Our reception children have settled into their second term at school with enthusiasm, showing a positive attitude to their learning.  We are continuing with our phonics learning, practising our blending to read fluently and segmenting to write words and simple sentences.  We have impressed our teachers by learning many Phase 2 sounds and are currently starting to learn and recognise Phase 3 digraphs. 

In Maths, we have been learning to understand the concept of numbers to 5, including counting and knowing the number we have stopped at, subitising and having an awareness of quantities being more or less.  We have been using simple sentence stems to build up our fluency in understanding Maths concepts.

Our PSHE focus has been 'Celebrating Differences'.  We have been discussing how we are all different and what makes us special.  We have been thinking about our families, discussing our homes and looking at different homes and families from around the world.

Our theme this term is 'Celebrations.'  We have focused on Diwali and Bonfire Night and are currently busy practising our Nativity for our Christmas Celebrations at the end of term.  Our learning around Bonfire Night and Diwali incorporated many craft activities where the children were able to explore different textiles and colours.

We continue to explore the garden and enjoy spending time on the Trim Trail.  The children have many opportunities in the garden to expand their vocabulary and build new relationships with their peers.  During our recent 'Outdoor Learning Day', the children used our tree house, cooked s'mores on an open fire and built homes for the Gingerbread Man.

As Term 2 draws to a close, Carle and Rosen Class have been exploring the story of The Gingerbread Man. The children showed great creativity by inventing their own characters to give the story a fresh twist. To celebrate their learning, we baked our own gingerbread men—a wonderful way to begin our Christmas festivities! We’re excited to continue these celebrations with a visit to the church and plenty of festive craft activities.

The children also loved performing I Spy Christmas for their families and siblings. We hope you were impressed—they certainly impressed us! We are incredibly proud of every child for overcoming their nerves, engaging with the audience, singing beautifully, and remembering so many songs and lines. Well done, Carle and Rosen Class, on your very first Ivy Lane performance!

Another highlight of the term has been our ‘Mystery Reader’ sessions. The children have thoroughly enjoyed listening to parents and grandparents share their favourite stories. A big thank you to everyone who took part!

Finally, we wish all our children and families a very Merry Christmas and hope you enjoy this special time together.

The Reception children have made a fantastic start to the term. They have been enjoying exploring the story Mr Gumpy's Outing, using it to inspire discussion, role play and early writing. In phonics, the children are learning Phase 3 sounds and are beginning to master them with increasing confidence, supporting their early reading and writing. In maths, they have been developing their understanding of the composition of 5, using practical resources to explore different ways numbers can be made. The term began with a little snow, providing a great opportunity to observe seasonal changes and notice how nature changes over time. Alongside this learning, the children have been thinking about perseverance and how we can keep trying when we face challenges, celebrating effort as well as success.

You can support learning at home by talking about the story your child is sharing at school, practising Phase 3 sounds in a fun way, and exploring numbers within 5 using everyday objects. Encourage your child to talk about what they notice outdoors and praise them for trying even when something feels tricky—this helps to build confidence and resilience.

On Friday 16^th January, the children in Carle and Rosen classes had some very exciting visitors. Members of our local policing team came in for the morning to share some time with us. They talked to us about how to stay safe, who to ask for help and checked that everyone knew the important 3-digit number to call in an emergency. Part of the session involved trying on the various items of uniform, which gave us an insight in to our potential future police force! Following this, we were lucky to explore the police car and see the lights flashing. Everyone had a turn to sit inside the car, look at all of the buttons and discover the important equipment that is stored in the boot ready for emergencies. It was a real 'wow' moment for the children, and we are sure that they have shared this with you. Thank you to our Chippenham-based police team for giving us this experience.