Reception – Cygnets - Reception

Welcome to Reception – Cygnets Class

Hello and welcome to Cygnets class.

I am Miss Ross and the Learning Support Assistant is Mrs Read.

Autumn 1 – All About Me!

We begin our Reception journey with our ‘All About Me!’ topic. The children will settle into school, learn new routines, build friendships and explore what makes them unique. We will talk about our families, where we live and our local environment, as well as noticing the changes that Autumn brings. Through PSED, we will explore feelings, classroom rules and how to be a kind and helpful friend.

In Literacy, our Literacy Tree texts are Where the Wild Things Are and Anansi the Spider. The children will enjoy listening to and talking about stories, learn new vocabulary and begin to sequence and retell familiar events. We will begin Twinkl Phonics Level 2, introducing letter sounds, initial sounds and early oral blending, alongside developing name writing, mark making and letter formation.

In Maths, the children will explore matching, sorting and patterns, compare objects and amounts and develop their understanding of 1, 2 and 3 through counting and subitising.

Our creative learning will include self-portraits, colour mixing, printing and artwork using natural Autumn materials, while children explore the school garden and the changing natural world around them.

Autumn 2 – Let’s Celebrate!

Our ‘Let’s Celebrate!’ topic explores Autumn, nocturnal animals, light and dark and special celebrations including Bonfire Night, Diwali and Christmas. The children will learn about different traditions, compare celebrations and talk about their own experiences. We will also explore how the natural world changes as Autumn progresses.

Our Literacy Tree texts are Look Up! and I Am Henry Finch. The children will continue developing their phonics and blending skills, begin reading words and use their sounds to write CVC words, labels and simple captions.

In Maths, we will deepen our understanding of numbers to 5, exploring composition, comparing quantities and one more and one less. Children will also investigate shapes and develop their understanding of day, night and time through everyday routines.

Creative learning will include firework art, clay Diwali lamps, Christmas decorations, music and sound. Children will develop confidence through singing and performing as we prepare for our Reception Nativity.

Facts about Reception – Cygnets

Baby swans are called cygnets and typically stay with their mother for the first six months of life. All of the mute swans in England and Wales are owned by the King of England. Despite popular belief, swans are excellent flyers; as some of the largest flying birds, they require a “runway” of about 30 meters to become airborne.