WELCOME TO FS2

  2025-2026

Class Teacher: Miss Tomlinson

Teaching Assistant: Miss Marsh

Learning Support Assistant: Mrs. Sowden

Welcome back, Reception! Myself, Miss Marsh and Mrs. Sowden are so excited to see your bright, smiling faces after the summer break. We've missed you and can't wait to hear about all the fun you've had. This year will be full of exciting adventures, new friends, and lots of learning. Get ready for a fantastic start to your school journey!

Key Information

- School starts at 9.00am with the school gates opening at 8.35am (allowing extra time).

- School ends at 3.25pm

- Please ensure the office staff have your up to date contact details.

- Please ring the office if your child will be absent. 

-If someone else is collecting your child, please inform the office, we will not allow your child to leave the premises if we have not been notified.

►Reading - Reading is at the heart of all our learning at Holy Family. To support this at home, please could all children ensure that they read their school reading book every night and that the planner is signed by an adult. Alongside this, it is also key that all children select their own reading for pleasure book which they will also have opportunities to read and share with others in school. 

►Phonics- Phonics is a way of teaching reading where children are taught to read letters or groups of letters by saying the sound(s) they represent. The phonics programme we follow is called Read Write Inc. (RWI). In reception we are beginning to blend sounds together to create words. Your child will bring home sounds that they are learning to consolidate at home. It is really important that the children practise blending sounds together to create words so please blend, blend, blend with your children at home. Playing simple listening games can help your children understand phonics a lot more. Asking your child 'Can you get your c-oa-t?' 'Sit on the ch-air.' etc. will help them understand 'Fred talk' or 'sounding out'.

►Homework - All children will be given weekly English/Phonics or Maths homework. This is to be completed and returned to school as required. 

►Uniform

Here at Holy Family we pride ourselves on our smart appearances. Please ensure children come to school dressed appropriately wearing full school uniform in line with school policy, including black shoes and no jewellery.

 Children in Reception copied, repeated and explored actions in response to a theme.

 Reception children developed their gross motor skills in PE by working together to lift, shake and move a large parachute, building strength, coordination and teamwork.

 Children were in awe when introduced to the magnets. They were all thoroughly fascinated. They observed and interacted and discovered magnets attracting to some objects.

Reception children followed instructions to move to music and the story, 'The Teddy Bears Picnic'. They used actions to tell the story of 'The Sleeping Princess' before singing and performing a song based on the story. Children also played instruments to a section of 'Were Going on a Bear Hunt' and finally presented their musical story to Nursery children.

Children in FS2 explored and learnt about various types of permanent and temporary joins.  They were encouraged to tinker using a combination of materials and joining techniques in the junk modelling area. Working collaboratively, they used lots of joining materials and skills to make a rocket!

We read Giraffes Can't Dance to explore the themes of achievement and self-pride. The children created leaf handprints for our 'Proud Tree', each child adding a sentence or picture to show something they are proud of. Parents were invited to send in a short note expressing what makes them proud of their child. These were shared during circle time and displayed as part of our Black History Week Display.

Children in Reception are really proud of their work and are really settling into drawing club. This week they have written about characters, setting and an adventure.

Reception children enjoyed looking at the books and listening to a story on their visit to the Reading Room today.

During our Take 10 Reading Challenge, the children in Reception loved using a range of props and story resources to help them retell their favourite stories. They confidently used resources to bring familiar stories to life, using expressive language and imaginative play to recreate key events. This hands-on storytelling not only developed their communication and language skills but also deepened their understanding of story structure and character roles. The children showed great enthusiasm and teamwork.

In Reception, the children explored the idea of algorithms by following simple, step-by-step instructions to make a ham sandwich. They discussed and sequenced each part of the process, from spreading the butter to adding the ham and carefully putting the sandwich together. This practical activity helped the children understand that algorithms are just clear sets of instructions that need to be followed in order. The children enjoyed predicting what might happen if steps were missed or done in the wrong order, developing their problem-solving, listening, and early programming skills in a fun and meaningful way.

Reception had a fantastic time celebrating our whole school TT Rockstars Day! The children loved dressing up as rockstars and had lots of fun making their very own number guitars. They linked their music lessons to TT Rockstars by using their bodies to make music, and they also explored a wide range of exciting maths activities and resources across our provision.

Reception children enjoyed visiting, choosing books, and spending their money on some of their favourite authors at our Boggledybook Fair. This was an amazing opportunity for children to enjoy stories and develop a love of reading. 

We were so excited to share our very first “Stay and Play” session in EYFS! This session gave you the chance to step into your child’s world and join in with the fun of learning through play. Whether it was building towers, getting creative with mark-making, or diving into role play, you saw how play helps your child develop their imagination, language and problem-solving skills. Most importantly, your child loved sharing this special moment with you, building confidence and making memories together.

The children have really enjoyed exploring sound. They used their voice to make sounds in a rhythmic pattern, stamped out syllables and also worked together in teams using body parts to make a variety of sounds. They really enjoyed exploring a range of musical instruments too!

Children have been learning all about the way in which God made our beautiful world and everything in it and that He made us. They have also learnt the words and actions for the sign of the cross and learnt to say, 'In the name of the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Reception children have been learning about families and exploring the idea of past and present. They brought in photos from home to share with their friends, talking about the special people in their families and how they have grown and changed over time. The children loved comparing baby photos with how they look now and enjoyed listening to each other’s stories. This activity helped them to develop their speaking and listening skills while also celebrating the uniqueness of every family.

Our EYFS children visited the chapel this week to take some quiet time to reflect on their learning about virtues. The peaceful setting gave them a special space to think about how they can show kindness, respect and love in their everyday actions. It was a lovely opportunity for the children to connect their classroom learning to their faith and to begin to understand how living out the virtues helps them grow as caring and thoughtful individuals.

Reception children have been busy exploring mark-making using a variety of drawing materials. They enjoyed experimenting with crayons, felt tips and chalk to create their own patterns and pictures.

The children have absolutely loved exploring our class text Supertato! They’ve thrown themselves into the story with so much excitement and creativity. From designing their own Supertato and Evil Pea characters to giggling their way through catching and tying up Evil Pea, the classroom has been full of fun. The children also enjoyed making peas out of playdough and taking part in lots of other Supertato-themed activities — a fantastic way to bring the story to life!

Reception children have been exploring their senses through a range of real-life objects and experiences. They were encouraged to observe, touch, smell, taste, and listen carefully, using newly taught vocabulary to describe what they discovered. This not only supported their understanding of the world around them but also helped them to develop confidence in applying new language in meaningful contexts.

The children shared and showed the different ways they have welcomed their friends throughout the week.

Children in Reception learnt all about their teeth. How to brush them and how important it is to choose healthy foods and snacks. The children discussed visiting the dentist and how they can prevent tooth decay.

In Reception, we are exploring the theme "Super Me, Super You" to help children develop confidence, self-awareness, and respect for others. Through imaginative role-play, creative activities, and storytelling, children are encouraged to recognise their own strengths and celebrate what makes them unique. We provide opportunities for children to talk about their families, cultures, and individual talents, while also learning about kindness, teamwork, and how everyone has something special to offer. This theme supports the development of personal, social, and emotional skills, laying a strong foundation for positive self-esteem and empathy in our early learners.

Children in Reception use these resources to support their understanding in prayer and liturgy, classroom prayer, reflections, devotions and special services for times in the school year.

Children in Reception used the display to talk about where they live and what their environment looks like. Some children named the road and the City they live, the number they live at and they knew the name of our school.

Children in Reception really enjoy visiting the Reading Room to choose a reading for pleasure book to take home and share with their adults.

Children looked at the pictures of our school and discussed the name of the road and town that our school is located in.

Reception children have been busy exploring the natural world around them, learning all about plants. They have named and described some plants, their favourite being the sunflower. Lots of discussions were made to find out how plants grow. New vocabulary was introduced and children began to use this when labelling parts of a plant. They used their creative skills too to make a sunflower, using different media and colour for a purpose.

Prayer Bear will be coming home with children to help them learn their prayers.

I’m just a little Prayer Bear,
I’ll sit upon your bed
It’s my job to remind you
When your prayers should be said.

When you put me on your pillow
As you make your bed each day
Remember as you hold me,
To take the time to pray.

Then when you go to bed at night
And put me on the floor,
Remember to take the time to kneel
And say your prayers once more