Meet the Fox Cubs Team 

Miss K Harrison - Nursery Teacher/ EYFS co-ordinator

Mrs L Rowley - EYFS Practitioner

Miss S Kean - EYFS Teaching Assistant

Mrs E Roper - EYFS Teaching Assistant

                 

Our topic this term is

Down at the bottom of the garden

Here are some ideas to start with and we will continue to add to them as we go through the half term! We base our learning on a book/theme each week linked to our topic. Within this we also follow the principles of 'planning in the moment' which means that the children guide our learning following their interests and so every day is full of surprises!! 

 

Summer 1 - Week 1

The Tiny Seed

What are seeds?  Do all seeds look the same?  How can we sort the seeds? What do we do with seeds?  Where do seeds come from?  What journey does the seed go on?  What seasons are there?  What happens to the seeds in different seasons?

This week we are going to start a new topic which is called 'Down at the bottom of the garden' where we will be learning about different plants! We will explore different flowers and explore the different foods that we can grow!

We will be starting by reading the story of "The Tiny Seed" where we will see the journey that a seed makes and look at how this goes full circle and that after it grows and makes a beautiful flower the seeds blow away again and the journey starts again! We will find out what seeds need to grow and make the links between what can grow in different seasons!

At the Calculation Corner we will be exploring different seeds and sort them as well as count them into the seed packets that we will be making for our new role play area - The Garden Centre! In the role play area the children will practise being shop keepers and will sell different items such as garden tools, seeds and plant pots as well as some flowers! They will explore how we use money to buy these items! The children could also be the customer buying the different items! Our Fox Cubs love taking part in role play and we cannot wait to see what narratives they create!

Summer 1 - Week 2

Jasper's Beanstalk

Who is Jasper? What is he growing? What is Jasper doing? What do we need to grow a plant from a tiny seed? Can we think of other times we need to patient and wait for things to happen?  Can we name the days of the week?  What happened on each day to Jasper?  What could we grow? How do we need to look after our plants?

This week we are learning through the story of "Jasper's Beanstalk" which is written by well known author Nick Butterworth and illustrated by Mick Inkpen! We will find out what you need to grow bean seeds and how much the seeds grow over a period of time. Jasper is not very patient and wants them to grow straight away! We will link this to other times in our lives we will need to be patient and wait for things to happen - can you think of possible events?? We will explore how we need to give the seeds time to grow and look at how we can help them grow by giving them water and warmth!

In the Investigation station the children will plant their own bean seeds as well as a range of other seeds such as sunflowers, lettuce, tomatoes and sweet peas and then start to care for them. We cannot wait to see them start to grow!

We will practise our talk for writing skills when retelling the story of "Jasper's Beanstalk". First by making a story map to show the sequence of events in the story (as part of this we will look at the days of the week and explore what happened on each day) and then retelling the story using our talk for writing actions.

 

Summer 1 - Week 3

Oliver's Fruit Salad

Which plants can we name in our outside area? What is similar/different between fruits and vegetables? What do we need to do to look after our plants and flowers? How can we use foods we grow in our own cooking? What fruits and vegetables can I name? How can I make a fruit smoothie? What happens to the fruits when I blend them?

This week we will investigate that we can grow foods to eat! We will be reading the story of "Oliver's Fruit Salad" where there are lots of different fruits which Oliver's grandad grows! We will be exploring that not only can we grow fruits we can grow vegetables as well! We will see how many vegetables we can name and describe!

After reading the story we will be using our different senses to explore the different fruits by smelling them, touching them, looking at them through the magnifying glasses so we can look closely at what is inside (especially the seeds!) as well as tasting them. 

At the creative station we will use the fruits to make pictures as well as by printing with them. We wonder what masterpieces will be created by the children!  At the message centre we will make an information book about the different fruits as well as some vegetables that we know. We will use a range of mark making patterns to record our ideas as well as some letters from our own names!

At the snack table we will learn about making a fruit smoothie by cutting up different fruits and adding them to the smoothie maker along with some fruit juices. Once everything has been blended together we will then drink them and see which flavour is the most popular! Yummy!! 

 

Summer 1 - Weeks 4 and 5
    

Elf and Fairy fortnight!

What is the little door that we have found next to tree? Who lives behind the tiny little door? What does the little letter left in our classroom tell us? Can we work out what the different clues we find each day tell us? Can we make a house fit for a fairy or elf? Why would the fairies or elves like to live in our EYFS outside area? Can we make a home for the fairies and elves in the Forest Schools site?

We will be having two weeks of fun learning about elves and fairies that might live in our EYFS outside area! During the two weeks we will be finding different clues that tell us that the fairies and elves are having lots of fun. There will also be some lovely fairy and elf door which appear. Always remember that if you see them please respect them and don't touch them.

 

 

Topic Web

To see the full topic web for this half term please click on the link below

Nursery Summer One topic plan overview - Down at the bottom of the garden

Knowledge Organiser

To see the Knowledge Organiser for this half term please click on the link below

Nursery Summer One Knowledge Organiser - Down at the bottom of the garden

Nursery Dates

Here are the dates we have so far for this half term. We will continue to add to them as the half term progresses. Also remember to check your weekly newsletter!

Monday 21st April - Bank Holiday Monday

Tuesday 22nd April - Start of the new term!

 

Thursday 1^st May – Phonics workshop and Stay and play session for parents

Monday 5^th May – Bank Holiday Monday

Friday 16^th May – Balance bike training for Fox Cubs class

Friday 23^rd May – Last day of term

Throughout April and May - Parent meetings will take place at 11.40am.

Monday 2nd June - Start of the new term!

 

 

The Early Years Foundation Stage

In Nursery we follow the Early Years Foundation Stage which is organised into seven areas of learning. These seven areas are as follows:

PSED - Personal, social, emotional development (developing self confidence and self awareness, making relationships as well as managing behaviour and feelings).

CL - Communication and Language (speaking, listening and understanding)

PD - Physical development (moving and handling as well as health and self care)

LIT - Literacy (reading and writing)

MATHS - Mathematics (numbers, shape, space and measures)

UW - Understanding the World (people and communities, the world and technology)

EAD - Expressive Arts and Design (exploring and using media and materials as well as being imaginative!)

CLICK HERE for 'What to Expect When' document to help you understand what your child should be able to do at different age stages!

Our School Values

We are very excited to be starting work on our new values system when we come back in school in January.  The whole school will focus on the twelve values during the year whereas in Nursery we will focus on four of these values on a regular basis through the year - co-operation, achieving, respectful and enthusiastic. Our first value will be Respect. We will cover this in all aspects of Nursery and we will be expecting this to be demonstrated to all members of our Coppice community,  it is important that even when we move onto a new value, the old one isn’t lost.

Each week on our Nursery newsletter, Miss Harrison will share which value we are working on in Nursery and what you can work on at home. We cannot wait for you to share how your child has demonstrated the values through proud clouds and on Tapestry!  We look forward to seeing our children bright and early ready to embrace the new weekly challenges!

 Nursery newsletters

 We have a weekly newsletter which will keep everyone informed about what we are doing and what we will be learning about in the future. The newsletter will come home every Friday but we will also put a copy here on our web page.

Friday 4th April Newsletter 

                                            Parent Partnership

We believe in having a good partnership with parents and carers. Together we can help your child to become a happy and successful learner!

 Topic Challenges

Challenges for your child to work on with you during the topic. The children will receive a certificate for completing the challenges if they earn 6 or more points:

 

1 point – Sharing a book about what can be found at the bottom of the garden.

2 points –  Practise taking off and putting on own shoes

3 points –  Practise writing letters from own name

4 points – Create a piece of art work to represent a plant, tree or flower.

 

Learning journeys

During the last few years we have developed the way that we collect observations about what your child can do during their time in Nursery. Your child will have a gorgeous book called 'My Little Book of Adventures' where we put in evidence of what your child has been learning! As part of this we will be using an app called 'Tapestry' on our iPads to take photographs of your child completing different activities and make notes about what they are doing. One of the best features of this is that we can email you all the evidence we collect!  You can also let us know of any 'wow' moments you witness at home. We will be sending home an information letter and permission form for this during the beginning of September! 

We also love to hear what your child has achieved at home and so we ask you fill in proud clouds and share them with us! 

Proud cloud letter - September 2024

Proud cloud template - September 2024

 Have a question or concern?

We understand that there are times when you might have a question or concern! We have an open door policy in our school and you are always welcome to come and speak to any member of staff. Alternatively you can ring school on 01773 712840 or email me at kharrison4@ coppice.derbyshire.sch.uk  and we will do all we can to help.

Our Nursery

Here is our latest Nursery booklet which contains all the information about our Nursery 

Updated version coming soon!

School readiness

Over the year we will be preparing your child for their start in Reception. Is your child ready to start Reception? The following are some of the skills that your child is expected to be able to do as they begin their journey into Reception but remember we have a whole year to prepare them.

Is your child ready for Reception? 

Stay and Play sessions

Each term we have a stay and play session so parents, carers and other family member can join us in Nursery to see what we do. The children love showing everyone their classroom and the type of activities we do every day in Nursery. We always end with an activity for both children and adults. This could be a story, a squiggle, a dough disco or a dance! Who knows!! We like to keep it a surprise!!

Our next Stay and play session is Thursday 1st May at 11.00am!

Helping at home!

There are lots of things you can do to help your child.  Below are some ideas of what you can do which are quick and easy and will help your child consolidate skills we have taught in school. If you would like any help or support please ask any member of EYFS staff. We would be more than happy to help with ideas!

Letters and Sounds

 

Level 1 Aspect 1 (Environmental Sounds) booklet - Ideas for parents to use at home.

Level 1 Aspect 2 (Instrumental Sounds) booklet - Ideas for parents to use at home.

Level 1 Aspect 3 (Body percussion) booklet - Ideas for parents to use at home.

Reading

Spend time sharing lots of books together. Practise holding the books the correct way round and turning the pages in order. Encourage your child to talk about the pictures and to support them in making their own stories using the pictures.

Writing

At this stage the children will be making lots of marks using a range of writing tools such as felt tips, pens and paint. Encourage your child to talk about what their marks mean. As your child becomes more confident in holding writing tools support them in writing their names on invitations and cards.

Nursery Always Skills for Writing 

By the end of nursery your child is expected to be able to say a sentence with 5 to 8 words in it and hold a pencil using a 'tripod' grip.

Nursery Literacy non-negotiables 

Squiggle Information

Dough Disco Leaflet 

Mathematics

Play board games such as 'snakes and ladders'  to encourage your child to count spaces to move their counters forwards or backward. When you are walking as the children to count how many foot steps from one place to another and ask the children to identify different numbers they see on doors or buses.

By the end of nursery your child is expected to be able to recite numbers to 5, recognise numerals 1 to 3, count 3 to 4 objects and make marks to represent their counting.

Nursery Numeracy non-negotiables

Life skills

Encourage your child to put on and fasten their own coat, to put on their own shoes and to get dressed and undress by themselves. Remind them to wash their hands after going to the toilet and before eating a meal. When eating encourage your child to use a knife and fork correctly.