• Phonics and Reading with your Child

Live, Laugh, Love, Learn!

Our class value is 'Truthfulness.'

Welcome to Busy Bees class! Within class, all pupils work on topic area with overall topics and themes for each subject/area of learning. Reception pupils will work on the Early Years curriculum (2021) stautory and non-statutory guidance. This curriculum is play based and bespoke to the needs and interests of our children. Year 1 pupils work on gaining skills and knowledge in each curriculum area as stated in the National Curriculum. 

In Busy Bees class the teaching and learning of Personal, Social and Emotional Development (PSED) and Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education (PSHEE), along with Physical Development and Communication and Language are an integral part of our curriulum. These are taught and developed through everything we do within our learning environment, through our interactions with each other, as well as focused learning activites.  In the morning we do focused group activities based around comminucation and language, reading, writing and mathematical understanding. Our continuous provision facilitates all our learning in both the Early Years curriculum and National Curriculum. Please see the long term curriculum plan to see overall topics and themes. 

In Busy Bees, we value all children as individuals and teaching is tailored to each child to ensure they reach their full potentail. Our teaching approach encompasses first hand experiences to foster a love of learning and we value parents support and engagement as we believe in importance of a strong parent and school relationship. 

In Busy Bees we value interactions and communication with parents. We have an open door policy and parents can discuss their child with a member of the Busy Bees staff anytime throughout the year at a mutual convienient time. Parents are invited to parent meetings twice a year and receive two written reports summarising their child's progress. Parents can also email directly Mrs Kennedy on n.kennedy@st-aidans-pri.lancs.sch.uk any questions or queries and she will endevour to respond as sson as possible.

PE days- Tuesday and Friday (Spring Term). Please ensure your child has their PE kit in school at all times, including their coloured house t-shirt.

Spellings are sent out on Fridays to be learnt for a test the following Friday.

Books are collected on Monday, Wednesday and Friday to be changed and sent out that day.

Spelling tests are on Fridays.

Useful websites you can access at home:

www.readingeggs.co.uk

Jolly Phonics phase 2 song and actions

www.letters-and-sounds.com/phase-2-games

www.phonicsplay.co.uk

www.crickweb.co.uk/Early-Years

www.topmarks.co.uk/maths-games (3-5 years)

https://play.numbots.com/#/account/school-login/34824

https://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/grownups/the-alphablocks-guide-to-phonics

https://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/watch/5-tips-for-learning-to-ride-a-bike?collection=have-fun-at-home

Homework

Reading

When the children bring home reading books, initially we use the pictures to talk about what is happening in the story. This talk is essential for developing story language, vocabulary and story structure. When they bring home word books, encourage the children to identify and say the letter sounds. Parents should repeat the sounds quickly to help your child blend and say the word. Two or three books are sent on Monday to be read over the week. Please share these books at least three times a week and sign the reading diary. Books will not be changed unless the diary is signed. School expectation is for children to read at least three times a week. Children who read this number of times or more are rewarded half termly.

Reading Challenges/Maths Challenges

Each week, the child from each class with the highest amount of minutes and coins on Reading Eggs/Reading Plus and TTRS/Numbots are celebrated in celebration assembly. Each half term the class with the highest amount on the leader board will receive an extra Forest School session with forest treats. Lets try to be the winners Busy Bees!

Letter/Word Cards/Spellings

Children will be bringing home letter and word cards to read and then write. Please practise these as regularly as possible (at least 3 times a week like the reading books) and sign the reading diary when they have been done.

Spelling tests (Y1) are on Friday 

Home Activities

An overview of your child's learning will be sent weekly and three home activities (homework) are set on the pupil area on a Friday. These support the learning we are doing in maths, reading/writing and in our topic. Achievements may be celebrated on the school facebook, on the pupil area of the website or on class Dojo. These activities will be checked and commented on electronically during the week they are set as they are completed.