Welcome to the Kittiwakes Class!
Staff
Teacher: Gareth Chadwick
TAs: Shelley Sees, Seleema Albasheer, Yen Ting Walmsley and Stephanie Heywood
Mid Day Leader: Lisa Bolger
Newsletter
Food Glorious Food
Within this half term we have focused on engaging within our learning and how to help with our communication skills through a sensory story.
In Early English, we have been focusing on a story called the Very Hungry Caterpillar. Within this we have explored all the fruits, which were in the story (apple, pears, plums, strawberries, oranges). The children created their own fruity numbers. The children were using a variety of communication different methods such as symbols, object of reference, pictures, and verbal phrases.
In Early Maths, our focus has been engagement through songs and rhymes. The children have shown great engagement though songs and really shown good progression, whilst singing dancing and have fun. We have been working on our fine motor skills within our early morning register sessions where puzzles, stacking and colour matching has helped get our children ready more further learning.
In Creative Development, we have created a number of props linked with our story (butterfly, moon, leaf, cocoon). The children manipulated different materials to create these pieces where they had to tear, cut, and stick onto different backing materials such as cardboard, paper and card. The children have been learning how to follow directions within their music sessions. They all picked their favourites and in turns took their own chance to shine and play solo within a group session alongside a piece of music.
In Physical Development, we have been working on our movement and agility. The children have shown great teamwork skills within the Kittiwakes. They have enjoyed our skittles and warmups as they have been focusing fully on their individual movements. Also, we would take further part in a Very Hungry Caterpillar yoga session, which helped us with our phrases and we used some of the actions within our own story telling sessions.
Thank you for your amazing support throughout this year so far. Your children have all shown great progression and as we head into our final term together there is still much more to come for your fantastic children.
The Kittiwakes Team
Signalong
At Halcyon Way we use Signalong as a part of a Total Communication Approach, we are constantly using core vocabulary with the children to support their language development and then through each of our topics we introduce new signs and language, which extends their vocabulary further. We also have two “Signs of the Week” which helps maintain and extend key knowledge and skills of everyday vocabulary.
Each half term we will be creating a short video showcasing and demonstrating signs relavent for the current term so that you can learn the signs and further this learning at home.
Click play to watch this half terms Signalong video!
Lunchtime
If your child has a school dinner, the school menus can be accessed by clicking here. For children who bring a packed lunch, please remember to provide healthy and balanced options. We are a Healthy School and will be focusing on healthy eating and how children can make healthy lifestyle choices.
How You Can Help at Home
The following activities are suggested as appropriate homework activities which you can enjoy with your child and reinforce the learning, we are focussing on this half term.
Early English
Our story is ‘We All Go Travelling By.’ When you go to the park can you hear any different transport?
Early Maths
Can you listen to some number songs, which your child may sing or dance along too? Also, look at some stacking blocks/Lego to help encourage their building and fine motor skills.
Creative Development
Try to look at our primary colours, which are red, blue, and yellow. Can you child create a picture using some of these colours or even start to make some marks (lines or circles)?
Food Discovery
Look to try some different pieces of fruit however your child may eat this? Do they like the taste? Look at their expressions to help as their method of communication.
