Reception
Academic Year 2025-2026
Cygnets, Ducklings and Goslings are hatching new ideas and exploring and beginning to learn about the world around them.
We dive into new learning experiences, always making a splash, do our best to get along swimmingly and are discovering how to spread our learning wings and fly.
Please feel free to contact us on the following email addresses:
Reception lead and Goslings class teacher - lholloway@whiterockprimaryschool.co.uk
Cygnets class teacher - clintern@whiterockprimaryschool.co.uk
Ducklings class teacher - zmartens@whiterockprimaryschool.co.uk
UPCOMING EVENTS
October:
Wednesday 8th October - Phonic workshop for parents,
Friday 24th October – Last day of Autumn 1
Monday 27th - Friday 31st October – Half Term
November:
Monday 3rd November – Non-Pupil Day
Tuesday 4th November – First Day of Autumn 2
Monday 10th November – Friday 14th November – Anti-Bullying Week
Monday 10th November - Friday 14th Number - Reception 'read with me' sessions for parents
Monday 10th November – Odd Socks Day
Tuesday 11th November – Remembrance Day
Tuesday 11th November – Virtual Parents Evening
Thursday 13th November – Virtual Parents Evening
Friday 14th November – Children in Need
December:
Friday 12th December - Cygnets trip to Kents Cavern
Tuesday 16th December - Nativity to parents
- Goslings 9.30am
- Ducklings 10.30am
- Cygnets 1.30pm
Wednesday 17th December - Ducklings and Goslings trips to Kents Cavern
Thursday 18th December – Christmas Dinner Day
Friday 19th December 2025 – Last day of Autumn 2
THIS TERMS THEME
'Free to be me'
Please scroll down to see our curriculum map to find out all about this terms learning.
Week commencing 13th October 2025
This week we have been reading the book ‘Supertato’ and have been searching for Evil Pea! The children have been creative when making their own Supertato's using various resources to stop the Evil Pea entering our classrooms. In Literacy, we have been focussing on segmenting CVC words using our 'segmenting fingers'. We found the Evil Pea on a tin, mat, cap and on top of our reading den so the children had a go at writing these words. In Maths, the children have been learning about 1, 2 and 3. They have been recognising, ordering and using 1:1 correspondence when counting. In Phonics this week, we have been revisiting phonemes we have previously learnt.
Week commencing 6th October 2025
This week we have been looking at seasonal changes within our Woodlands as well as talking about ‘People Who Help Us.’ We have also been practising our throwing skills by using balls to throw them into hoops in our outdoor learning area. In Maths this week the children have been learning about repeating patterns. We have used resources such as blocks, natural objects, counters, paint and movement to create these patterns. In Phonics, we have learnt 4 new phonemes and their corresponding graphemes: h/b/f/l. This week, the children have been practising the skill of ‘segmenting’ three letter words such as ‘dog’ and ‘cat’. They have been using their segmenting fingers to count the sounds that they can hear in words, before writing them down.
Week commencing 29th September 2025
This week we have been busy identifying different forms of measurement by looking at bigger and smaller, longer and shorter, full and empty. The children have used lots of different resources such as cubes, measuring cups, scales and natural objects to compare. In Phonics, we have learnt 4 new phonemes and their corresponding graphemes: ck/e/u/r. To support the children when continuing to build new relationships, we have focussed on cooperation and listening to each other’s ideas.
Week commencing 22nd September 2025
This week we discovered a spaceship crash in our woodland area! The children have been busy finding clues and exploring the woodland area to find our SATPIN superheroes. The children have immersed themselves in imaginative play surrounding our Superhero theme. We have talked about what makes us Superheroes. In maths we have been sorting and matching objects and pictures by colours, size and type. In Phonics we have learnt 4 new phonemes and their corresponding graphemes: g/o/c/k.
Week commencing 15th September 2025
This week we have been celebrating our similarities and differences. We have used mirrors to look at our faces and used different materials and resources to create portraits of ourselves. We have also drawn our faces for in our Learning Journeys. In Phonics, we have learnt the sounds i/n/m/d. The children have been busy exploring our Woodland area with this week’s focus of ‘teamwork’.
Week commencing 8th September 2025
This week we have been incredibly proud of how well the children have settled into their first week of school. They have had lots of fun exploring their new surroundings such their classrooms, outdoor learning space and woodland area! During our ‘Choosing Time’ they have made lots of new friends and played with lots of new and familiar resources. We have also started our phonics learning and have learnt our first 4 phonemes and their corresponding graphemes: s/a/t/p.
