• Meet The Teaching Team

Seedlings Nursery – Autumn Term

We are delighted to welcome both our returning Nursery children and our brand-new starters to Seedlings Nursery this autumn. The beginning of a new school year is such an exciting time, full of new friendships, new routines and wonderful opportunities for learning through play. We know that starting Nursery is a big milestone for both children and families, and our priority is to help every child feel happy, safe and confident as they settle into their new environment.

Throughout the first few weeks, we will spend time getting to know one another, exploring our classroom and outdoor learning spaces, and establishing routines that encourage independence and confidence. At Welshampton, we believe every child deserves an exciting start to their learning journey, where they feel inspired to explore, investigate and develop a lifelong love of learning through play.

In Literacy, our key story this half term is The Cave by Rob Hodgson. Through this engaging story, children will enjoy joining in with storytelling, retelling familiar events using story props and developing their speaking and listening skills. We will also share a wide range of favourite books, nursery rhymes and poems.

Our Super Fun Sounds sessions will provide the foundations for future phonics learning. Children will enjoy listening games, exploring environmental sounds, using their voices and bodies to make different sounds, and developing their awareness of rhythm, rhyme and syllables through fun, practical activities.

In Mathematics, children will explore early mathematical concepts through practical play and everyday experiences. We will compare groups using language such as more, fewer and the same, investigate shapes through building and construction, explore simple repeating patterns and begin saying number names in sequence through songs, rhymes and counting games.

Across our wider curriculum, Communication and Language is at the heart of everything we do. Children will develop their confidence through conversations, talking about themselves and their families, listening to stories and joining in with familiar nursery rhymes. We will encourage children to answer simple questions, build new vocabulary and develop their speaking skills through imaginative play and daily discussions.

In Personal, Social and Emotional Development, we will focus on helping children settle happily into Nursery by building positive relationships with adults and their friends. Children will learn our school values of Be Ready, Be Safe and Be Respectful, practise taking turns and sharing, learn how to care for classroom resources and begin talking about their feelings using words such as happy, sad, worried and angry. We will also learn about keeping ourselves healthy, including looking after our teeth.

Our Understanding the World learning will encourage children to talk about themselves, their families and special events in their lives as they begin to understand their own place in the world. We will celebrate Harvest, Diwali, Bonfire Night and Remembrance Day, learn about different communities and explore our local area. During Forest School and outdoor learning, children will investigate seasonal changes, observe autumn colours, explore natural materials and discover more about animals and their habitats.

In Expressive Arts and Design, children will enjoy experimenting with paint, chalk, collage and natural materials while creating autumn artwork, self-portraits and simple patterns. Music, singing, dancing, role play and imaginative small-world play will help children express themselves creatively and develop their confidence.

Throughout the term, we will also develop children's physical skills through daily indoor and outdoor play. Children will strengthen their fine motor skills through mark making, malleable materials and early cutting activities, while gross motor development will be encouraged through climbing, balancing, running, riding bikes and exploring large outdoor equipment.

We are looking forward to a wonderful first term together as our Nursery children grow in confidence, make new friendships and enjoy discovering the exciting world around them.

Seedlings Reception Class – Autumn Term

We are so excited to welcome our new Reception children to Welshampton and begin their school journey with us. It is also a pleasure to see our Welshampton Nursery children confidently transition into Reception, building on the wonderful foundations they have already developed. We are looking forward to getting to know every child and supporting them as they settle into school life, make new friendships and develop a love of learning through a fun and engaging curriculum.

In Literacy, we will begin our exciting learning through the beautiful story The Something by Rebecca Cobb. This imaginative book encourages children to wonder, explore and use their creativity as they develop their speaking, listening and early writing skills. Alongside this, we will continue to share a wide range of stories, poems and non-fiction books to foster a lifelong love of reading and help children develop their vocabulary and comprehension.

At Welshampton, we use Ready Steady Phonics to teach children their letter sounds, reading and letter formation. Throughout the term, children will learn to recognise and blend sounds to read simple words, whilst also beginning to write letters and words independently. More information about supporting phonics at home will be shared with parents during the term.

In Maths, we follow the White Rose Maths scheme. This half term, children will develop their understanding by matching, sorting and comparing objects before exploring patterns, measures and the numbers 1, 2 and 3. Through practical, hands-on activities, children will learn to compare groups, recognise simple repeating patterns, explore size, mass and capacity, and begin to understand one more, one less and how numbers are made.

Across our wider curriculum, our learning is full of exciting opportunities. In PSHE, we will focus on building positive friendships, recognising our feelings, celebrating what makes us unique and understanding why families and special relationships are important. In Science, children will begin exploring the world around them by observing, asking questions and investigating changes they notice in their environment. Through Art, children will experiment with a range of materials and techniques as they develop their creativity and confidence in expressing themselves.

In Religious Education, we will explore special people, celebrations and beliefs, learning that different families celebrate in different ways. In Computing, children will begin to use technology safely while developing their understanding of simple digital skills. Through History and Geography, we will explore our new school environment, learn about ourselves and our community, and begin to understand the world around us through first-hand experiences and outdoor learning.

Home Learning

Children will bring home a fully decodable reading book each week that matches the phonics they have been learning in school. We recommend reading with your child for around five minutes each day, as this greatly supports their reading fluency, phonics knowledge and confidence across the curriculum.

Children will also bring home phonics activities and sound mats to reinforce their learning. Throughout the term, we may also send home optional creative, fine motor and practical challenges linked to our classroom learning for you to enjoy together.

PE

PE lessons will take place on Tuesday and Wednesday. Children should come to school wearing their full school PE kit on these days.

Forest School

We will enjoy a Forest School session each Monday afternoon with Ms Evans. Further dates are always shared with parents via Class Dojo in advance.

Key Information

• Children should wear full school uniform with black school shoes each day.
• PE takes place on Tuesday and Wednesday, and children should attend in their school PE kit.
• Please send your child with a named water bottle every day.
• As the weather can still be warm during the first half term, please ensure children have a sun hat and sun cream applied before school when appropriate.
• Children do not need to bring pencil cases or additional personal items into school.
• Please label all clothing and belongings clearly.

Spare Clothes

Reception children have lots of exciting opportunities for messy play and outdoor learning. We recommend sending a spare set of clothes (including underwear and socks) to keep in your child's locker in case they are needed.

We would like to thank you for your continued support. If you have any questions or concerns, please speak to us at the beginning or end of the school day, or contact the school office via [email protected].

We are looking forward to a fantastic first term together and can't wait to share all of the wonderful learning taking place in Seedlings Reception through our Class Dojo page.

Miss Hannaby

Miss Edge

Mrs Crone

Miss Hughes