Welcome to Reception, we are Ladybird Class!

A very warm welcome to Ladybird Class.  This is the start of your child's learning journey at More Park, where they will be provided with the foundations of learning for life.

This term we will be learning about…

'Growing'

 This is a brand new topic for us, and it should be perfect for the coming Summer term and our preparations for the Farmers Market in July. We have ordered some really exciting new topic books for this, and it will be so lovely to learn about the plant cycle, and enjoy plant based literacy as we grow our own plants outside. We will also be exploring the artist, Monet, and how he used nature within his art. So much fun learning to have in the (hopefully!) warm weather. This will also include an amazing trip to Kent Life, where we will be doing two workshops., ‘Soups On’ and ‘Field to Fork’. This will tie in our current learning about growing to our prior learning of farmers and shopkeepers.  

Our RE topic this term is 'To the Ends of the Earth'. In this topic we will be learning about what happens after the Resurrection. We will be learning scriptural accounts of Jesus' Ascension and the gift of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. We will then go on to link Christian beliefs and showing care for us. Term we are also due to visit Church for a Wednesday morning mass, deepening our connections with our Catholic community and enabling us to link our RE learning with the church service.

General Information

Transition

Transitioning into primary school can be a very big step for our children. We are aware this can cause some anxiety, particularly for children who need to know their routine and environment. All children have been given a transition book to enjoy over the summer holidays to help them prepare for their new adventure into school life and become familiar with the adults that will be supporting them. 

Staff in Ladybird Class

Ladybird Class has an experienced team of adults supporting the children. Mrs Boden and Mrs Ward are the class teachers and they are supported by Mrs Vaughan, Mrs Lewis and Mrs De la Hoyde.

Food and Drink

Please send your child into school with a full, labelled water bottle every day. The children have free access to their bottles throughout the day and naturally the water is replenished when needed. The children in Ladybird Class are given a piece of fruit every day at snack time, so you do not need to bring a snack into school. All children are given a healthy free school meal in the EYFS and KS1, but children are also welcome to bring in a packed lunch if they would prefer.

Reading

In Ladybird Class, the children commence home reading once they are settled in school full time. Our book change rota will be shared with parents during Term 1 and will be available to check on the parent communication board in class. You will be sent home two sharing books and a decodable book. Please ensure your child reads at least 5 times a week, leaving comments and signing the reading record. We begin with wordless books, where the focus is on creating the story from picture cues, before moving onto decodable books based upon the sounds that the children have learnt in class. All parents are issued with a 'Phonics Communication' book, which we will update weekly with the sounds taught in class. This is helpful in supporting parents to know which sounds children have been introduced to, if they would like to do any learning at home. Further information will be given during the 'Phonics Parent Meeting' at the start of Term 1.

Uniform

Please ensure that all school uniform, PE kits and coats are labelled. This makes it easier for the children to find their belongings independently and prevents items not being returned. Ladybird Class has a Forest School session every Friday afternoon, so they will also need a fully labelled puddle suit and wellies brought into school. These will be sent home at the end of every term for you to wash and check sizing.

stephanie.boden@more-park-westmalling.kcsp.org.uk 

rebecca.ward@more-park-westmalling.kcsp.org.uk