Roxton Church of England Academy

In faith we learn and grow together

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Fir

Welcome to Fir Class

We are Fir Class and we are in Reception and Pre-school/Nursery, we are taught by Mrs Hearn, Mrs Buck, Mrs Goymer and Mrs Pallant some afternoons. We work in a large, bright classroom with access into our own enclosed outdoor learning space. We follow the Early Years Curriculum, so our learning may look different to the rest of the school, don't be fooled we are all working very hard.

Fir Class Gallery

General Class Information

School Times

The school gates open at 8.25, we welcome the children at the pedestrian gate and take them into school with their classmates.

School begins at 8.30, our learning starts as soon as we enter the classroom so please be prompt.

Lunch begins and our morning session ends at 12.00 (some pre-school children leave then).

Our afternoon session starts at 13.00 (again some pre-school leave then)

End of the school day is at 3.30, we will bring the children to you at the large gate.

What children need in school

Reception children must wear school uniform, many of our pre-school choose to wear it too but it is not compulsory for these children. Every day is PE day for Fir Class, we are always working on our physical development so we ask that they are always comfortable and can move freely in the clothes they wear, so we can play, explore and investigate without the worry of ruining their clothes.

The one exception to this is that on Wednesdays we have Forest school in the afternoon. We have found it is best for children to wear outdoor PE kit for this - many of our children keep wellies and waterproofs in school.

We also ask for a change of clothes, we do enjoy messy play and love the sand and water so we might need to get changed, we may need extra spare clothes in case of any toileting accidents.

Water bottles; it is thirsty work in Fir, we do provide milk to the children until they are 5 (after this age it is subsidised) and a healthy snack is available for everyone, you may provide a piece of fruit or vegetables from home if you like.

Weather appropriate clothing; we go outdoors in all weathers so we need wellies and waterproofs for the rain, warm clothes (layers preferably, along with a coat) when it is cold and sun hats and be wearing sun cream when it is warm.

We ask that children do not bring toys from home, although we can accommodate children’s needs if they it will help their transitions. We have a treasure shelf that some children use so their things are safe, visible but not available to play with.

We ask that anything brought into school is labelled clearly with your child's name and that you show them where you have put it and what it looks like (until they can recognise their own name).

PE Kit - required on Wednesdays

PE kit is:-

Navy jogging bottoms
Plain, round neck, white t-shirt (one with the school badge is available from the uniform shop on the school's website if you would like)
Navy sweatshirt or zip up (school sweatshirt is fine)
A pair of trainers that they can fasten themselves.

What can I do to help my child

Talk to them; this is the best thing you can do, not only does it expose them to language and vocabulary but it shows them how a conversation works, how to listen, very importantly know the power of their own voice and so much more.

Read to them; we do teach phonics at school and, once they can blend, they will bring reading books home. But this isn't where they will get a love of stories and an understanding that text conveys information. Exposure to as many different genres of writing is so important to children.

Encourage independence; this is so difficult, especially with our busy lives but a child who can dress themselves, put on and do up their own coat, change their own shoes etc will be so much more confident in the classroom. We always help children if they are struggling, but do encourage them to have a go first.

Class Dojo

We use the class dojo app to stay in contact with you, sharing pictures, news and celebrations both publicly on the class story and through the messenger service. We reply to message during working hours, as quickly as we can, this can be delayed during the school day as we are with the children. So in an emergency, please contact the office in the usual way.

We occasionally use class dojo to give reward points in class - but mostly reward with marbles which collectively go to the school family that your child will be in.

Absences

We ask that if your child is unable to attend school for any reason, you report to school by 10am.
Please, where possible, arrange any medical appointments outside of school hours.
If for any reason your child will miss school please contact school in advance for a leave of absence form.

School Values

Values are very important to our learning at Roxton. We focus on each for a term, over the course of our 2 year rolling programme, our school values are;

Aspiration and perseverance
Responsibility
Community
Love and Friendship
Respect
Belief

Values underpin everything that we do at Roxton. When arriving with us all children are placed into a school family - Fire, Earth, Wind and Water. When we see our values being displayed through a child's behaviour they are rewarded with a marble. Marbles are collected and counted up weekly and the winning family will be cheered during Celebration assembly. The winning family for each term then receives a treat afternoon.

Spring 2 - 2025

Ready, Steady, Grow

In the Ready Steady Grow project your child will take part in practical activities to explore where food comes from. They will learn what seeds and plants need to grow and grow a variety of plants. They will explore what constitutes a healthy lifestyle, including eating fruit and vegetables, exercise and teeth brushing. They will find out about life on a farm and about baby animals. This project is linked to a smaller mini topic called Signs of Spring, which teaches children about the changes that happen during the spring, including weather and the festivals that are celebrated at this time of year.

Supporting your child at home

Visit your local library and find books about farms to share.
Make a shopping list together and go to the shops to buy the food.
Grow some quick growing plants.
Talk about healthy foods.

Books with this topic

Spring 1 - 2025

Long, Long Ago

In the Long Ago project your child will learn about their history and how they have changed from when they were babies. They will learn about their family history and heritage and find out what life was like when their grandparents were children. They will learn about what it was like to go to school in the past and how everyday objects, such as clothes, toys and vehicles have changed.

Supporting your child at home

Look at photographs of the children as babies and discuss how they have grown and changed.
Look at family photographs so the children can see family members when they were children.
Talk about what your life was like when you were a child

Mini Project - Stories and Rhymes

In the Stories and Rhymes project your child will be introduced to the wonderful world of stories and nursery rhymes. They will listen to and learn a range of traditional tales and nursery rhymes and work creatively to solve problems for the characters they meet.

Books we will read with this topic

Autumn 2 - 2024

Marvellous Machines

In the Marvellous Machines project, your child will learn about technology that is part of their daily lives. They will explore various machines, learn about how machines help us and find out about how machines have changed and developed over time. They will learn about products that use electricity to make them work and explore magnetic and non-magnetic materials.

Supporting your child at home

Talk about the machines and technology you use in your everyday lives.
Look for things in the home that are powered by electricity.
Look for items that are powered by batteries.

Mini Project - Festivals

Alongside our machines topic we will fit in the variety of festivals that fit in with this term including Bonfire night, Diwali, Remembrance, Christmas (including our nativity play) and Hannukah. It will be a busy term.

Books we will read with this topic

We read books all the time in Fir class, here are some of the books we are reading as part of our topic this term - Marvellous Machines

Autumn 1 - 2024

Main Topic - Let's Explore

In the Let’s Explore project, your child will explore their class environment and school grounds so that they feel settled and happy in their new surroundings. They will learn about the local environment and go on a local walk. They will look at and create maps for journeys. They will also explore the changing season of Autumn and the effect on the world around them.

Mini Project - Build it Up

In the Build It Up project, your child will explore structures in the world around them. They will learn about materials and their properties, and will have the chance to work independently and in groups to design and make marvellous structures -including new homes for the 3 little pigs.