Welcome to the Foundation
Unit!
2020-2021
The Foundation Unit is made up of Foundation 1 (or Nursery) and Foundation 2 (Reception) where the children are aged between 3 and 5 years old. Mrs Wregg and Mrs Wright are teaching the F2 groups this year and Mrs Owens and Miss Cartledge are teaching the F1 groups.
All the children belong to a Key Worker group which gives them a great sense of belonging. In these groups they develop their confidence, their listening and attention skills and are encouraged to express themselves and talk about what they are doing to each other and to members of staff.
The curriculum in the Foundation Unit is made up of 7 areas of learning and development. All of which are important and inter-connected. Three areas are particularly crucial for igniting children’s curiosity and enthusiasm for learning, and for building their capacity to learn, form relationships and thrive. These are the prime areas:
We also support children in four specific areas, through which the three prime areas are strengthened and applied. The specific areas are:
Our learning and teaching is planned through a topic based curriculum where each topic in Foundation focuses on different areas of development.
Our topics and related curriculum areas for the year are:
Term |
School Theme |
Foundation Topic |
Curriculum areas |
||
Autumn 1 |
Discover Open a book |
Nursery Rhymes |
Literacy Communication and Language Mathematics |
||
Autumn 2 |
Discover What is Christmas about? |
'Little Star' Nativity |
Expressive Arts and Design Communication and Language Physical Development |
||
Spring 1 |
Explore Times past |
Pirates |
Literacy Mathematics Understanding of the World |
||
Spring 2 |
Explore Our World |
Superheroes |
Communication and Language Personal, Social and Emotional Development |
||
Summer 1 |
Create New things |
|
Understanding of the World Communication and Language |
||
Summer 2 |
Create New spaces |
Noah's Ark |
Literacy Understanding of the World Personal, Social and Emotional Development |
As well as the 7 areas of learning and development, children in Foundation are encouraged to learn in a variety of ways, these are defined as the characteristics of effective learning, which are:
The Foundation Unit is set up to enable children to explore these characteristics of learning by:
We have designated areas for reading, mark making, numeracy, jigsaws, construction, fine motor skills, listening, small world, role play, discovery and ICT. We have also have daily provision of sand, water, outdoor and messy play.
Routines and systems:
Our Day
* We start the day in our Key Worker groups, welcoming the children, sharing their news and introducing activities for the day.
*This is followed by ‘Busy time’ where the children explore the activities and initiate their own learning through play both indoors and outdoors.
*In the middle of the morning we have a speaking and listening or phonics session followed by snack in our key worker groups.
*Children then return to busy time and end the morning with stories or songs for F1 children and Literacy or Numeracy for F2 children.
*This routine is repeated in the afternoon, focusing on different curriculum areas during carpet times.
Throughout the day children also work at targeted activities and in small groups with staff to develop their skills in the different areas of the curriculum.
P.E
F2 children need a P.E kit for weekly P.E sessions (Thursday), please keep P.E kits in school on your child’s peg (black shorts and a white t-shirt). Please can you also make sure all uniform and P.E kit is clearly labelled with your child’s name. F1 children take part in a range of physical activities but do not yet require a P.E kit, for any hall P.E sessions, they simply need to take off their shoes, socks and any jumpers. Can we also take this opportunity to remind you that children should not wear earrings on P.E days for safety reasons.
Reward Systems
We are now recording children’s rewards electronically on a system is called ‘Class Dojo’ where each child is given a character (called an avatar) which keeps count of the children’s rewards in a simple points system. These can be displayed on the interactive whiteboard for the children to see. Dojo points are awarded for achievements, effort, good manners and behaviour and kindness to others. Please ask for your own parent log in if you have not received one. This will enable you to see when your child receives dojo's and you can message the class teacher.
Reading at Home
We ask that you support your child learning to read. Please try to listen to them at home every night for a few minutes and talk about their books with them. Feel free to read along with them if they are finding their book a little tricky and encourage them to talk about the pictures or guess what might happen next in the story. Please make sure that when you have read with your child you sign their diary. Every read at home is worth a dojo point! When children read 4 times in a week they will be rewarded with extra playtime on a Friday.
Assembly
We have a merit assembly every Friday at 9.10am. This is where we recognise the children’s achievements. All parents, relatives and friends are welcome at this assembly and it would be lovely if you could join us. If your child is going to receive a certificate we will let you know.
Supporting your child
During the year, children who need extra support/ intervention in literacy or numeracy will be supported in small groups or 1:1 sessions to suit their individual needs.
You will be invited to speak with your child’s teacher about your child’s progress, achievement and next steps in the Autumn term. This will be followed up with a second meeting towards the end of the year to review any targets set. If you have any concerns or need to speak to your child’s teacher at any point during the year just let us know and we will be happy to speak to you.
Attendance
We highlight the importance of good attendance at The Mount School, knowing that good attendance leads to better learning and progress – we also don’t want the children to miss the exciting activities we plan! Each Friday we have an attendance raffle where every child who has attended school every day and has been on time is entered into the raffle with the chance of winning a prize. We also have a school attendance trophy, which is awarded weekly to the class which has the highest attendance.
Starting School
Children can start Foundation 1 the term after they turn 3. They are entitled to 15 hrs each week which is made up of 5 half days (mornings)
To support this transition into school, we organise a home visit and 2 school visits before they start their first full week.
Children start ‘full time school’ at the beginning of the academic year in which they turn 5. Visits are arranged during the Summer term to support this transition.