Year R
Here you will find key information and helpful tips to support your child as they start their school journey.
What have we been learning this week?
Week Commencing Monday 11th May 2026
The children really enjoyed listening to the story The Hospital Dog by Julia Donaldson this week and it has sparked lots of discussion about their experiences of visiting doctors, nurses and hospitals. There has been lots of interest in the doctors' role play with dressing up, acting out different medical scenarios and learning the name of different instruments to treat the patients. Using fine motor skills the children have practised rolling and gathering bandages up using 'piano' fingers and some have practised cutting a variety of small shapes to fit in a doctors' kit.
Looking back at the past, the children have learnt about hospitals a long time ago and have been introduced to the work of Florence Nightingale. We have compared what it was like to be treated in a hospital then to what it is like now - we decided things are much better today!
The children are getting excited as we near number of twenty in our Whizzy Maths. They have been learning about number 19 and have explored its clever shape-shifting skill by using nineteen multilink to make different patterns and shapes.
As part of our keeping safe learning, the children have been revisiting their understanding of how to keep safe online and that they should always tell a trusted adult if something happens that worries them such as a pop-up appearing or someone trying to send them messages. We read the story of Smartie the Penguin to reinforce their understanding of how to keep safe when using a screen.
How you can help:
Please continue to sign the coloured worm at the back of the reading diary each time your child reads. Some of the children are looking forward to finishing their rainbow very soon!
Thank you for your support.
Number Formation Guide
Practise numerals at home with this printable number formation guide. All numbers are formed by starting at the top.
Curriculum Presentations
Thank you very much to the parents who attended the Year R curriculum meeting and the Phonics and Reading evening.
Please find the three presentations below as well as some ideas for supporting your child with phonics and reading games, wordless books and some examples of questions to ask your child when reading with them.
Thank you for your support.
If you have any questions, please pop and see the class teacher.
Letter formation and handwriting
Please find images of how to support your child in achieving the correct letter formation.
- lower-case letters start at the top
- dots and horizontal cross lines are added after the main part of the letter has been formed
- capital letters start at the top and go down first, the pencil is then taken off the paper to add the horizontal lines
.jpg)
.jpg)
It is extremely important that your child uses a comfortable and efficient pencil grip, even though this may not be the same as your own. This should be the pincer grip.
.png)
Climbing the tree to a better me
Our special tree focuses on the Social, Moral, Spiritual and Social aspect of our learning. In Year R we are practising using our manners, being a good friend and being respectful and responsible.
We can earn three stars for each rung of the ladder and at the end of the year we can earn a special sticker at the top of the tree for our effort in trying to show these things.
When we have collected three stars of the same colour we can show our certificate in assembly and our name is moved up the ladder in class to show our progress.
.png)
.jpg)