Bethlehem (YR)

Welcome to Early Years

During your child’s first year at school we deliver the Early Years Foundation Stage by using the ‘Come and See’ Catholic topics as a starting point for our learning.  In addition to this we also consider individual children’s interests and needs, to provide a holistic curriculum that supports each child’s ongoing learning and development.

We offer a continuous play-based approach where children can explore their indoor and outdoor school environment whilst engaging in challenging activities, interesting topics and learning through first hand experiences.

Early Years Staff

Miss Clark – Class Teacher

Mrs Winton – Early Years Educator and Class PPA Teacher

Welcome Bethlehem families 

Catholic Education

Within the Catholic Education we will explore our class name 'Bethlehem' and our class saint 'Mary'. The children will develop their understanding of their faith through candle time, prayers and class worship as well as religious education inputs and activities. 

The RE 'come and see' topics include; 

• Autumn Term ‘Myself’, ‘Welcome’, ‘Birthday’
• Harvest
• Spring Term – ‘Celebrating’, ‘Gathering’, ‘Growing’
• Fair Trade Fortnight
• Summer Term – ‘Good News’, ‘Friends’, ‘Our World’
• Other faith’s week (Islam)

House Colours

Your child will have been allocated a house colour; they will be awarded house points for their house. In Bethlehem, we collect 'bricks' to represent house points. 

Red house team - St Richards

Green house team - St Bernadettes

Yellow house team - St Wilfrids

Blue house team - St Clares

Tapestry

We will use Tapestry as a platform to share photographs and videos, WOW moments and celebrate successes. 

Mrs Winton and myself will also use Tapestry as a communication tool to share class messages, updates and information to you all.

Tapestry also allows your to share WOW moments from home.

Reading
Please read with your children daily, using their school book to support their early reading skills. We will initially sending home story books to be shared together which promote rhyme and word pattern.  Other fiction and non-fiction books will continue to engage their imagination and develop their vocabulary. 

Birthdays

On your child’s birthday, we ask that they do not bring sweets for their friends, but if they would like to donate a book to the class for the book corner instead, then it would be greatly appreciated.  They can also come to school in their own clothes on their birthday, or on the nearest school day if their birthday falls at the weekend.

Daily

Each day at school, please make sure your child brings;

- A water bottle with fresh water.

- Labelled jumper/cardigan.

- Labelled coat for wet weather. 

- Their bookbag, reading record and books. 

RE Topic: Growing

Monday 14th March - Friday 8th April. Together we will explore the lead up to Easter, through Lent and Holy Week.

An outline of the exploration and learning covered in our growing topic:

- What is 'growing' in terms of Spring (This will be linked to 'Understanding of the World' - we will spend lots of time outside, looking for signs of Spring - drawing them, taking photographs, painting them. We will also be doing some planting. And we'll spend some time looking at Jack and the Beanstalk.)

- Animals - baby/adult 

- We will give particular focus to Palm Sunday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday.

- How Jesus wants us to live and how we grow to be like Jesus. 

Questions the children may be asked include:

- How did Jesus die?

- Who was there with him?

- What did he say to them?

- How do you think he felt?

- Who was Jesus thinking about?

- What does the story tell you about Jesus?

- What does the story tell you about Mary?

- What does the story tell you about John?

- What is the Priest wearing?

- What did the Priest say at the beginning of Mass?

- What is the Priest giving out?

- Who helped Jesus to grow in love?

- How did Jesus learn to grow in love?

- What do we call this special time?

- When does Lent start?

- What do we try to do during Lent?

Key vocabulary will include: Grow, spring, different, Lent, Good Friday, cross and Easter Sunday.

Kind regards,

Miss Clark