What a busy week we’ve had in Reception! This week, we have learnt about the ELLI tortoise. The tortoise likes a challenge and is willing to have a go, even if they are finding things tricky. They accept that learning is sometimes hard for everyone and that to get something wrong is ok. We talked to the children about persevering when they find something hard and introduced them to the vocabulary ‘stickability’. We launched the topic using ‘The Hare and the Tortoise’ story. In the story, the tortoise shows stickability and keeps going, eventually winning the race! On Wednesday, the children had a visit from Bill the tortoise. They learnt tortoise facts and asked questions about him. The children were shocked to find out that he is over 100 years old! They had the opportunity to touch him and looked closely at his shell and scaly legs. He was very tired during his visit as he is due to hibernate soon, I think he will have a very well deserved sleep until roughly April after his day at Henleaze Infant School!

On Tuesday afternoon, the children from Claremont school came over and took part in patio play with the children. The children learnt makaton signs for their names and made lots of new friends. We can’t wait to see them again next week!

We managed to go on an autumn welly walk around the school site, some classes got wetter than others! The children looked at the colour of the leaves on trees and collected conkers. We saw lots of autumnal changes happening and talked in depth about them as we walked around. Thank you enabling this to happen by bringing wellington boots in for the children to wear.

In phonics, we have learnt the new phonemes m, d and g. The children have applied their new phonetic skills to reading during their first group reading session this week. Next week, the children will bring home a reading book to share with you at home. This should be a celebration of their reading skills. The children will keep their book for a week before changing it. There will be a letter alongside the book to explain how to read at home with your child and all of the valuable activities that you are able to do with just one book!

We have been focusing on adding ‘one more’ this week in maths. The children have played various games during their carpet sessions and it has been great to see them continue to play them during their child initiated time. We have been encouraging the children to use the language “one more” and see the link that one more than a number, is the next number they say when they are counting.