Teacher Contact Information
Your teachers are: Mrs Horton and Miss Parker
You can email them at:
Mrs Horton (Horse Chestnut)
sophiehorton@stratton.cornwall.sch.uk
Miss Parker (Sweet Chestnut)
cherylparker@stratton.cornwall.sch.uk
Weekly Update 20/03/2026
Friday 20th February 2026
This week we have been learning about Life Cycles. We have mainly focussed on the life cycle of a Butterfly. We have some caterpillars in class which the children will be observing closely as they form their chrysalises and emerge as butterflies over the coming weeks. We have also learnt the life cycles of hens and frogs.
Next week we will be learning about Spring.
Spare Clothes:
Please remember to ensure that your child always has a set of spare clothing in their bag at school that can be used if they have accidents or get wet/muddy during their play. Ideally, this would include leggings/trousers, pants, socks, and a top. If your child uses their spare clothes at school, please ensure that this is topped back up.
Whilst we have some spare clothing at school, we are currently running very low, particularly on trousers, leggings and socks. If your child borrows any spare clothing from school, please ensure that the items are returned to a member of the Reception staffing team. In addition to this, if you have any unwanted school clothing at home that you no longer need in ages 3-4, 4-5 or 5-6 years, donations to our spare clothing would be greatly appreciated. Thank you so much in advance.
Phonics and Reading:
Next week, the children will complete their half termly phonics assessments to inform new groupings for after Easter. Please keep practising reading/flashcards at home 5 times a week to support your child’s progress.
Our school homework policy states that children are expected to complete reading homework 5 times a week and that this needs to be recorded in their reading record. We check reading records every Friday. Practising reading at home regularly has such a massive impact your child’s progress. Thank you.
Maths:
This week in maths, we have been learning about doubles to 10. The children know that doubles are when you have two parts which are equal. This topic has linked well with our learning about butterflies! The children have been drawing doubles onto their wings, making sure each wing had the same number of dots.
Sustrans Big Walk and Wheel Fortnight:
At Stratton, we are taking part in the Sustrans Big Walk and Wheel Fortnight. We have already completed the first week and have one more week to go! We challenge children to try to come to school by walking or riding their bike or scooter. Everyday, we complete a survey with our class to record how many children have managed this.
Head Lice:
We have been made aware of a couple of cases of head lice within the cohort – which have now been treated. Please check your child’s hair regularly of the next couple of weeks and treat your child’s hair if necessary. All shoulder length or longer hair should be tied up every day at school. This will help to prevent head lice from spreading. Thank you for your help with this.
Have a fantastic weekend!
Mrs Horton and Miss Parker
Dates for the diary:
Monday 16th - Friday 27th March – Big Walk and Wheel Fortnight
Thursday 2nd April – Last day of half term
3rd April - 19th April - Easter holidays
20th April – Back to school
Monday 27th April – Yr R Cake Bake (Easter Theme)
Tuesday 28th April – Yr R Class Assembly (9:10 start)
Wednesday 29th April – Class Photo
Weekly Reading Homework
With your child, please carry out a variety of the following tasks at least 5 times a week, recording in their reading log each time.
Practise recognising letter sounds using flashcards daily – this is essential practise to get your child reading.
Engage in 'Fred Talk Games'. These are games that support your child to orally blend sounds into words. For example, "Fred says, tap your h-ea-d... your head!" Please see the PDF document in the 'Read Write Inc. Phonics' section below for further 'Fred Talk Games' that you can play at home.
If your child is consistently recognising most of the single letter sounds from their flashcards, make simple words out of the flashcards for them to practise reading. For example, sat, tap, dog, bed. Encourage your child to point to each letter as they say the sounds. Once they have said each sound, they need to blend them together to say the whole word. For example, s – a –t, sat. They may need you to demonstrate this initially before they have a try.
Share your child’s lilac book. This book has no words. Your child needs to look closely at the picture and talk about what they think is happening to tell a story. This develops their oracy comprehension and inference skills.
Based on your child’s most recent phonics assessment, the may also bring home a 'blending book' or a 'ditty sheet' to read at home.
Please keep all of the above in your child’s book bag. They need to bring their book bag to school every day.
Homework tasks need to be recorded in your child's reading log at least 5 times a week so that we know that your child is practising their reading at home. Reading logs are checked every Friday to see how your child is getting on at home. Please make sure that you date and initial each time you record in your child's reading log to show that your child has read their lilac book/blending book/flash cards.
Please speak to any member of the Reception team if you have any questions.
Thank you for your continued support in helping your child learn to read.
The YR Team