20.10.25

Dear Reception Families,

This week was Geography week, and Reception class learned all about Liverpool!

At the start of the week, we looked at a map of the UK. We focused on Berkshire to identify where we live, and then located Liverpool, discussing how we might travel there from Maidenhead.

The children discovered that the world’s first passenger railway line was built in Liverpool in 1830, connecting the city to Manchester. We also learned about the history of the Liverpool docks and how food was brought over from different countries by ship. The children enjoyed finding out about Liverpool Football Club and The Beatles, who came from the city too!

We explored Meols Beach, noticing how it has both sandy and stony areas, and talked about what we might take with us for a trip to the beach. Today, the children had fun making jam sandwiches to take home as a treat — we discussed how this might be something we’d pack for a picnic by the seaside. We used google maps on the board to explore the areas in glorious technicolor!

In Maths, we have been learning about circles and triangles. The children identified that a circle has one curved side, while a triangle has three corners and three sides. We spotted circles and triangles during our fun Halloween Maths session, all dressed up in our costumes for the school disco! We have also started practising writing numbers 1–5.

Please continue to support your child with their phonics over the half-term. I am sending book 5 home again as the children were less confident with these sounds. Ask them what ‘b’ is for! Encourage them to make simple CVC words using the sounds we have learned and to recognise their harder to read and spell words.

After half term, children will be expected to come to school on Tuesdays wearing their PE kits, as we will no longer be changing in school.

We would also like to make the most of our outdoor area, so please could you send your child to school with a pair of wellington boots that can be kept in school. While we do have some spare boots available, they are of mixed sizes, and it’s always nicer for children to wear their own!

If you haven’t already please don’t forget to book your Parents Evening slot!

Finally, please ensure that all school items are clearly labelled with your child’s name.

Thank you for your support.

Wishing you all a safe and happy half-term break!

Kindest regards,
Mrs Sharma

Week beginning 14.10.25

Dear Reception Families,

This week, we continued our learning around the topic of Diwali. The children watched a video showing how people celebrate Diwali, which led to some lovely class discussions. We also revisited video clips explaining the story of Rama and Sita to help us understand the origins of the festival. Last week, we made diyas out of clay, and this week we enjoyed decorating them with bold and bright colours and silver details—they look wonderful!

In Phonics, the children have learned the following sounds:
/h/, /b/, /f/, /ff/, /l/, /ll/
We have also learned the following harder to read and spell words: pull, as, and his.
Last week, I sent home a sheet listing all the phonics sounds and tricky words we’ve covered so far this term. Please continue to refer to this sheet and support your child in practising both the sounds and words, alongside their weekly reading task.

In Maths, we focused on understanding ‘one more’ and ‘one less’. We took a very visual and practical approach—this included Mrs Sharma gaining one more child at a time or sending them away to show one less! One session even involved Mrs Sharma needing more hugs (or fewer!) depending on how she was feeling. Ask your child about what happened with the chocolate fingers—they’ll be excited to share!

In PSED, we had our final session on feelings and played bingo for the first time. The children were fantastic at matching emotions to the correct pictures. We’ve had lots of discussions about how we can feel more than one emotion at the same time—just like the Colour Monster.

Next week, the PTFA are hosting a Halloween Disco. Reception will have their turn during the school day. Halloween costumes are optional, but if your child would like to wear one, please ensure it is clearly named. Due to the timing of the disco, we will be sending the children home in their costumes.

While we’ve received lots of compliments on how beautifully and quietly Reception moves around the school (thank you!), we’ve also been having some important discussions in class. We’ve been talking about the importance of completing our learning tasks before moving on to play and practicing good listening on the carpet.

Before I go, I’d like to say a big thank you to all of our packed lunch families for providing healthy lunches, and to our school dinner families for pre-selecting meals at home. This really helps us transition quickly into our phonics sessions in the mornings—your support is very much appreciated!

Have a wonderful and restful weekend—only one week to go, and we have some very tired little ones!

Kindest regards,
Mrs Sharma

Week Beginning 6.10.25

Dear Reception Families,

It has been a very busy and exciting week in Reception!

This week, we began our topic on Diwali — the Hindu 'Festival of Lights'. The children learned about the characters and events in the Diwali story, and we explored how the festival is celebrated today. We talked about how families prepare for Diwali by creating colourful Rangoli patterns near their front doors, lighting diva lamps, sharing sweets with friends and family, and enjoying delicious food. We listened to some Bhangra music — a lively tune you might hear at a Diwali party — and even had a go at some Indian dancing! The children had lots of fun making their own clay diva lamps. They are now patiently waiting for them to dry so we can decorate them next week.

In Maths, we have been learning all about the numbers 1, 2, and 3. The children have been practising subitising — recognising how many objects there are without counting. You can support your child at home by using the White Rose app and selecting the Subitising activity:
👉 https://whiteroseeducation.com/1-minute-maths

In Phonics, we learned the /ss/ sound and have been reviewing previous sounds. The children have been applying their learning in words, sentences, and ‘harder to read and spell’ words. A letter has been sent home in the purple folders with more details about Phonics. We have also been working on writing our own names this week. 

As part of our Black History Month focus, we are celebrating Black British authors and musicians. This week, we read You Can Do Anything, Tyrone! by Lenny Henry — a lovely story about a boy and his grandad going on imaginary adventures. Inspired by the story, the children made their own rockets and towers using building bricks.

We’ve also been listening to music by Black British musicians and had so much fun dancing to songs by JLS, Corinne Bailey Rae, and Billy Ocean — to name just a few!

Finally, I’d like to say a big thank you for your continued support — especially with coats, water bottles, and meal choices. It really makes a difference.

Kindest regards,
Mrs Sharma

Week beginning 29.9.25

Dear Reception Family,

We hope you have all had a lovely week. We have been doing lots of learning this week and have enjoyed having our photographs taken twice. We had smashing feedback from the photographer about how sensible we were and how smiley! I was supporting the photographer and saw all the images come through – it is safe to say we have a very photogenic class.

Our main focus this week has been having our listening eyes, ears and bottoms ready on the carpet. The children are learning that we have focused learning sessions as well as learning through play. We appreciate it is hard to transition from continuous play and are supporting the pupils with expectations.

This week we have covered the sounds in phonics /ck, /e/, /u/ and /r/ and the harder to read and spell words 'to', 'go' and 'into’.  If you could please support your child in recognising the sounds and supporting your child with forming the letter (this can be on paper, in mud, flour, writing on your back etc). Thank you with your support with reading at home. I can certainly see a difference if they are practicing their sounds four times a week.

In Maths, the children have been learning 'repeating patterns'.  We discussed what 'repeat' means as well as where we might find repeating patterns (clothes, on table clothes and on the computer).  We have made various repeating patterns with conkers, bears, cubes and anything else we found. You may find the following link useful for playing repeating pattern games:

https://www.topmarks.co.uk/ordering-and-sequencing/shape-patterns

In our story of "Ruby's Worry", we explored environments such as garden, park and beach and what we might find there. We made a story map of the story, recalling key events. We also compared our feelings with colours. This led us to explore primary and secondary colours. We had super fun colour mixing and making our own worries.

Please can we remember our harvest festival donations from Monday onward please.

Thank you for your continued support.

Kindest regards

Mrs. Sharma

Week beginning 22.9.25

Dear Reception Family,

We have had a very busy week establishing routines. Children went to their first celebration assembly today which was lovely. They enjoyed celebrating achievements with the whole school.

This week we continued our topic based on "Ruby's Worry".  The children discussed with their 'talk partner' who we might speak to when we're feeling worried.  We ‘wrote’ messages to Ruby with pictures to Ruby.

In Phonics, the children have learned sounds /g/, /o/, /c/ and /k/ as well as the following 'harder to read and spell words' ('put, 'of' and 'is').

Please continue to support your child with recognising the words that we have covered to date (so that they can recognise them by sight when reading). To help you with sounds Mr Thorne on Youtube is excellent at demonstrating how the sounds should be said. Ideal if you have not had any previous experience of phonics.

Just a little polite reminder that books will be changed on Fridays so it is important for the purple folder to come into school on Friday so we can send home the sounds we have focused on this week.

We have been practicing and focusing on using our ‘magic words’ this week and talked about how manners are free and cost us nothing but make people smile. The children have shown how polite they are in the dining room with lots of pleases and thank yous.

In Maths, we have been learning about size (vocabulary included 'big, little, large, same, match, biggest, smallest); comparing amounts (vocabulary 'more, fewer', 'more than', 'less than'); comparing and ordering by height (taller, tallest, taller than, shorter than, shortest) and compared length (long, longest, longer than, short, shorter than and shortest). We did this very practically using resources in the room available to us so the children could visualize this and be part of it.

As well as establish routines, we have really been focusing on looking after the resources we have in the class. We have discussed the importance of taking care of our resources and personal items and making sure we play with them correctly and that we put them away properly so we can enjoy them for the whole year.

Please remember on Wednesday next week we have individual photos and on Thursday the Maidenhead Advertiser is coming in to take ‘My first Class’ photos.

Thank you for your continued support.

Kindest regards

Mrs. Sharma

Week beginning 16.9.24

Dear Reception Family,

Thank you for sending the children in with water bottles and coats this week. I am very keen to make the most of our wonderful Reception garden and will take the kids out if there is a little drizzle! The children have settled into the lunchtime routine brilliantly and have been complimented by many staff on how well they are doing. I am incredibly proud of them.

This week we started learning on our topic based on story "Ruby's Worry".  It's a story about Ruby who has a worry which she finds gets smaller when she shares it.  Before sharing the story, we talked about feelings and how they can vary using the monsters from ‘The Colour Monster.’ They all enjoyed the story and we will be doing more work exploring the story and the characters next week.

In Phonics the children have learned sounds /i/, /n/, /m/ and /d/.

They have also learned the following 'harder to read and spell words' (which you can't sound out), 'I', 'a', 'the' and 'no'.

Please do continue to support your child with recognising sounds covered (I will update the webpage weekly with details); recognising the 'harder to read and spell words' and blending words for reading – you may be lucky and see some ‘robot arms!’ Books will be changed on Fridays so it is important for the purple folder to come into school on Friday so we can send home the sounds we have focused on this week.

In Maths we have been learning about things that are the same and different. We have been using bears and buttons comparing them and seeing if they ‘match’ or not. The children reinforced their learning by plying memory games with Gruffalo cards, matched up bears and colored cubes.

In PSHE, we have been looking at 'coping strategies' such as when we might feel angry or cross.  We shared ways to help us feel calm such as breathing, counting to ten and moving ourselves away until we feel calm.

In RE we will look at 'why we are special.' It would be wonderful if you could send in a family photo for next Tuesday so the children can talk to their friends about their family.

Have a wonderful and restful weekend and I look forward to seeing my children on Monday. 

Thank you for your continued support.

Mrs. Sharma

Week beginning 7.09.25

Dear Parents/Carers,

Welcome to the Larchfield Reception family. I cannot thank you enough for your help and support getting your child ready for the start of their school journey. Thank you for naming their clothing, water bottles and coats. It makes it a lot easier to reunite objects with their owners. Please can I remind you all to send in a water bottle and a coat every day. Thank you.

What a fantastic first week we have had for our learners! Our main focuses have been settling into school, learning some of our routines but most importantly making new friends. It has been wonderful to see the children playing together exploring their new environment and establish great bonds with the adults supporting them. Their enthusiasm has been outstanding!

We have started Phonics, and the children have learned sounds /s/, /a/, /t/ and /p/. We have started our phonics books and have had the opportunity to write these sounds. Please do support your child with recognizing the sounds covered (I will update the webpage weekly with details).

Today we have sent the children home with reading books. These focus on the sounds we have been working on in phonics. Please ensure that your child is reading their ELS book a minimum of four times a week. Books will be changed on a Friday. Please write in the reading record every time you listen to your child read and work on the sounds with them. Supporting the learning we do in class is invaluable and we really appreciate your support at home – thank you.

This week the children were paired up with a year 5 buddy to support them in the dining room and outside at playtime. A wonderful opportunity for our year 5s to be role models and for our Reception children to have a mentor. I love the fact I get asked when their buddy is coming from around 11am so the buddies have certainly made a positive impression! If I could take this as an opportunity to remind you to talk to your child about menu choices and pick these together at the weekend the children won’t be surprised when their food is dished up.

Finally, Mrs Kearny visited on Wednesday, their first full day, to gift the children a Larchfield bear. The children were overjoyed to receive one and have promised not to feed them porridge but to feed them with love and cuddles instead.

Have a wonderful and restful weekend. You are going to have some very tired little ones.

Thank you for your continued support.

Mrs Sharma