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Elm RJ

Welcome to ELM RJ Class

Mrs Johnson – Teacher

Miss Green-Ward – Teaching Assistant

A very warm welcome to all our new families joining us here at Gorse Hill Primary School! We are delighted to welcome you and look forward to sharing your child’s learning journey with you over the coming year.

Here is a little look at what you can expect from ELM RJ this half term.

 Our Topic – Marvellous Me

Our topic this half term is “Marvellous Me”. We will be exploring stories about different families and talking about what makes each of us special, unique and important.

As we move into Autumn, we will also be exploring the changes we can see in the world around us. The children will investigate Autumn colours, such as red, yellow, orange, brown and green, and explore how the leaves and trees change as the season develops.

Through our topic, the children will develop skills across the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), particularly Communication and Language and Understanding the World.

We will use circle times and group activities to talk about ourselves, our families, our similarities and our differences. The children will also explore different types of families through pictures. 

We will take our learning outdoors to look for Autumn leaves, colours and changes in nature, encouraging the children to talk about what they can see, hear and feel.

 Literacy

This half term, we will be introducing lots of nursery rhymes to encourage the children to listen, join in and develop their language and communication skills.

We will enjoy a range of stories and encourage the children to:

• Listen carefully to stories.
• Answer simple questions.
• Talk about characters and events.
• Make connections between stories and their own experiences.
• Share their ideas and experiences with others.
• Talk about the colours and changes they notice during Autumn.

We will also be using our Tales Toolkit bags to create our own stories. This will encourage the children to use their imagination while developing their speaking, listening and storytelling skills.

 Colours and Creative Learning

We will be exploring and learning to recognise a range of colours through songs, stories, games and practical activities.

The children will enjoy going on Autumn colour hunts, collecting and sorting leaves and exploring different colours and textures. We will also use Autumn colours in our creative activities, painting, printing and creating our own Autumn artwork.

 Maths

In Maths, we will begin developing the children's understanding of numbers through songs, rhymes and practical activities.

Each week, we will focus on a different number and explore counting in meaningful and fun ways. We will also be introduced to familiar Numberblocks characters, using these to support the children as they begin to develop their understanding of numbers and counting to 5.

We will also explore mathematical language through our Autumn activities, including big and small, matching, sorting and counting.

 Personal, Social and Emotional Development (PSED)

A big part of our first half term will be helping the children become familiar with their new environment and the routines of the school day.

We will support the children to:

• Build relationships and make new friends.
• Take part in activities and classroom routines.
• Develop confidence and independence.
• Recognise their own belongings, including finding their coat.
• Begin to put on and take off their coat independently.
• Develop independence when using the toilet.
• Take care of their own personal hygiene with support.

We know that starting Nursery is a big step for both children and families, so we will work closely with you to make sure every child feels safe, happy, valued and ready to learn.

We are very excited about the year ahead and can't wait to see our ELM RJ children grow, learn and flourish! 

We are going to have a wonderful year together!

 

Class Dojo

You will be added to our Class Dojo class, which is an important way for us to communicate with you throughout the year.

We will use Class Dojo to:

•  Share important information and reminders with parents and carers.
• Keep you updated about upcoming events and important dates.
•  Share photos and videos of your child’s learning and experiences in nursery.
• Share our weekly classroom learning, so you can see what your child has been learning and exploring that week.
• Communicate with your child’s teacher if you have any questions or messages.
•  Let us know if your child is absent by sending a message to the class teacher.

We love being able to share your child’s learning journey with you, and Class Dojo is a great way for us to work together to support your child throughout their time in nursery.

PE Days

Our PE days are Tuesday and Thursday.

On these days, children should come to school wearing their PE kit:

•  White T-shirt
•  Black joggers
•  Trainers or pumps

Please make sure all clothing and footwear is clearly labelled with your child’s name.

We will be developing children’s gross motor skills, coordination, balance, movement and confidence through fun and active PE sessions

Our  Gallery 📸

Welcome to our nursery gallery! Here, you can take a peek at some of the wonderful things we get up to in ELM RJ.

We love exploring, learning and having fun together. From creative activities and messy play to stories, singing, outdoor adventures and making new friends, there is always something exciting happening in nursery!

Take a look at our photos to see the children learning through play, developing new skills and creating special memories together.

Learning, exploring and growing together!

🔗 Useful Links

Here are some useful websites and resources to support your child’s learning and development at home:

Reading and Stories
Share stories, nursery rhymes and books together to develop your child’s language, imagination and love of reading.

Nursery Rhymes and Songs
Singing nursery rhymes together is a great way to develop speech, language, listening and memory.

Early Maths
Practise counting, recognising numbers, shapes, colours and simple mathematical ideas through everyday activities and play.

Early Years Learning
Find ideas for simple activities that you can enjoy together at home, supporting your child’s learning through play.

Parent Support
Helpful advice and information about your child’s development, wellbeing, behaviour, routines and starting school.

Recommended websites:

• BBC Tiny Happy People

• BBC CBeebies

• National Literacy Trust

• Oxford Owl

• Hungry Little Minds

• NSPCC

• NHS – Child Development

We hope you find these links useful. Remember, talking, playing, singing and sharing books together are some of the best ways to support your child’s learning at home.