Foundation

Class Teacher: Mrs Hodgson

Teaching Partners:  Miss Young, Miss Maule

Learning Support Assistants: Mrs Whiting

Welcome to Foundation! 

Our class page is your go-to place for all of the key information about our learning journey together this year. The team can't wait to support your child's progress and learning this year, where we will be exploring lots of exciting new concepts and skills as they navigate their first full year at primary school!

Please do not hesitate to contact Mrs Hodgson with any questions or queries. 

Our Timetable - Spring Term 

Please note that our PE day is on a Tuesday afternoon with the KS1 Team. Please come to school dressed in PE kit on these days. Earrings and other jewellery should be removed for PE and hair tied back where possible. 

PE Kit includes: 

• Red or dark PE hoodies,  black or grey tracksuit trousers or shorts (unbranded) 

• Black, grey or white trainers 

• Zip-up sports jackets are suitable for colder weather. 

Curriculum Overview 

Spring Term 1: People Who Help Us

• English: We will be writing to inform by making books about things we like, and writing to entertain writing our own animal story books. Children will apply their phonetic knowledge to write cvc and begin to write short, simple sentences. 

• Maths: Alive in 5 (0-5 composition, subtilising and representation), Mass and Capacity (exploring and comparing), Growing 6, 7, 8 (find, represent, composition, odd & even, doubling), Length, Height and Time (explore, compare, order and sequence).

• Science: Exploring outdoors, children discover the wonders of the natural world. They plant seeds, mix plants in the mud kitchen and learn to care for our beautiful planet.

• History: In history we will explore nursery rhymes, thinking about how they can help us to distinguish between old and new. We will compare objects from the past with objects from the future to see how things have changed.

• DT: Children will explore threading and weaving before making their very own hessian bookmarks.

• Computing:  Children will explore ways in which we can stay safe online.

• Music: The children will explore musical dimensions through the topic of pirates and growing. They will learn to make choices and explain opinions whilst exploring pitch, listening and choosing sounds to match pictures and play instruments with control.

• Physical Education: Children will practice balancing including on lines and developing stance. Children will focus on artistry, shape and partner work in Dance.

• Religious Education:  In RE we will be focusing on the big question: Being special; where do we belong?. In this unit we will reflect upon the things that are special to us and why we value them. We will learn about key religious symbols for Christians, Muslims and Hindus. We will also learn about how new babies are welcomed into the Christian and Muslim faiths.

• Relationships, Sex and Health Education (including Economic Education):  Children will learn about the third HeartSmart principle 'Too Much Selfie Isn't Healthy', where we will talk about what it means to love others. In Economic Education, we will begin to explore the concept of wants and needs.

Spring Term 2: Ready, Steady, Grow!

• English: We will be making celebration books and journey stories.

• Maths: Building 9 and 10 (find, compare, represent, composition and bonds to 10), Explore 3D Shape (recognise and name, pattern).

• Science: We will be continuing to explore our wonderful world and spotting signs of spring.

• Geography:  Children will be using the senses to explore and describe the natural world around them whilst outside; understanding the effect of the changing seasons.

• Art: We will be using their imagination to transform sticks into new forms! They will make their own worry dolls inspired by the Guatemalan story.

• Music:  The children will continue to explore musical dimensions through the topic of pirates and growing. They will learn to make choices and explain opinions whilst exploring pitch, listening and choosing sounds to match pictures and play instruments with control.

• Physical Education: Children will develop their coordination with ball skills, balances focusing on counter balance with a partner and continue to develop artistry, shape and partnering in Dance.

• Religious Education: In RE we will be focusing on the big question: Why do some Christians put a cross on their Easter garden? In this unit, children will find out about key events from Palm Sunday until Easter Day in the Christian Salvation story. Children will encounter signs and symbols linked to Easter and why these are important.

• Relationships, Sex and Health Education (including Economic Education): Children will learn about the fourth HeartSmart principle 'Don't Hold on To What's Wrong', where we will talk about what it means to be a good friend. We will also have our second RSE session about different families. In Economic Education, children will look at sharing.

Reading 

Please read with your child as often as possible, even if only for a few minutes. Research shows that regular sharing of books and stories with your child makes a positive impact on their academic success. This includes repeated reading of decodable and colour book banded books to enable children to develop fluency when reading.

Mrs Hodgson and the Foundation team will check the children’s reading records each Friday and change their books. Please note that children are encouraged to read these books at least twice before being changed. To celebrate excellent reading at home, each Foundation child who has read 3 or more times to an adult outside of school during the week, will be rewarded with a dip in the goodie bag!  Please date and sign their reading record each time they read to an adult, and encourage them to show off their super phonics skills.

Volunteers to hear readers are always welcome! Please speak to Mrs Hodgson if you’re able to offer any time.

Outdoor Learning:

In Foundation, a large part of our curriculum involves outdoor learning opportunities. To ensure that your child is always prepared (whatever the weather!), we kindly ask that your child brings in a named pair of wellington boots in a carrier bag to stay in school. Please also ensure that the children have coats on wet or cold days and have suncream applied before coming to school each day.

SeeSaw - Online Learning Platform 

Please encourage your child to discuss what they are learning at home. Our online learning platform, SeeSaw should help to guide these conversations, as we will share snippets of your child’s learning journey throughout the week. Please ensure that you have consented to SeeSaw via Arbor and look out for an invite code which will enable your access to our class site. Please feel free to use the platform to share any WOW moments your child achieves. Posts shared will also form part of our daily show and tell.

Key Dates 

Parent-Teacher Meetings:  

We offer these termly, dates are included on our weekly newsletters. 

Celebrations, Trips and Visits: 

For up to date information, please check the weekly school newsletter

Communication 

You can contact Mrs Hodgson via the below contact forms. Alternatively, please email teachers@archbishopcranmer.notts.sch.uk or the school office (office@archbishopcranmer.notts.sch.uk or schooladmin@archbishopcranmer.notts.sch.uk).