time has flown and we look forward to welcoming the children back after half term, for the run up to Christmas. Have a wonderful break!