EYFS
Welcome to our Foundation Stage! We are a friendly, caring and enthusiastic team who work hard to make sure that your child has a positive experience at the beginning of their school life. Our curriculum content is based around children’s needs and interests, their stages of development and themes that we have identified as being important building blocks in their knowledge and understanding of the world around them.
The curriculum is underpinned by the seven areas of learning and is designed to enable children to achieve their potential and reach the Early Learning Goals. The seven areas of learning all carry equal importance. They include the three Prime Areas:
Communication and Language
Physical Development
Personal, Social and Emotional Development
The Prime Areas are a crucial part of early development; they play an important role in encouraging children’s curiosity and enthusiasm for learning and they are designed to support children as they learn to form relationships, moderate their emotions and develop their independence.
The remaining four areas are the Specific Areas of Learning and they include:
Literacy
Mathematics
Understanding the World
Expressive Arts and Design
These areas include the essential skills and knowledge that children will need as they continue their journey through school.
Bearing all this in mind, our curriculum is designed to:
Provide children with hands-on learning experiences that engage and inspire
Ensure that our children are confident communicators capable of building strong relationships based on a foundation of Restorative Practice
Encourage a lifelong love of reading
Develop each individual according to their strengths, needs and interests
Enable children to develop the maths and literacy skills they need to access the KS1 curriculum.
Our teaching is supported by the non-statutory guidance ‘Development Matters’, and ‘Little Wandle Letters and Sounds’ is our phonics and early reading validated scheme.
Children learn best through play and we ensure that they have dedicated, uninterrupted opportunities to do this. They are supported by staff who observe and engage with the children’s play in order to move their learning on.
Outdoor Learning is another important part of the curriculum. Children have daily opportunities to spend time outside, where they can investigate the world around them and engage in play that is bigger, louder and messier than inside play. It is many children’s favourite part of the day!
We firmly believe that teaching is a partnership and we welcome your support and feedback. We are always happy to talk and answer any questions you may have.
We admit children from the term after their 3rd birthday into our FS1 class, Red Base. They move to FS2 in the September after their 4th birthday.
We have space for 60 children in our two FS2 classes – Blue Base and Green Base.
Please contact the school office on 01482 353125 or Mrs Wellington (Assistant Headteacher and EYFS Leader) at nicola.wellington@hcat.org.uk if you have any further questions.
Information for parents
Developing Early Writing at Wheeler – Progression
Foundation Stage 1
Welcome to Summer Term in Red Base!
Miss Kennedy, Miss Hazel, Emma and Kirsty are excited to teach and learn with you all this term!
We have so many exciting learning opportunities planned, some of which will be based in our outdoor area. Children will be encouraged to learn outside come rain or shine, so please ensure that your child is dressed for this. A sun hat and cream for sunny days, and a warm coat and suitable footwear for the colder ones.
During the first half term we will be focusing on the topic ‘Animal Adventures’ and our key texts will be ‘Dear Zoo’ and ‘The Three Billy Goats Gruff’. We will be talking about lots of different animals, where they live and what they eat. We also have a farm coming to school which will be very exciting! During the second half term, our topic will be ‘Ready, Set, Grow!’ and the key texts will be ‘Funny Bones’ and ‘As we Grow’. Our activities in the different areas will follow this topic to deepen the children’s learning.
As much as we plan to a theme, we also encourage children to follow their own interests, and sometimes tailor activities to spark their interests. We will keep you informed of what they have been up to on Marvellous Me and through our weekly school newsletter.
Homework will be sent each week on a Friday and we ask that you bring the homework books back by the following Friday. We will also be continuing with our weekly library, where the children can take a book home to read for pleasure with you! This will be done every Thursday.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask one of us, we are always happy to help!
Thank you for your continued support,
The F1 team
Foundation Stage 2
We’re excited to welcome our Reception children back for the summer term. As we begin the final term of the academic year, our focus will be on supporting the children as they prepare to transition into Year 1. We look forward to continuing our play-based learning approach, which is at the heart of everything we do in the EYFS.
This half term, our topic is 'Let’s Grow'. We’ll be exploring the fascinating world of minibeasts and plants, discovering how these tiny creatures play a vital role in helping plants grow. As part of our learning, we’ll also study the life cycle of butterflies and take care of our very own caterpillar eggs, observing the incredible metamorphosis from egg to caterpillar to butterfly.
In the second half of the summer term, we’ll move on to our next topic, 'Big and Small'. During this topic, we’ll learn all about animals of different sizes, from the tiniest creatures to the largest. We’re especially excited for a visit from the farm, where the children will have the opportunity to meet and learn about farm animals up close. We’ll also be exploring native wildlife and discovering the fascinating world of nocturnal animals.
In maths, we will continue to build on our numeracy skills, moving from numbers within 10 to numbers beyond 20. In the second half of the summer term we will be learning to double and half numbers to 20.
In Literacy, we will continue to build on our textual knowledge and understanding, focusing on a range of engaging texts. These include The Bad-Tempered Ladybird, The Little Red Hen, What the Ladybird Heard, and finally, Recipe to Make a Wolf. Through these stories, we’ll explore character, plot, and language, and we’ll end the term by introducing the children to the wonderful world of poetry.
As we move into the summer term, we will of course be accessing outdoor play more than ever. We would like to urge you to ensure you apply sunscreen on your child before school and to provide your child with a sunhat and water bottle.
We like to thank you for your continued support with reading at home 3 times a week with your child. The support is immeasurable and will certainly help your child to continue to progress in their reading journey. In addition to this, your contributions to the foundation fund is also very gratefully received and aids us in providing exciting enhancements to your child’s learning through play experience.
