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 24/04/2026
We hope you all had a wonderful Easter break! It has been great to welcome the children back to school.
This week, we have started our new three-week topic called ‘Into the Wild’! We started our topic this week by learning about the jungle. The children have shared what they already know about jungles, and we will be building upon this over the next few weeks. We been having lots of fun learning some facts about different jungle animals. Over the coming weeks, we will continue to create a class fact file of different wild animals.
We have also been practising for our Class Assembly. Don’t forget to come and watch on Tuesday morning!
Really Wild Learning Visit – Thursday 30th April:
On Thursday, we have our visit from Really Wild Learning. The children will be able to see and learn about lots of different animals. An email has been sent to you this week containing further information. If you haven’t already paid, please contribute towards this experience on the School Gateway app.
Class Photos – Wednesday 29th April:
On Wednesday, we will be having our class photos.
Reception Class Assembly – Tuesday 28th April:
On Tuesday 28th April, it is the Reception Class Assembly. Both classes will be contributing to the performance, which will start at 9:10 am in the school hall. We would love to have you there join us as the children share some of their recent learning.
School Uniform:
Since returning from the Easter break, some children have come back to school wearing different shoes, some of which aren’t in line with our uniform policy. Please remember that our school uniform states that the children need to wear plain black trainers with either black or white socks. All children must wear plain black trainers that do not have any coloured designs on them. Thank you.
Phonics:
The children have joined their new phonics groups and have been getting used to their new space, teacher and routines. It is brilliant to see their progress. Please remember to listen to your child read 5 times and week, and record this in their reading record. Thank you.
Maths:
This week in maths, we have been learning about numbers up to 20. We have been practising counting up to 20 in a range of ways, including verbally counting beyond 20, making collections of 20 items, counting 20 things that can’t be moved, and lots more!
Have a wonderful weekend!
Mrs Horton and Miss Parker
Dates for the diary:
Tuesday 28th April – Yr R Class Assembly (9:10 am start)
Wednesday 29th April – Whole Class Photos
Thursday 30th April – Visit from Really Wild Learning
Monday 18th May – EYFS/KS1 Sports Day (AM)
Friday 22nd May – Last day before half term
25th-29th May – Half Term
Monday 1st June – First day back after half term
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