Foundation
A big warm welcome from the Foundation Team!
Here you will find everything you need to know about Foundation at St John the Baptist Primary School.
Class information
Dino the dinosaur is our class take-home teddy. Please enjoy the weekend with him and support your child to record the experience in Dino’s diary. Every child will have the opportunity to take home Dino at some point during the year. Please return him back to school on Monday. You may share photographs in Dino’s book, but we would also really love to see children’s drawing. Please remember Dino’s diary will be shared with the class so do not put in photographs which you are not happy to share.
Autumn Term
This term, PE will take place on a Tuesday and a Friday. Please ensure children come to school in their PE kits on these days. PE kit should be labelled, earrings should not be worn and trainers should be Velcro. Laced up trainers often come unfastened and children of this age cannot usually tie them up independently. PE kit continues to be plain black or navy shorts/joggers/hoodies/zip-up tops with a white T-shirt.
The first term in Foundation is a very special one. Children are making new friends, becoming familiar with their new environment and routines as well as building relationships with new teachers and staff. As well as being exciting, this time can also be very tiring and overwhelming for some children. Please do not be worried if children become upset in the mornings when the realisation of school everyday dawns upon them. It is completely normal and we are experienced in supporting children with this. Children are generally absolutely fine by the time that they are in the classroom and for any children who are not, we are here to reassure them. However, if you have any concerns, please come and have a chat with us.
Please support us with developing children's independence by encouraging them to put their own coat on. Encourage children to cut their own food up and help with jobs around the home such as tidying toys, setting the table and putting their dirty clothes in the washing basket as well as folding clean clothes. This is great for developing independence and pride with a sense of children feeling 'grown-up'.
The first part of the term will be allowing children to get used to their new environment, rules, expectations and routines. We will be looking at Autumn changes as well as Bonfire night and Christmas! Children will be taking part in phonics lessons everyday and sounds that they are learning will be sent home every few weeks until each sound has been taught. When children are ready to blend sounds into words they will come home with a reading book. Please keep these in the plastic reading book wallet and record any reading in their organisers. This can include any of children's own books that you share with them. Later in the term children will also start bringing home a book to share to develop their enjoyment of stories. It has been proven that children who read and hear stories each day progress and achieve success in all areas much more than those who do not.
In addition, children will be taking part in many activities each week so please ensure that they have willies for 'Woodland Wednesday'. Children will take part in painting, water and sand play along with the mud kitchen so they may not come home spotless! You may know what children have had for their dinner as some of it may be on their clothes but this is all part of the fun!
Our whole school Christian Value for this half-term is self-discipline and our role model to support this value are the Olympic and Paralympic team.
Finally, your children are a credit to you and we are thoroughly enjoying seeing how much they change and continue to progress and show their learning every day!
Forest school sessions take place on a Wednesday morning. On that day please send your child to school with wellingtons or old shoes. Please make sure they are labelled and in a bag.
Please provide your child with a clearly labelled water bottle on a daily basis. Please be reminded that it is water only in bottles. Children are also welcome to bring fruit for break time.
Please make sure everything is clearly labelled, especially book bags, jumpers, cardigans, and coats! This really helps when gathering belongings at the end of the day and avoids lost property. In addition, please also help your child to become independent in putting their coats on, taking them off and fastening them.