Autumn Term

I wonder what is

about…

All the staff at Marlfields Foundation Stage hope that you have had a fun filled, safe and enjoyable summer.  At the beginning of this Autumn Term, I would like to give you all a very warm welcome to Marlfields Foundation Stage. We look forward to getting to know your children, and building on their learning opportunities and experiences.

During the next few months, we are undoubtedly going to experience mixed weather and our fair share of unpleasant weather.  It is most important that you remember to provide a waterproof jacket with a hood for your child so that they can make use of our wonderful outdoor areas. 

We will be continuing to learn through topics of interest to your child.  We will be sending a postcard home with your child, which you can fill in with your child, to send in information relating to your child’s interests from which we can build our planned topics.

Please do not hesitate to speak to your child’s key worker if you have any concerns, questions, or celebrations regarding your child.

Dates for your diary:

Tuesday & Friday – Our PE sessions.  FS2 children please make sure you have a PE kit in school in a named PE bag. 

Forest Friday – Our Forest school session in the school woods.  All waterproof suits and wellington boots are provided.

At Marlfields Foundation Stage we follow the NEW Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum which is split into 7 curriculum areas: Personal, Social and Emotional Development; Communication and Language; Physical Development; Literacy; Mathematics; Understanding of the World; and Expressive Arts and Design.

The information below will outline some of the key skills we will be looking at during this term whilst also building on your child’s interests and experiences.

Personal, Social and Emotional Development

We will be working hard to settle the new children who have joined us into the setting.  We will be focusing on working as a whole group, turn taking, sharing and building friendships through our key worker group activities.  FS1 children will be working towards selecting and using activities and resources; showing confidence in asking adults for help; and beginning to accept the needs of others.  FS2 children will be working towards to speak to others about their own needs, wants, interests and opinions; becoming aware of the boundaries set, and of behavioural expectations in the setting; and making conversations with others, asking questions.

Communication and Language

We will be working hard to improve our speaking and listening skills in both our small key worker group activities and whole class circle times.  The FS 1 children will be aiming to follow directions and simple instructions; listening to others and listening to stories with increasing attention or sharing news to recall past experiences.  The FS2 children will be aiming to maintain concentration during an activity; responding to instructions; to follow a story without pictures; and using language to imagine and recreate roles and experiences in play.

Physical Development

We will be using a variety of opportunities and experiences to develop children’s confidence and awareness of space using our wonderful outdoor areas.  We provide opportunities for children in FS1 to try out a variety of ways to move skillfully and negotiate space successfully; explore and experiment drawing lines and circles using gross motor movements; and become independent with self-care e.g. washing hands and going to the toilet independently.  We aim for children in FS2 to experiment with gross motor movements for example trying out different ways of moving.  As well as fine motor movements for example, handling tools, objects, construction and malleable materials safely and with increasing control, showing a preference for a dominant hand, and holding a pencil correctly.

Literacy

Literacy incorporates reading and writing skills in a variety of fun, exciting and sometimes messy activities!  The FS1 children will begin to explore rhyme and rhythm in words, stories and poems; building an interest in books and becoming confident mark makers, ascribing meaning to marks they make.  The FS2 children will begin to link sounds to letters, allowing children to read words; experiencing an increasing range of books; writing their own names and forming letters of the alphabet correctly.

Mathematics

In the Foundation Stage we will be practicing and using our mathematical skills in familiar contexts (e.g. role-play, construction, sand, play dough etc.) to give us meaning to numbers and counting.  FS1 children will be working towards using number names accurately in play; beginning to represent numbers using fingers; showing an interest in numerals in the environment, and exploring shape.  FS2 children will be working towards recognising and forming numbers to 10; in practical activities, beginning to use the vocabulary involved in adding and subtracting; and beginning to explore shape, space, and measure.

Understanding of the World

We will be building upon children’s interests and experiences, developing their curiosity and interest of their surroundings. The FS1 children will be developing an interest in the lives of people who are familiar to them and developing an understanding of growth and changes over time.  The FS2 children will be looking closely at similarities, differences, patterns and change, and learning about family customs and routines.

Expressive Arts and Design

This term we will positively encourage children’s creative development through a range of media experiences such as paint, clay, song, dance, music and role-play experiences. We aim for the FS1 children to explore a variety of construction pieces and tools; engage in imaginative role-play; and experience a variety of music and songs to respond to using feelings and movements.  We aim for the FS2 children to explore colour and what happens when they mix colour; experiment to create different textures; manipulate and use a variety of tools and techniques; explore music and songs; and play alongside other children who are engaged in the same theme.

Foundation Stage 1:

Here are some useful links for parent guides and ideas to help your child’s learning and development at home:

First day at Nursery

Learning through play

Child development: your 3 and 4 year old

Why should children play outside?

Potty training

Nursery Rhymes

Bedtime Stories

Foundation Stage 2:

Click on the links below for learning at home:

Numberblocks

Alphablocks

Nursery Rhymes and Songs

Click on the links below for Parent Information:

 Top Tips to help your child starting school

How to talk to your child about emotions

A guide to Phonics

How children learn through play

Learning to write 

Help your child be epic at Maths