Personal, Social and Emotional Development

This term we will be building on the firm foundations made by all children last term. Now they are secure and happy in their environment, we will be developing key skills of cooperation and independence. Through teacher directed activities and child initiated play, we will be encouraging the children to work as part of a group, take turns and share fairly. As part of circle time activities we will be encouraging children to develop their awareness of their own needs, views and feelings, and to become more sensitive to the needs, views and feelings of others.

Communication, Language and Literacy

Each week we will continue to focus on a different book, which will form the basis of the children's learning about reading, writing, spelling and grammar. We will be consolidating the initial sounds, before starting to blend them in reading, writing and spelling, as well as learning new phonetic digraphs. Children will be encouraged to develop these skills through early reading books, high frequency word flashcards and differentiated weekly spellings. This term, emphasis will be placed on forming letters correctly from memory, using the correct sequence of movements. Children will be given opportunities to share what they have learnt through daily discussions, where they will be encouraged to ask and answer questions. Alongside this, children will begin to record their ideas through pictures and writing, by blending sounds together to make words, captions and sentences.

Mathematical Development

This term, children will consolidate their counting skills and knowledge of the number system through a variety of practical activities. They will be encouraged to recognise and form numbers from memory and given opportunities to record their work pictorially and more formally. Through daily mental maths sessions, children will become more familiar with sequencing and ordering numbers, including counting forwards and backwards. They will be given opportunities to apply these skills to activities involving money in our class ‘Toy Shop'. There will be opportunities for children to develop their skills in simple addition and subtraction, using practical apparatus and a range of visual prompts such as number lines. Children will begin to name simple 2D shapes, and use them to make pictures and patterns. 3D shapes will be explored through modelling, and children will be encouraged to identify them by name and attribute. Through a range of practical and everyday activities, children will begin to develop a greater awareness of time, length, weight and capacity.

Knowledge and Understanding of the World

This term we will be approaching this area through the topics of Toys, Homes and New Life. They will have opportunities to explore a range of familiar objects, and how pushing and pulling can move them. They will be encouraged to ask questions about why things happen and how they work. Children will be encouraged to name and identify a variety of materials, and begin to describe their features using specific vocabulary. Children will begin to develop a wider understanding of their local environment, using their senses to identify familiar geographical features. As part of our topic on Toys, children will be encouraged to compare toys from the past and present, and use a range of practical skills to create their own toy. Children will continue to explore ICT through the computer, tape recorder and programmable toys such as the Beebot, to support their learning.

Physical Development

Children will continue to develop control and coordination and this term greater emphasis will be placed on the acquisition of fine motor skills. During weekly swimming sessions, children will build on water confidence activities from last term, before beginning to develop early stroke techniques. In PE lessons, children will have opportunities to develop a range of simple games skills and begin to express themselves imaginatively in music and movement. Through independent play, children will continue to develop their climbing and balancing skills, whilst showing an increasing awareness of space, both of themselves and others.

Creative Development

Through our topics of Toys and Homes, the children will be encouraged to explore a range of techniques such as printing, collage, drawing, painting and weaving. A range of materials will be available to the children to allow greater development of their drawing skills. They will learn how to draw simple lines and shapes, in order to create representative images. They will have opportunities to make 3D models using malleable materials such as clay and playdough, as well as junk modelling and large construction materials. During child initiated play, there will be a range of activities available to further their creative development. A variety of role play activities will be available for children to develop their imaginative and cooperative play, such as the class ‘Toyshop' or ‘Home'.

Music

The term will begin with the children learning a variety of new songs and playing percussion instruments as well as using body sounds to accompany them. Listening skills will be developed through musical games and, they will enjoy entering the magical world of Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker Ballet. After half term, new Easter songs and musical stories will be introduced.

It is emphasised that the above is offered as a guide only, and the school retains the flexibility to adapt its schemes of work to the needs of the individual or the class