When I’m building in the block room,Please don’t say I’m “Just Playing”.For, you see, I’m learning as I play,About balance, I may be an architect some day.

When I’m getting all dressed up,Setting the table, caring for the babies,Don’t get the idea I’m “Just Playing”.I may be a mother or a father some day. When you see me up to my elbows

in paint,Or standing at an easel, or moulding and shaping clay,Please don’t let me hear you say, “He is Just Playing”.For, you see, I’m learning as I play.I might just be a teacher some day. When you see me engrossed in a puzzle,Or some playing at my school,Please don’t feel the time is wasted in “play”,For, you see, I’m learning as I play.I’m learning to solve problems and concentrate.I may be in business some day.

When you see me cooking or tasting foods,Please don’t think that because I enjoy it, it is “Just Play”.I’m learning to follow directions and see the differences.I may be a cook some day.

When you see me learning to skip, hop, run, and move my body,Please don’t say I’m “Just Playing”.For, you see, I’m learning as I play.I’m learning how my body works.I may be a doctor, nurse or athlete some day.

When you ask me what I’ve done at school today,And I say, “I Just Played”.Please don’t misunderstand me.For, you see, I’m learning as I play.I’m learning to enjoy and be successful in my work.I’m preparing for tomorrow.Today I am a child and my work is PLAY.

Just Playing

St Martin’s C. of E. Primary School‘ Inspiring children to be the best they can be.’

Early Years Foundation Stage

@St Martin’s

Areas of LearningPrime Areas of Learning

1. Personal, Social and Emotional Development Making relationships Self-confidence and self-awareness Managing feelings and behaviour

2. Physical Development Moving and handling Health and self-care

3. Communication and Language Listening and attention Understanding Speaking

Areas of LearningSpecific Areas of Learning

4. Literacy Reading Writing

5. Mathematics Numbers Space, shape and measures

6. Understanding the World People and communities The world Technology

7. Expressive Arts and Design Exploring and using media and materials Being imaginative

Personal, Social and Emotional Development

Encourages children to be independent and to interact with other children and adults, managing their own feelings and behaviour.

Helps children to become confident, secure and ready to learn from new experiences.

Physical Development

Supports children’s healthy development.

Provides opportunities for using a range of large and small equipment.

Helps them to develop a sense of space around themselves and others.

Develops practical skills such as dressing, undressing, etc.

Encourages balance.

Communication and Language

Encourages children to develop conversational skills.

Will help children to develop listening and concentration skills.

Developing the children’s understanding of instructions and their ability to ask questions.

Enables children to begin to hear sounds in words and to link these sounds to letters.

Will help children to learn to read individual words and eventually, simple stories independently.

Encourages children to develop pencil control and to begin to make marks on paper.

Literacy

Mathematics

Helps children to count up to twenty and beyond and to be able talk about and use numbers to twenty.

Encourages them to use mathematical words such as greater, smaller, heavier, lighter, more, less, etc.

Develops skills in comparing and sorting objects.

Supports children’s understanding of shape and size including 2D and 3D shapes.

Helps children to gain an understanding of the world around them (Geography)

Encourages them to look at changes over time (History)

Will give your children the opportunity to understand and use Information and Communication Technology (ICT)

Knowing and understanding about similarities and differences between themselves and others (RE)

Encourages them to explore and investigate (Science)

Understanding the World

Inspires children to explore colour and colour changes.

Helps them to explore shape and texture using all of their senses.

Developing construction skills using a variety of materials, tools and techniques.

Develops an interest in music, singing and music-making and dance.

Develops confidence and imagination.

Expressive Arts and Design

How does Reception work?

Children access a variety of activities that cover all of the seven areas of learning.

Some activities will be adult led and some will be child-initiated.

These can be individual, small group or whole class activities.

Children are constantly observed and are moved forward at their own level.

Observations and assessments are used to build each child’s individual profile to ensure personalised learning.

Learning Journeys

A day in the life of a Penguin/Parrot

Child-initiated learning time Whole class input (Literacy, Maths,

Science, etc)Small group work linked to this inputPhonicsMaths Blast Snack Whole school assembly – after

Christmas Play timeLunch Outdoor/indoor activities

Making a positive contribution School council Houses Helping hands

Reward systems Pegs House points Certificates

Letters and Sounds

Daily session of learning phonemes

Story and action for each phoneme

Letter formationJolly Phonics

What can you do to help your child’s literacy development?

Learning phonemes (the sound you hear)

Learning graphemes (the letter shape you see)

Enjoy stories together Encourage mark making, writing

name and other words using correct pencil grip

What can you do to help your child’s mathematical development?

Practise counting at any time-climbing the stairs, shopping, cars, etc

Play simple board/dice games Sing number rhymes and songs

together Number hunts

Home Learning

Each week: Practise the phonemes (sounds) learnt

during the week Reading books will be changed on

Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Please keep reading books in book bags. Sight words to practise Homework books are sent out on

Fridays. We will collect books in on Wednesdays.

Paddy Penguin and Percy Parrot travel diary

Wow moments!

Procedures Sick procedure

Ring in the morning and put it in writing. If they vomit/have diarrhoea they must be off for 48 hours after it has ceased.

Please check your child’s head for headlice regularly - let us know if you find any!

Picking up - please leave a note in the message book or ring the office in the morning if someone other than you is collecting your child, even if it is a relative.

Please update us if your contact details change.

PPA: Wednesday mornings

PE kit

Show and Tell - Wednesdays

We are a healthy school and ask you to remember think of our healthy eating policy. Please help us by avoiding chocolate and sweets in lunchboxes , which includes treats for birthdays, also no fizzy drinks.

Children need water bottles in school each day - no juice/squash – named please!

Free fruit in school scheme. Please don’t send in extra snacks.

Please bring book bags every day

School portal

General Information

Uniform

Please ensure that names are on EVERYTHING!!!

Coat, jumpers, lunch box, water bottle……

And Finally… If you would like to come in to school to help

out in Reception we are always grateful for volunteers.

We have an open door policy:If you have any worries/concerns, big or small, please come in to discuss it at the end of the day.

Mrs Julia Jones – Early Years leader

Mrs Mandy Parsonson – Deputy Headteacher

Mrs Jane Gorecka – Headteacher