Summer Term 2021

Should your child have to self isolate, please find below the links to their home learning. 

 Autumn Term

Should your child have to self isolate below are links to learning for each half term which will complement the learning happening in school. 

If our bubble should have to close, this information should help you to structure your day.

Approximate Directed Activity Time - 30 - 45 minutes per day. 

Reading Together - 10 minutes

Name recognition & writing - 10 minutes

Phonics - 10 minutes  

Maths -  10 minutes

During the Autumn Term, as your child is just beginning their time with us at Dormansland, we would like you to do the following, ideally, every day. 

Reading (10 minutes)

Share a story together. You can read any book that you have at home.

Here are some more tips to help you enjoy story time together:

• Ask your child to choose what they’d like to read. They’ll feel more interested in the story if they’ve picked it out themselves. (And don’t worry if they keep returning to the same story, either!)

• If you can, turn off the TV, radio and computer. It’s easier for both of you to enjoy the story without any other distractions.

• Encourage your child to hold the book themselves and turn the pages, too.

• Take a look at the pictures. You don’t just have to read the words on the page. Maybe there’s something funny in the pictures that you can giggle about together, or perhaps your child enjoys guessing what will happen next.

• Ask questions and talk about the book. Picture books can be a great way to talk through your child’s fears and worries, or to help them deal with their emotions. Give them space to talk, and ask how they feel about the situations in the story.

• Have fun! There’s no right or wrong way to share a story – as long as you and your child are having fun. 

Phonics 10 minutes - 

Recap Phase 1 phonics - this can be done by sharing stories with rhymes, singing action songs, focus on initial sounds by playing games like I-Spy

There are also a number of interactive resources online that can be used to support Phase 1 learning. We recommend www.phonicsplay.co.uk. 

We will also be gradually introducing some Phase 2 sounds to children. Please remember we focus on letter sounds initially not their names.

Can children practice forming letters? They can start with letters from their own name and/ or initial sounds in words.

Practising their name (10 minutes) 

Recognising their own name and beginning to write it, is a key skill for children in Reception.

As children in our Reception class are between 'only just' 4 years old and 5 years old, with a range of different nursery experiences, they will all be at different stages of recognising and writing their names. This is completely normal. 

Recognising names: 

If your child is still learning to recognise their name when it is written down, these are some ways that you could help them: 

• Use a post it note or scrap of paper to label your dinner places, plates, snack, pile of clean washing (anything!) .

• Tell your child "this says Mum/Mummy/ Daddy/ Nan etc" and this is "(your child's name)". Can they find the place to sit, their snack, their pile of washing etc. 

Writing names:

Most children will still be learning to write either the first letter of their name, or their whole name at this point in Reception. If your child is just beginning to explore writing, just focus on the first letter of their name to begin with. 

Some fun ways for children to practice writing the first letter of their name, or when they are ready, their whole name:

• Write on a blackboard, wall or paving slab using a brush dipped in water, or their finger.

• Use chalk to write on the patio, pavement or wall outside - getting children to wash it off after also helps develop the muscles needed for writing.

•  If you have spare flour (or are brave enough to use shaving foam!) fill a small, flat tray and practice forming letters with their finger.

• Get out the paint and practice painting letters and their name.

• For the really brave, you could use dry erase markers/ whiteboard pens to write on the window (wet wipes will clean it off after!).

         Please remember, only the first letter of their name is CAPITALS, with the rest in lowercase please. 

Maths 10 minutes - 

Sing counting songs together. E.g. Ten Green Bottles, 5 Little Speckled Frogs (lots of these can be found on BBC nursery rhymes) 

Each week we will be focusing on a number, we will let you know this number by uploading videos and suggested activities. 

You can use the Numberblocks videos and activities to help support your child practice their early number skills, you can find more information https://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/joinin/numberblocks-help-your-child-with-maths