Our half-term began with an exciting exploration of where our food comes from. The children enjoyed reading stories such as The Tiny Seed by Eric Carle, Jasper’s Beanstalk by Nick Butterworth, and Oliver’s Vegetables by Vivian French. We sorted seeds, tasted a variety of vegetables, and planted our own bean seeds, sparking curiosity about how food grows.

Literacy
Alongside daily phonics, guided reading and handwriting, Year 1 have been developing their understanding of sentence structure. They have explored nouns, adjectives and verbs, as well as using suffixes (/s/, /es/, /ing/, /ed/) and creating compound words. Their writing has been inspired by Tiger in the Garden by Lizzy Stewart.

Reception children have focused on letter formation and are building confidence in writing dictated and independent words, captions and simple sentences.

PSHE
This half term, we have been learning about safety and the changing body. Topics included hazards in the home, what to do if we get lost, and understanding appropriate and inappropriate contact, including how to call emergency services.

We were delighted to welcome two police officers into school. They answered thoughtful questions about their roles, explained how emergency calls are handled, and shared information about their uniforms, equipment, and service dogs. The children particularly enjoyed sitting in the police van!

Maths
Reception explored length, height and time, using correct mathematical vocabulary to compare and order objects. They have been working with numbers to 10, including comparing, representing, doubling and learning number bonds. Also, they have been identifying 2D and 3D shapes in the environment.

Year 1 have extended their place value knowledge to 50. They have practised counting in 10s, grouping tens and ones, and partitioning numbers. They have used number lines to estimate and identify one more and one less. They have also explored mass and volume, comparing objects using terms such as heavier and lighter, and measuring capacity.

History
We learned about the monarchy and how royal roles have changed over time. The children compared aspects such as clothing, responsibilities, and how rules are made. We also explored castles and discussed why they were built.

Science
Using our senses, we explored the signs of spring during a seasonal walk. The children listened carefully, observed changes, and described smells in the environment. They also investigated mystery scents, identifying items such as lemon and grass.

We used vegetables to build a bank of descriptive vocabulary, linking closely to our literacy work. Daily weather observations allowed us to compare current temperatures with those recorded in November and December, noting warmer temperatures and increased sunshine.

Our Growing Together enrichment afternoon had a science focus, with parents joining us to explore space, create rainbows, test paper plane aerodynamics and learn about the human body.

Music
We explored call-and-response through Five Fine Bumblebees, experimenting with tempo and using our voices to create buzzing sounds. We also focused on melody, following shapes with our voices.

The children performed three songs at the village hall for their families, including We Are the World, Golden and Hands in the Air, incorporating actions and sign language.

RE
We learned about Passover and why festivals are important in the Jewish faith. After reading the Easter story from the Bible, the children reflected on the importance of festivals in their own lives. They created Easter cards and a special wall hanging to take home.

DT
We explored different fruits and vegetables, discussing where they come from and how they grow. Using safe cutting techniques, the children prepared and made their own fruit salads—before enjoying eating them!

Computing
Using the interactive board, the children practised using drawing tools, including freehand, shapes and lines. They reflected on how digital drawing compares to drawing on paper. We also reinforced the importance of staying safe online and asking an adult if something feels wrong.