Red and Green Apples Class Blog 2026-27
2.10.26
Hello!
This week we have been learning more about our families and how they can be in all different forms. We have read and listened to lots of different family stories with some of our favourites being about the “Large family” of elephants, by Jill Murphy. We have also made pebble people and families in our loose parts area. We have also shared the homes that we live in and talked about how homes can come in all different shapes and sizes too.
In maths, we have made comparisons for size, weight and capacity using vocabulary such as more and less. We have particularly enjoyed weighing things in different areas and pouring water into different sized containers to see which holds more.
Throughout school each class learns a poem to perform. This half term our poem is called ‘All of Me’ which we are learning and practising.
We are now well under way with our phonics sessions, and the children are doing well with letter recognition, saying the sounds and blending. This week, our sounds are i,n,m, and d and they will be in sound books for the weekend. Thank you for your support with these books , it is really helpful if the children have a little reinforcement with their letter formation by writing in the traceable ‘bubble’ letters and saying the sounds. Any additional letters or notes from parents are always welcome too! We also ask that water bottles are not carried in bookbags with homework – in the past we’ve had to rescue and dry out a few soggy and damp books. :(
Have a lovely weekend!
Apple Class Team
25.09.26
Hello!
The children are now really getting into the swing of things.
We have also begun our Level 2 phonics sessions where the children have begun learning their first set of sounds; /s/ /a/ /t/ /p/. During the sessions, the children practised saying the sounds, listening for the sounds in words and forming the letters. This weekend the children will bring home a Sound Book with simple activities for you to practise with your child. Your support with this is invaluable, a short time going over these sounds really helps consolidate the learning we do at school. We will collect these books in on Thursdays to check and add the next set of sounds. The children have also been given a paper mini-book called 'Pat' which we have read in class so they can practice blending sounds together to make words.
Please ensure that water bottles are not carried in or stored in Book Bags to prevent damage to homework and reading books. The children have been asked to remember this too!
If you have any questions about completing homework, please ask a member of Apple Class Team.
On Monday 28th Sept at 2.40pm we look forward to explaining more about how we teach phonics and reading in school during a short meeting which will finish before collection time. If you are unable to attend this meeting, we can provide you with written information so please do not worry.
We have also been learning to hold pencils and pens correctly and have been singing the Tommy thumb rhyme along with another fun song to help us warm up our fingers and find the correct ones to hold a pencil! Crocodile snap
In other areas we have really enjoyed sharing our favourite toys and games. Thank you for your uploads to Tapestry it has been fun to look at the pictures on the screen. We have also been thinking about how we care for our things and read stories about different toys. We have made some paper dolls
In Maths we have been sorting buttons and other objects in different ways and comparing amounts using "more" and "fewer".
Most importantly however, the children have been busy developing new friendships and getting used to all the new routines and expectations. They are growing in confidence every day, well done Apples!
Have a super weekend and we will see you all on Monday!
Apple Class Team
18.09.26
Hello!
The children continue to settle in well and this week we had some more ‘firsts’ to add to our timetable. On Monday we had our first P.E session in the hall where the children enjoyed games involving moving in different ways and playing in teams. On Tuesday we had a treat with Mr Jennings who is our visiting music teacher. We sang lots of songs we knew and learnt some new ones too, all accompanied by Mr Jennings on his ukulele!
We have continued with our phonics sessions where the children have been working on their phonological awareness and met Robot Rick who sound talks! On Monday 28th Sept at 2.40pm we are holding a short meeting to explain how we teach phonics and reading in school. It will finish before collection time at 3.20pm. Learning to read is very much a partnership between school and home so it would be great to see as many of you as possible at the meeting.
We have also been learning to hold pencils and pens correctly and have been singing the Tommy thumb rhyme along with another fun song to help us warm up our fingers and find the correct ones to hold a pencil! Crocodile snap
In other areas we have really enjoyed sharing our favourite toys and games. Thank you for all your uploads to Tapestry it has been fun to look at the pictures and share what we like to play with. This has also prompted us into thinking about how we care for our things at school and home.
So, another busy week! But most importantly, the children have been busy developing new friendships and getting used to all the new routines and expectations. They are growing in confidence every day, well done Apples!
Have a super weekend and we will see you all on Monday!
Apple Class Team
11.09.26
Hello!
We have had a super full week in Reception. The children have been finding their way around school and learning lots of new routines. The children are playing nicely with friends old and new. They are doing so well in the dining hall choosing and eating their lunches and are getting used to the playground with the older children. So many firsts, a huge well done to Apple Class!
This week, we have also done our first "Lost Word" which is Bramble, looking at bramble branches and tasting blackberries. The Lost Words book began as a response to the removal of everyday nature words - among them "acorn", "bluebell", "kingfisher" and "wren" - from a widely used children’s dictionary, because those words were not being used enough by children to merit inclusion. But The Lost Words then grew to become a much broader protest at the loss of the natural world around us, as well as a celebration of the creatures and plants with which we share our lives. In Nursery and Reception at Rufford Park, we aim to reintroduce some of these words into our pupils vocabulary and use The Lost Words to enhance our topics and foster a love and appreciation for nature.
Next week we are starting a new topic on toys. Thank you for all the lovely photographs of the children with their favourite toys that you have sent in, these help us as we get to know each other. We will make a class book of them to share and chat about with the children. We will also be comparing toys from the past with toys today. If you have any ‘old’ or interesting toys it would be lovely to share them with the children. They won’t be put out for general play and will be returned by the end of the topic.
Housekeeping - please can we ask that ALL items of clothing that come into school, including water bottles, PE Hoodies and jumpers are clearly labelled. Thank you for your support with this, it is essential for staff to match up clothing with the right child.
Next Monday 14th September is our first PE session and PE will be every Monday thereafter. The children should come to school in their P.E kit which consists of blue/black joggers or shorts, a plain white t-shirt, trainers and a blue hoodie or jumper. Please remove earrings on PE days and tie long hair up. Thank you!
Have a lovely weekend and we look forward to seeing you all on Monday.
Apple Class Team
4.9.26
Hello and a warm welcome to Reception!
We have made a super start to school life. We have been exploring our new classroom and playing with friends old and new. We have enjoyed our delicious school lunches; the children have done brilliantly in the dining hall choosing meals and collecting their own meals on trays. On Friday we also had our first time playing on the KS1 playground with the older children, so many firsts! Well done Apple Class!
Next week we are continuing to get to know each other and settle into our classroom. We will also get used to staying for full days!
Have a lovely weekend and we look forward to seeing you all on Monday.
Apple Class Team
