1. Learning in the Early Years Curriculum (EYFS)
Mrs Revill and Miss Gilham

2. Welcome! Children are settled and happy!
Busy with challenges and are already taking their ‘next steps’ in learning.
Meal time – please encourage your child to eat using a knife and fork (not spoon!)
Encourage them to manage themselves and belongings independently.
Illness and hygiene! Tissues!

3. A few reminders… Blue book bags to be brought every day
Spare clothes to be kept on peg (all items named!)
Wellies and waterproof trousers – RR
Sponsored event on 10th October – Animal Aerobics – costume and/or toy animal
PE kit not needed until after Christmas.
ALL UNIFORM NAMED PLEASE!

4. The EYFS Curriculum 3 Prime Areas 4 Specific Areas
1. Literacy Development –
Reading
Writing
2. Mathematical Development –
Numbers
Shape, Space & Measures
3. Understanding the World –
People & Communities
The World
Technology
4. Expressive Arts & Design –
Using Media & Materials
Being Imaginative
1. Communication & Language –
Listening & Attention,
Understanding, Speaking
2. Physical Development -
Moving & Handling
Health & Self-care
3. Personal, Social & Emotional
Development –
Self confidence & Self Awareness
Managing Feelings & Behaviour
Making Relationships

5. In your pack: Hints to help with reading
100 high frequency words (HFW) to be learnt in Reception
Age Related Expectations (ARE) showing the steps towards achieving the Early Learning Goals (ELG). The ELGs outline the knowledge, skills and understanding that young children should have gained by the end of the Reception year.
Handwriting guide

6. Development of early reading and writing
Department for Education and skills approach – ‘Letters and Sounds’
This approach outlines the phases for developing reading

7. Which scheme do we use?
We use ‘Jolly Phonics’ as a method for teaching reading:
Interactive
Interesting
FUN!
Lots of resources on the internet.

8. Phase 1
Learning to listen not just hear! – taught in nurseries where the emphasis is on listening skills.
Phase 1 involves listening to environmental sounds, instruments, body sounds i.e clicking, clapping, tapping and stamping.
This leads to learning about alliteration, rhythm and rhyme.

9. Phase 2
By reception children should be ready to begin phase 2 but if your child isn’t ready we first consolidate skills in listening.
42 sounds used in English – 26 letters of the alphabet plus pairs or groups of letters (oo, ch, sh, ar, ai etc)
The advised approach is to learn one letter sound a day.
Lots of children already know many or all of the single letter sounds so we will take them at their level and pace.

10. Learning to read Sound book - work through them at your child’s pace.
Please practise every day you will see progress within a month!
Each sound has a picture and an action.
Learn each sound, we will gradually build up to all 42 sounds.

11. It isn’t a race!
Every child is unique and we treat each child as an individual. The children will read at least once a week at school.
We all learn at different rates and we all favour different approaches.
Jolly Phonics addresses the range of learning styles effectively and your child will be ready to begin reading only when they know these sounds consistently.
The children will be taught in groups according to their progress in phonics. Children who are learning the sounds quickly will be grouped together to ensure they continue at an appropriate pace. Those who need more time and support will receive it.

12. Team work!
You are invaluable! – children that practise regularly at home make significant progress.
It shows very quickly which children are practising often at home.
Partnerships between home and school are crucial to facilitating children’s learning.
Working together we can ensure a happy and consistent learning experience for your child.

14. Steps to learning phonics
Recognising the shape of letters (That’s in my name!)
Remembering the sound when shown the letter (See it, say it)
Remembering the shape when given the sound (Which letter makes a sssss sound? – child finds the letter from a selection)
Writing the letter correctly –starting and ending in the correct places
Naming the letter – as in the letters of the alphabet A, B, C…
All these are involved in ‘learning the letters’, not just a response to a letter card

15. How do the children learn?
Daily sessions both at school and at home
eg. c + a + t = cat t + a + p = tap
How would we spell tin? = t i n
Practise the sound, correct letter formation and then blending the sounds to create words.
When your child moves onto the ‘Little letters’ we will provide a parent guide which gives a list of words that can be made from the set(s) your child has been given.

16. So then where? Letters lead onto words.
There are 100 high frequency words for reception children to learn by sight. To begin with they may sound out these but the aim is to know them on seeing them.
‘Tricky Words’ are those that can’t be phonetically broken down. i.e the, said.

17. I’ve got a book! The emphasis is on developing a love for reading.
‘Read’ each book a few times – even those books with little or no words. This develops confidence, gaining cues from illustrations and enjoyment in reading!
Please write a comment in the reading diary each time you hear your child read. Without a comment we will assume your child has not read at home and their book will not be changed.
The book is aimed to enable your child to read most of the book with some challenge in which to rehearse their reading skills effectively. Giving a book that is too challenging can very easily turn a child off reading… we want your child to feel success and pride in their achievements!

18. We have a variety of books for all stages of reading development
We have a variety of books for all stages of reading development. There isn’t a set order. We select books that support the children as their reading skills develop.

19. Helping your child to write
Ensure they are sitting comfortably.
Hold pencil correctly between first two fingers.
Rest writing hand on the paper and use the other hand to hold the paper still.
Practise lines and anti-clockwise circles.
Each letter ‘starts at the top’.
Each letter should be formed correctly (not made up of various parts).
Practise name - only first letter should be a capital.

20. Form letters in paint, felt tip pens, chalk, sand, shaving foam…
Make it fun!
Form letters in paint, felt tip pens, chalk, sand, shaving foam…

21. Enjoy!
The most important thing to remember is that reading and writing with your child should be a fun and relaxing time together, not a chore or battle!
It truly is a wonderful stage in your child's development. Enjoy it!
Thank you for your support!

22. Thank you!
Any questions?