1. Apple Class Curriculum Information

2. Introduction
Settling into routines and gaining independence eg: dressing and undressing themselves! Speaking and listening skills are very important and ideas for activities will be sent home on the weekly newsheet.
The topic is called ‘Heads, Shoulders, Knees and Toes’. The topic is incorporated into all areas of learning eg: paintings of faces, talking and writing about special toys, friendships, how we grow etc.
Children working in small groups with an adult and ‘free flow’ activities going on alongside (in and out!)
Whole class activities for phonics and introducing the focus of the literacy or numeracy activity.

3. Reading
Children start with books without words and progress through the ‘bookbands’.
It is important to start with books without words to develop the concept of a story,
sequencing, imagination, enjoyment of books. Some children may need prompting with questions. Others may like to make up what the characters are saying or different versions to a story. If they get tired of the same book try similar ideas with books from our library (write name of book and date taken and brought back in folder) or with books at home, Cranleigh library.
Reading books are changed Mondays and Thursdays
Each child is assessed at half –term and end of term to see if they need to go onto the next colour bookband.
Please write in the reading diary and comment on understanding, involvement etc.
When children know almost all of their sounds they will be given a Key Words book. When they get to page 4 they are given a reading book with words.

4. Phonics The children are taught their sounds through Jolly Phonics.
Each sound has a story, a song and an action so the children are learning in a variety of ways.
They each have a phonic book in their book bags which they will enjoy sharing with you as they learn the sounds (s, a, t, p, i, n to start with). Please make sure these books stay in your chil’d zippy.
Gradually we start to put these sounds together to form simple words
When the children have learnt most of their sounds they are given a Key Words book to reinforce sounding out and the learning of ‘tricky’ words such as ‘no’ or ‘the’. ‘Alien’ words are also introduced into the Key Words to reinforce decoding.

5. Writing
The children are encouraged to ‘mark make’ through role play, in the writing area, in phonics as they learn each sound, through creative activities, when they draw pictures etc.
Please encourage correct pencil grip!
Letter formation sheet included
Capital letters only at beginning of names etc.
Gradually start to put letters together to make words (don’t copy write)
Encourage ‘experimental’ writing at home eg: shopping lists, letters, labels etc.

6. Numeracy No formal recording yet
Lots of practical activities involving vocabulary of maths eg: who has more/less, longer/shorter, ordering numbers to 10, counting rhymes etc.
Numeracy activities again take place in small groups with an adult.
Numercay activities also taking place in water, sand, baby clinic etc.
Encourage lots of practical activities at home, counting, rhymes, shops,looking for numbers while shopping etc.

7. Mind-sets Our school focus is on mind-sets.
A mind-set is a mental attitude that determines how you will interpret and respond to situations.
A ‘fixed’ mind-set is one which believes intelligence is a fixed trait and nothing can be done about this eg: ‘I am no good at maths.’
A ‘growth’ mind-set is one which believes that intelligence is a quality that can be changed and developed eg: ‘I can learn from my mistakes’. ‘When I practise I get better’.
See the Power Point on the school website for more information.
Mindset questionnaires are being sent out this afternoon.

8. Weekly newsletters tell you what the children have been learning each week and ideas for follow-up activities, things to bring in etc.
Forest School activities are starting on Thursday afternoons in the Jubilee Garden. Please make sure your child has some waterproof trousers, wellies, waterproof coat in a Forest School bag (all named please). These need to stay in school all the time as there may be some occasions when a Forest School day may be changed.
Drink bottles need to be manageable and only water!
Home-school agreement
Please don’t let children bring in toys from home unless it is for a topic!
Fridays are the ‘drop-in’ day when you can come and look at what the children have been doing.
Home-school link worker (Wednesday mornings)
Don’t hesitate to ask about anything!
Any questions?