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 12th January 2026
This week our focus text has been Sleeping Beauty. There has been lots of discussion around the language in the story with the children learning the meaning of some new vocabulary to use in their learning. We have talked about the importance of sleep and how it affects our body and have worked together to act out the story. In Music we listened to the orchestra performingfor the ballet Sleeping Beauty and imagined which part of the story the music was communicating. We talked about how the tempo (speed) of the music changed and then responded to the music using scarves and ribbon wands. Our grown-ups have been amazed at how well we can write three letter words now - we wrote 8 words to climb 8 steps up to the top of the tower to wake Sleeping Beauty! Well done everyone!
How you can help:
We have been practising counting forwards and backwards in Whizzy Maths. Please revisit this at home by practising counting 0-10 and 10 to 0 and then when your child is confident and accurate 0-20 and 20 to 0.
Please could we ask that you talk to your child about milk - if your child is on the milk list, please ask them if they would still like to have it. We have an increasing number of children who are not wanting to drink their bottle each day which can lead to wastage. Thank you.
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
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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.
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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.
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