We Are Learning… To Show an Awareness of Number and use Mathematical Language in Our Play
We will be focusing on developing number confidence, in particular knowledge around number and counting. We will be exploring maths resources, singing number songs and looking at number stories.
Some of the children are able to recognise some numerals, particularly those that are significant to them, such as their age. We will be looking at numbers in the environment and would love it if you could provide a photo of your child next to their house number. They can be emailed to littlehayesn@bristol-schools.uk
You might like to play a number spotting game with your child and encourage them to keep an eye out for any numbers in the environment (house numbers, car registrations, speed signs etc). Get spotting! Find out about more ways to support maths at home on The Early Childhood Maths Group website
We Are Learning… To Remember (and Talk About) Significant Events
This term there are lots of events and festivals including bonfire night, Diwali, Halloween and Christmas.
Linked to bonfire night, we will be creating firework pictures using salad spinners, learning an action song , On firework night at 5 o’clock and joining in firework dancing using ribbons and scarves.
We will be creating large scale collaborative artwork using syringes, rollers and large brushes. Creative, messy and fun!
We Are Learning… To Count Objects and Explore Our Creativity
The book Ten Black Dots is a fun counting book written by Donald Crews. It’s simple and engaging and explores what you can create with black dots.
This book provides children with opportunities to practice counting and explore their creativity. You can watch the story together on YouTube.
We will be reading other number stories including Ten in the Bed and One Mole Digging a Hole.
We Are Learning… To Participate in Shared Reading and Respond to Elements of a Story
We will be re-introducing Tales Toolkit (see details over) and continuing to offer daily story times. The children can access books in our reading area throughout the day and we offer a variety of fiction, non-fiction, familiar and new stories. Please continue to support their reading at home by bringing in their book bags every Wednesday.
If your child doesn’t have a book bag yet, please let their key person know.
Find out more about sharing stories and supporting your child’s reading at www.wordsforlife.org.uk
We Are Learning… To use Time Language to Sequence Events in Real Life, and in a Story
We have been using our visual timetable to talk with the children about the sequence of the day and what will happen next and later. This term we are reading Whatever Next! by Jill Murphy, a story about Baby Bear, who wants to make a rocket and fly to the moon.
The children will be learning to retell the story using the language of time, first, next, then, after and finally.
There will also be lots of opportunities for imaginative storytelling and exploration with boxes and other props from the story.
Tales Toolkit
This term we will be re-introducing the children to Tales Toolkit – a Toolkit for creating Tales.
Story has been shown to improve all types of learning and increase engagement and memory capacity.
All of the resources are labelled with easily recognised symbols for Character, Setting, Problem and Solution giving the children a tool to independently weave magical tales.
We start by introducing labelled bags for each elements of the story (character, setting, problem, solution) and modelling how to create stories using the props hidden inside.
Soon the children will be creating their very own stories.
Find out more https://talestoolkit.com/
Starting Primary School in September 2025
Don’t forget that children who were born between 1 September 2020 and 31 August 2021 will be starting school (reception) in September 2025.
Applications must be made before 15 January 2025. Now is a good time to visit schools, and many will have events and open evenings. Check on their websites.
For a handy guide and useful links for a positive transition to school, visit www.bristolearlyyears.org.uk/transition/