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 11/10/2024 

This week we have been learning about Autumn. We have talked about what we see and experience during the Autumn. We also went on an Autumn Walk around the school grounds. The children worked in pairs to spot signs of Autumn. We have also been learning the song ‘Big Red Combine Harvester’ and we are so impressed with how well the children are performing it so far. Next week we will be learning about Harvest and the story of the Little Red Hen.  

Phonics: 

We have introduced 5 new sounds in phonics this week; c, k, u, b and f. The new sounds will be in your child’s book bag ready for you to cut up and put into their phonics envelope. Thank you for cutting the sounds up into individual flashcards and practising these regularly at home. Don't forget to check Tapestry for new Fred Games and practise lessons for the letter sounds taught this week.  

Before half term, your child will have their first Read, Write Inc assessment, which will inform groupings for after half term. Keep up the practise at home, it makes a huge difference, and we can really see the impact it is having in school.  

Maths:  

This week in Maths, we have been focussing on number four. We have been using multilink cubes to create as many different ‘shapes’ with 4 as possible. We have discussed the composition of 4, such as; 1 and 1 and 1 and 1, 2 and 2 and 1 and 3. For your home learning challenge this week, using small parts such as lego or pasta pieces, make as many different arrangements of 4 as you can.  

Bikeabiltiy:  

There is still some availability for the Year R children to be signed up for two upcoming bikeability sessions. This a is a brilliant experience with external teachers coming to support your child to learn to ride a bike. Please check the letter that you have received via School Comms to sign your child up. 

There is a mistake on the booking link. At question 4 when it asks for your child's Year group, please select any option as Year R is missing. Reception are the only children signing up currently, so it will not affect your child's booking.

People Who Help Us:  

After half term, we will be starting a topic on ‘People Who Help Us’ for a few weeks. If you work in any of the following areas and would be happy to come and speak to the children about your job or have any resources/artefacts that we could look at that would be amazing! 

• Vets 
• Fire service  

• Medical professionals 

• Police  

• Builders, plumbers or carpenters  

• Waste disposal  

Have a fantastic weekend! 

Mrs Horton and Miss Parker   

Dates for the Dairy 

Thursday 24th October – Halloween Disco Yr 4:00pm-4:45pm  

Monday 28th October – Friday 1st November – Half term  

Friday 8th November – Nasal Flu Vaccinations  

Friday 15th November – Children in Need  

With your child, please carry out a variety of the following tasks at least 5 times a week.

• Practise recognising letter sounds using flashcards daily – this is essential practise to get your child reading.
• If your child is consistently recognising most of the letter sounds, 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. Eg. s – a –t, sat. They may need you to model 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. This develops their oracy comprehension and inference skills.
• Based on your child’s most recent phonics assessment, the may also bring home a Read, Write, Inc 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.

Complete this reading record at least 5 times a week so that we know that your child is practising their reading at home.

Please make sure that you date and initial to show that your child has read their lilac book/blending book/flash cards.

We will check the reading logs once a week. Please speak to any member of the Reception staff if you have any questions.

Thank you for your continued support in helping your child learn to read.

The YR Team