Welcome to Foundation 2.

Reception Graduation
Well this is it, our final show with our Reception Children.
We held a ceremony in class celebrating our children’s transition up to Year 1. The children all wore the CCA Cap & Gown and were presented with their scrolls. Then we played a few party games and we were all treated to an ice-cream.
Please click on the slideshow to view our children in their cap and gown.
As its the last show for this Reception Class I now have to type the last words, so with a heavy heart I type...
The End!

Time To Say Goodbye!
Well the time has come, only 2 weeks left and we say Goodbye to our beautiful Reception Superstars! This is the show we have been dreading putting together as we know its one of the last ones with our children. We hope you have enjoyed our website page and we all would like to say ‘THANK YOU’ for all your support during the year! Grab those tissues folks as you watch our ‘Goodbye Show’ (Staff have already had a preview and the tears were flowing). It has been a pleasure and privilege to teach your children. They have been a super class and we will all miss them very much. Mrs Harrison, Miss Doughty, Mrs Trayford & Mrs Williams xxxx

Butterflies from Louis and his Mummy!

Louis and his mummy over the past few weeks have brought in a butterfly garden for all Reception to observe how a caterpillar turns into a butterfly. Our children have been enthralled with the process and last week we all said goodbye to the butterflies as Louis and his Mummy set them free.
A massive thank you to Louis and his Mummy from all Reception and the team!

EAST LANCS RAILWAY & MUSEUM

Friday 20th June, a glorious day and Reception set off by bus to Bury Museum. We were met by Sarah and Sam who were our guides for the day. First we went round the ground floor, looking at all different vehicles from the past. Then over the road we went onto the platform to board the steam train to Rawtenstall. We all loved the train ride and ate our sandwiches on the return journey. Back to Bury and we went back to the museum for some more fun and a craft activity. A great day was had by all children and staff.

Writing about Minibeasts!
As our topic this term has been Minibeasts, we asked our children to choose their favourite Minibeast and to write some facts about their chosen Minibeasts.
Reception went to the writing table and set about this task. To say we are lost for words is an understatement! Their writing is just PHENOMENAL! We didn’t expect to top their last piece of writing on People Who Help Us...but they have as you can see! Fantastic Reception! What SUPERSTARS you all are!
Mrs Harrison & team.

Environment Day 2014

We held our annual Environment Day on the 5th June 2014. The rain held off for us and the whole school worked hard weeding, digging and planting all of the school's grounds and gardens. Well done everyone! The school looks great !
Please take a look at the slideshows of the pupils and staff hard at work! We hope you enjoy them!

Holy Cross Visit

On the 9th April we were invited to Holy Cross College to watch a performance by their theatre study students. (A few days before this Reception were treated to a sneak preview of the performance as the students and their teacher Jenny (Ralphie's Mummy) came to Reception Class.)
We were all very excited to get on the coach and to be treated to this special performance for us.
The students at Holy Cross were great and they played some games with us until it was tome to watch.

Butterfly Symmetry

Mrs Harrison has been teaching Reception all about Symmetry! Our children have loved saying the words Symmetry and Symmetrical and are coming to us with all sorts of objects, showing us which are symmetrical and which are not.
Please click on the slideshow to view our children painting a symmetrical butterfly ( we cut out the butterfly shape once the paint was dry) . They are all hanging from our classroom ceiling and look amazing!

Sequencing Growing a Sunflower

Our children have made a beautiful display of sunflowers in our classroom. We heard some wonderful language from this activity, growing, tall, soil, summer, sunshine etc. With this in mind we gave the children a ‘growing a sunflower worksheet ‘. The children had to put the pictures in the correct order from the sunflower seed to the tall beautiful sunflower. Reception were fantastic at this!

Queen Molly

On Molly’s last day before her op we made her Queen for the day! Molly had to wear a crown and a badge with VIP written on it. Molly sat in Mrs Harrisons chair and was allowed to choose whatever she wanted!

Blossom Trees

We decided to make blossom trees to display in our window. Mrs Harrison showed Reception different ways to paint by using their fingers to create a tree trunk and by blowing paint to create branches.

Time for Technology!

Our Reception children use the school I Pads at least twice a week.
When they see the I Pad trolley in the classroom they are so excited!
We are delighted with how their IT skills are progressing!
Please click on the slideshow to see our children using the I Pads!

Fundraising for Alder Hey!

Four-year-old Molly Denney was given a boost by school friends as she faces complex leg surgery. All children from our school took part in a Disney Day to raise funds for Alder Hey Children’s Hospital where Molly will be having her operation.
Please click on the slideshow to see Reception dressed as Disney Characters.

Police Visit Our Foundation Unit

 

We have been talking about people who help us and especially our ‘Emergency Services’.
Our Foundation Unit had a visit from some very important people, ‘The Police’. We were very lucky to have Sam’s Daddy who is a Policeman to come and talk to us and bring a Police Van with other Police Officers.
The Policemen told us all about their job and what they do to help us. We wore the Policemen’s helmets, held the walkie-talkie, handcuffs and truncheon.
Miss Wharmby was dressed as the Police Officer and Mrs Harrison was the robber. Miss Wharmby chased Mrs Harrison around the classroom and then when Miss Wharmby caught Mrs Harrison the handcuffs were put on! Our children laughed so much at this!
Then we went out to see the Police Van. Our children sat in the drivers seat, turned on the blue flashing lights and turned the police sirens on too. Then in the back of the van our children sat where the police put the prisoners when they have been naughty.
What a fantastic experience for our children!

 

We would like to thank the following officers for coming to visit us. The children loved your visit!
PC Martin Hopkinson (Ashton)
PC Phillip Flanagan (Radcliffe)
PC John Mcphee (Whitefield)
PCSO Mike Mason (Radcliffe)
PCSO Andrew Crookes (Radcliffe)

Please, Please DO NOT view this slideshow until Mother’s Day!

Reception Class Mums! Make sure you have your tissues ready!
A Mother’s Day message for Reception Class Mums!
We hope you enjoy the show!

Mrs Harrison & Miss Doughty

Welcome To Our ‘Snack Shack’

 

We decided to introduce a ‘rolling snack’ into our Foundation Unit at the beginning of the year as we know children may be hungry, thirsty at different times. Therefore we decided on the Snack Shack!
The Snack Shack allows our children to have the choice of when they want to eat and drink, whom they would like to sit with, activities need not be stopped and our children can continue their play undisturbed therefore snack time becomes an integrated activity within the session. Also research shows that eating patterns developed in early childhood tend to be carried into adulthood. If children are introduced to fruit and vegetables at a young age it is more likely they will enjoy them and eat them more frequently

 

The Learning Outcomes your children will achieve through the Snack Shack are...

 

Communication, language and literacy
Language for thinking: We have conversations about food and drink preferences, where food and drink comes from etc.
Literacy skills: We display healthy eating posters and photographs of children at snack time, Our children are reading their names on their name cards and bringing them to the Snack Shack to show they are in the shack.
Lovely interaction between the children and us, the team!
Problem solving, reasoning and numeracy
Counting, calculating and problem solving: we ask questions like, how many children are at the table, how many plates and cups do we need, what if another child joins in or leaves – how many children are left, how to make more spaces available etc.
Personal, social and emotional development
Turn taking and making relationships: waiting for a space at the table, we have a dish and put in the middle of the table and the children can take it in turns to choose what they would like.
Behaviour and self control: learning about appropriate behaviour at the snack table, sharing and knowing how much food or drink to take
Knowledge and understanding of the world
Exploration and investigation: through cooking and preparing snacks and drinks, looking at changing properties, also through growing fruit and vegetables
Physical development
Fine motor skills: peeling skin off, slicing and cutting fruit, using cutlery, spreading jam etc
Gross motor skills: pouring from jugs, preparing snack area
Health and bodily awareness: learning about the benefits of eating a balanced and nutritious diet and its role in healthy growth and development of our bodies.
Creative development
Exploring media and materials: experiencing a range of tastes and textures of food and drink e.g. We tasted Chinese Food for Chinese New Year as our snack.

 

Our children love coming to the ‘Snack Shack’. We open at 9.30am -11.15am and 1.00pm -2.45pm. The children queue up to help us set up the snack shack every day and by preparing their own snack, washing their hands, getting their own cup and plate, cleaning up after themselves our children are becoming increasingly independent as well as helping each other and taking turns, especially when new to the group, our children are learning and improving their social skills.

 

We feel it is very important to make snack time an enjoyable and positive experience!

Ambulance Visits Our Foundation Unit

Our topic this term is ‘People Who Help Us’ .
We were lucky enough to have Mr Simon Yates, a paramedic who brought his ambulance to school and showed us lots of special equipment and told us all about his job, and the importance of the emergency services and that special number 999.
Thank you Simon, our Reception children loved your visit!

Our Writing Progress!

In Reception, one of our topics this term is ‘People Who Help Us’.
We asked our children to tell us who they think helps us. Reception named Police, Nurses, Doctors, Postmen, Firemen, Dentists, Opticians, Lollipop Lady and Librarians as people they thought helped us. Then we asked the children to choose one of the above to write a sentence on what they do to help us.

 

Reception went to the writing table. Capital letters, full stops, finger spaces were used as well as using their blending and segmenting skills to write their words. We watched beautiful letter formation and they really thought about what they wanted to write. We were overwhelmed and delighted. You gave us goose bumps again Reception!

 

Mrs Harrison is giving EVERY child a ‘Wow Moment’ as their writing skills and sentences were brilliant!

We are thrilled with how much the children have progressed in all areas but especially their writing skills,
Miss Doughty has made a slide show showing on the left hand side of each child’s clip their very first sentence and on the right side the latest sentence. You will be amazed!

World Book Day
The whole school took part in ‘World Book Day’. World Book Day is a day to celebrate books, reading, authors and illustrators. Our children came to school dressed as their favourite characters from a book/comic etc.
A competition was held for all the Infants. We had a colouring competition and a prize for the best dressed character from each year group.
Please click on the slideshows to see how fantastic our children looked , dressed as their character from their favourite book/comic.

Shrove Tuesday (Pancake Day)
In Reception we celebrated ‘pancake day’ by of course, ‘eating pancakes’ Before we could tuck in we went into assembly and listened to Mr Gerrard explain why we have pancake day.
Then, Sugar, Lemon, Golden Syrup and pancakes at the ready.
Please click on the slideshows to view our children enjoying the pancakes for their snack!

Dazzling Daffodils
In Reception we have noticed that we have lots of artists, so with this in mind we decided to let our children experience ‘still art’.
We placed a blue vase with a bunch of daffodils on our table. We then called groups of children over and asked them why they thought we had done this.
We got some fantastic language from this, Spring, flowers, stem, petals, pollen and one little person said ‘to make us happy’. It did make us happy too!
We asked our children to choose what colours they would need as they were going to sit, look at the vase and flowers and try and paint the vase and flowers.

Bird Feeders
After having the vet visit and Derek and Greg the guide dog visit us, Reception have been talking a lot about different pets and wildlife. The Foundation Unit purchased two bird feeder stands and we decided to make bird food as Mrs Harrison explained that birds at this time of year can struggle to find food and water.
Lard and bird seed were mixed together by the children (who loved getting messy). Then we scooped the mixture into plastic cups. The food was refrigerated for a day so it would set, then we went into the garden to hang the bird feeders on the stand and fill the bowls with water. The children were so excited and we are looking forward to seeing which types of birds arrive at our stand. We have binoculars and the camera at the ready.

PE Lesson Using Apparatus

Mrs Harrison & the team decided that our children were sensible enough to be able to use the PE apparatus in our PE lesson.
Reception helped to set up showing they could move the equipment safely. Mrs Harrison explained each activity to Reception and how we must keep safe by listening to the instructions etc.
Reception amazed us by their grown up attitude to this lesson.
They showed us they could travel with confidence and skill on the balancing activity.
They could jump off the high and medium high frames and land appropriately. Some children needed a little encouragement and help and we were delighted with their eagerness to give it a go.

Derek and his Guide Dog Greg!
Our Foundation Unit welcomed Derek and his guide dog Greg into our classrooms. Derek explained to our children how Greg is a working dog and gave examples of how Greg guides Derek in everyday life, such as crossing the road or climbing up steps.
The children loved every minute of Derek’s visit and were thrilled as they all got to pat and stroke Greg who was so well behaved.
Thank you Derek and Greg for coming to visit us and thank you to Louis and his Mummy for asking and bringing Derek and Greg to our school.

Vet Visit
Our Reception children had some special visitors visit our Foundation Unit. Lauren (the Vet), Ella (Vet Nurse) and Fraser from T.A. Irving Veterinary Surgery in Whitefield came to talk to our children about the job they do and how to look after our pets.

 

Fraser the dog then took over and allowed our children to listen to his heart beating through a stethoscope, looked inside his ears and then practised putting bandages on his legs and paws. Fraser stood patiently while all the children had a turn. He was so well behaved!
Our children were thrilled with the visit as you can imagine.
A massive ‘Thank You’ to Lauren, Emma and the STAR of the visit ‘Fraser’ from all our children and staff in the Foundation Unit.
 

Chinese New Year (Year of the Horse)

Our children have been learning all about Chinese culture, food, dress and even some Chinese language. We have made lucky envelopes, decorated horseshoes (Year of the Horse), created lanterns, Chinese writing and performed a dragon dance in the school hall as well as singing Gung Hay Fat Choy.

Snowdrops by Reception

Reception children have been busy this new term making snowdrop paintings for the classroom and the display board in the school hall.
Please click on the slideshow to see us making the paintings and the finished display in the hall.
Well done Reception, they look lovely!

Reception Cast of Sleepy Shepherd

Take a look at our little superstars who starred in our Christmas production, ‘The Sleepy Shepherd’
We hope you enjoyed the show as much as we did!

Posting Our Letters To Santa!

Our Reception Children walked up to the post office to post their letters to Santa!
Please click on the show to view our walk.

Santa Suits

Please take a look at the slideshow of our Reception children dressed in Santa Suits!
How cute do they look!

Letter To Santa!

Take a look at the show of our children’s letters to Santa. They all tried their very best to write in their neatest handwriting and tried so hard to sound out their words before they wrote them. We are very proud of their effort and are sure Santa will be too!

Reception’s Christmas Dinner

Friday 13th Dec was our School Christmas Dinner Day.
Christmas carols playing, crackers being pulled and a delicious Christmas dinner was consumed today. Packed lunches were also brimming with Christmas treats too. All the children wore their Christmas Hats.

Sleepy Shepherd Dress Rehearsal

Please take a look at Reception & Nursery Morning Children during their Dress Rehearsal for the Sleepy Shepherd.

SNOWMEN
We asked our children what do they think of when they think of winter as we need to decorate our classroom with winter themes. With snow being the top choice we all voted to make snowmen for the classroom. This turned into a maths theme too as the children all talked about the shapes needed to make and decorate a snowman.
Please take a look at the fantastic ‘glittery’ snowmen that were made for our classroom.

PENGUIN FACTS
We have been teaching the children about facts and fiction. Mrs Harrison read the children a fiction book about a penguin, then we asked the children to find us a fact about penguins at home using either a book or the internet with their parents/ guardians.
Well, we were amazed at the amount of facts they had researched.
Please take a look at the fantastic facts our children have written.
Reception are so clever!

Winter Trees
Our children have noticed the change in the weather and how we will moving into a different season e.g. Jack Frost has been and how there are some trees with no leaves on, so we decided to make our Winter Trees for our window display,
Glue and glitter at the ready, our children sat in groups making their very own ‘Winter Trees’.
Some fantastic language again could be heard coming from the creative area...

Children In Need 2013

Please take a look at the show of our Reception Children dressed in fantastic costumes for Children In Need.

Thank you for all your donations & well done to Leon for winning the Pudsey Gift Set.

Mrs Harrison.

Reception go on a ‘Bear Hunt’

Please take a look at our Reception Children in PE going on a ‘Bear Hunt’.

Remembrance Day
On Monday 11th November Mrs Harrison explained to our class all about Remembrance Day, why we wear poppies and why we fall silent at 11am for 2 minutes. At 11 am our children put their hands together, bowed their heads and fell silent, while we remembered. Not a sound could be heard in the Foundation Unit .
A touching moment!

Charlie is going on a ‘BEAR HUNT’
Please click on the show to see Charlie narrating his favourite story ‘Going on a Bear Hunt’ to all his classmates.
Wow Charlie, you were fantastic and brought tears to everyone’s eyes! We are so very proud of you! Well Done!
Mrs Harrison, Mrs Williams & the team.

Talk For Writing
Talk for Writing is the exploration, through talk, of the thinking and creative processes involved in being a writer.
By talking the text they begin to internalise the common language patterns of narrative and non-fiction, freeing up more cognitive space for composition. The strategies are fun, engaging and motivating for children and the whole class learn to talk, discuss and think like writers.
Please click on the show to see our children performing The Little Red Hen for you.

Harvest 2013
We thought you may like to see the 2 songs that our children performed in our Harvest Assembly. We know lots of parents/families had to miss this due to work commitments, therefore we filmed the children singing their songs so you wouldn’t miss out.
We hope you enjoy them!

Our Happy Songs For You!

All the staff in the Foundation Unit have passed comment on how great our children are. We hear lots of laughter and see happy smiling faces in our unit every day. Therefore Mrs Harrison decided to teach the children the 2 happy songs that she used to sing to her boys when they were little. Miss Doughty then wondered if they could learn the song she used to sing to her boy when he was small.( Miss Doughty can’t sing like Mrs Harrison hence the backing track on Happiness ha ha!)
Our children loved singing these songs and we hope you enjoy the happy songs too!
Well done Reception, keep SMILING!

Our Skeletons

Please click on the slideshows of our Reception Children making their very own skeletons. Lots of mathematical language was used by the children e.g., long, short, what length etc as they did the activity as well as cutting skills and remembering where our bones are and feeling our bones in our body.

Reception Autumn Walk
On the 17th October 2013 Reception Children went on their Autumn Walk . Wellies were the order of the day even though the sun shone for us! Off we went to George's Wood where we looked for the signs of autumn.  The children collected leaves and twigs to bring back to school. We saw berries and mushrooms growing and even saw some geese and beehives on a local allotment. We also found a cave made out of wood which the children said was the bears cave from the story ‘Going On A Bear Hunt’, luckily the bear wasn’t home so we all sang the story as we walked back to school. A lovely autumn walk was had by all!

Autumn Trees
All our children enjoyed making their pictures of Autumn Trees.
They were trying really hard using scissors to cut long, thin pieces of paper to make the branches.
Some lovely language came from this activity, as the children talked about different animals collecting food ready to hibernate and birds getting ready to migrate.
Please click on the slideshow to view our children making their autumn trees.

Anatomy Of The Heart

As we are learning all about our bodies, Louis brought into school a fantastic poster showing us what our heart looks like and all the things it does. Louis & Mrs Harrison explained to the class how the heart pumps our blood around our body.

Thank you Louis for sharing your super poster with us!

Pumpkin Biscuits
For snack time, Miss Wharmby showed the children how to make their very own pumpkin biscuit. Digestives, orange icing and raisins at the ready and off went the children to make their own.
Please click on the slideshow to see the children’s pumpkin biscuits. We had to be quick taking the photographs as the biscuits were soon eaten!

First Attempt at Writing!
We showed the children a picture of a scarecrow and asked them to tell us a sentence about the scarecrow. We then encouraged them to write their sentence under the scarecrow picture.
We are very impressed by their sentences and also their eagerness to give writing a try! Fantastic work Reception!
We have a Reception Class full of STAR WRITERS!
Please look at the slideshow at our Reception children’s 1st attempt at writing

Our First PE Lesson
Our children have been so excited for our PE lessons to start. After assembly on Friday 35 children managed to undress and put their PE kits on in just over 10mins. A fantastic time but we are sure we can beat that after a few weeks of practice.
Into the hall we went. We did some warm up exercises first, then played traffic lights, Pirate Ships and ended with walking the plank and attempting a forward roll. Phew!
We did lots of exercise and Mrs Harrison asked us to feel our hearts beating as we are learning about ‘Ourselves’.

Ourselves
Our topic this term is ‘Ourselves’. Mrs Harrison drew around one of our children Ethan on paper and then we asked our children to name the parts of the body.
Charlotte brought in a fantastic book about our body parts which she shared with the class. Thank you Charlotte.
Please take a look at the show to see how clever our Reception children are!
We think we have a few Doctors in the making!