Exploring Our Community
As part of our new topic, ‘Me and My Community’, we have been busy exploring some of the wonderful places in our local community. We enjoyed a trip to our local café, where we had a lovely snack and practised being part of our community. ☕🍰 We also visited the community shop, where we were … Read more
Dear Parents and Carers,
Welcome to another academic year in Appleby Class!
Over this first week back, we have welcomed Dara into the Appleby classroom, who will attend on Mondays and Tuesdays. We have been busy sharing our summer news, playing in our new home area and learning all about what we like by making our own ‘All About Me’ posters, linked to our focus story, ‘Hello Friend’. What better way to end our first full week back than with a jungle theme party to celebrate Salah and Myla’s birthdays. As you all know, we love an excuse to have a party in Appleby!
This term, we are exploring ‘Me and My Community’. This is a lovely topic, chosen as it allows the class to get to know each other, their staff team and their wider school community. It will also provide a vehicle for them to learn more about who they are – their bodies, their growing personalities, their homes and their families.
As part of the topic, we will be looking at what makes us unique and special, the importance of friendships, and how the people in our families, school and local community are important and can help us – from shopkeepers to police officers.
We will read a range of books and stories that relate to our topic, with a focus on ‘The Rainbow Fish’ during the first half term. We will continue to develop our knowledge and understanding of print and pictures, as well as learning how to navigate a book. Together, we will create individual fact books called ‘All About Me’. We will also be exploring our local area by visiting the library, going to the park, and visiting some of the local shops and amenities. This will include a special trip to see the big man in red – Santa!
Within Expressive Arts and Design, we will be exploring musical instruments and using them to create our own sounds and music to accompany ‘The Rainbow Fish’. As well as this, the children can look forward to making a junk model of their own home.
Daily phonics sessions will continue, where the children will use a variety of multisensory resources, as well as technology, to expand their learning experiences through the Little Wandle scheme. In Maths, alongside ongoing number songs and activities, the class will be comparing sizes and sorting objects into groups.
The development of the children’s physical and communication skills is an ongoing and constant thread throughout our many daily activities. We will have a range of conductive Task Series programmes across the weeks to build on the children’s independence and develop their skills.
As the autumn term includes many festivals and celebrations, we will be exploring and experiencing Yom Kippur, Harvest Festival, Ada’s and Juwairiyah’s birthdays, Halloween, Bonfire Night, Diwali and Christmas, as well as a range of seasonal activities.
New termly targets are on the way, and we hope you find these an encouraging reflection of your child’s next steps. As always, please don’t hesitate to get in touch about anything at all.
The Appleby staff team are looking forward to all the exciting things we have planned throughout the term!
Best wishes, The Appleby Team