Welcome to the Early Years Foundation Stage!

Welcome to Great Berry EYFS!

We are so excited to welcome you into our Early Years at Great Berry! Mrs Archer and Mrs Graham will be waiting at the Early Years Playground gates for the children to come into school from 8:30am on Tuesday morning for their first day. This is where you will say Goodbye to your children and from here, we will guide the children into the classrooms where they have many interesting and fun activities to do. We know that your children will be excited and maybe a little nervous - and maybe you will be too! But please be assured that your child will have a fantastic time at school with us. 

For the first 2 weeks your children will be staying at school for the morning only. You will need to collect your child from the main blue doors at the entrance to the playground at your class' allocated time. The children will only need to bring their water bottle and will not be staying for lunch. The school provides a healthy snack for the children to eat each morning, this consists of a fruit or vegetable.

On Monday 16th you are invited to come into school and have lunch with your child. You will receive a separate letter with all the information you need about this. We hope that you can join us. 

On Tuesday 17th September, your child will have their first full day at school with us. On this day, they will need to be collected from the main school playground at 3:10pm. Each class will come out into the playground with their teacher. We will line the children up in front of the climbing frames. We ask the children to stay in the line with us and we will send the children to you one by one. It would be really helpful if you can give us a wave when we get to your child, especially at the start while we get to know you all. 

Our topics this half term will include All About Me, People Who Help Us and Superheroes. 

Starting from the week beginning 23rd September, we will upload a Weekly Overview to this page, which will give you an insight into some of the activities we will be doing in school that week.

Important Dates for your Diary this term:

Tuesday 3rd September - First Day of School

Monday 16th September - First Lunch (parents invited to join)

Monday 16th September - Zoom Meeting about Lunchtime @ 2pm

Tuesday 17th September - First Full Day at School

Thursday 3rd October - Police Visit (People Who Help Us)

Wednesday 9th October - Fireman Visit (People Who Help Us)

W/B Monday 28th October - Half Term

Monday 4th November - Inset Day

Reminders:

Please note that the drop off time for the children in the mornings is 8:30am. The collection time is 3:10pm and we ask that you wait in the main playground. We will line the children up in front of the climbing frames and send them to you one at a time as we see you. 

If there is any important information that you need to let us know quickly please contact the school office so that they can pass this onto the class teachers. 

Reading Record and Book Change Day 

Once the children are in school full time, they will be given their first reading books to bring home. In school, your child will read to an adult on a set day each week. The day your child will read on is outlined below. 

Monday – Oranges

Tuesday – Grapes

Wednesday – Lemons

Thursday – Apples

Friday – Bananas

The day your child reads on may change dependant on the activities taking place throughout the week, therefore please leave your child’s reading books and reading records in their book bags at all times, this will then mean that we can read with them on a different day if necessary. It is important to note that the above timetable will more than often be the structure we follow throughout the week.

Your child will read with an adult and will also change their books on this day each week.

When we read with your child at school, we will record this in their reading record, along with noting their new books for the week. Please record when you read the school reading books at home and make a short comment on their reading. Please continue to read a range of books at home, however, you do not need to record any other reading in their book. This book will be checked by us once a week so please do not put any important messages in them and continue to contact us in the usual way.

Show and Tell

Show and Tell will begin after the first half term in Autumn 2. Each colour team will have an Show and Tell date once, each half term. There will be a focus topic for each Show and Tell throughout the year. Below is an outline of the topics, in case you wish to prepare in advance. Your child can bring in photographs, books, props or work they have done at home or simply just speak to the class. The focus for your child's show and tell should be as follows:

Autumn 2 - Your favourite toy or game (they are welcome to bring in their toy to show)

Spring 1 - Your favourite place (this could be somewhere you have visited or would like to visit)

Spring 2 - A hobby or sport that you enjoy doing

Summer 1 - Your favourite animal

Summer 2 - Your favourite book

Before your child's Show and Tell day, it may be helpful to talk to them in preparation for what they could tell their friends. Please feel free to send in a covering note so that we can support them with this. There will be a chance for your child to answer questions from their peers about what they have shared.

The colour group dates for this half term are as follows:

Friday 8th November - Ruby (red) Group

Friday 15th November - Amber (yellow) Group

Friday 22nd November - Emerald (green) Group

Friday 29th November - Sapphire (blue) Group

Homework

Homework/Write and Tell books will be given out on a Friday. They will need to be returned by the following Tuesday. Ideas for the homework will be available on the Weekly Overviews. Each week please give feedback on how your child found the activities, by leaving a short comment with their homework.

Keep checking back on this page for more updates and to see some of our brilliant work.

Please note that jewellery is not allowed to be worn in school. This includes hoop earrings, bracelets, anklets and necklaces. Only small studs are allowed, although these have to be removed on PE days. Our PE day is Thursday.