Last week we were treated to a special visit in Gems as some Year 6 readers came to share some stories with us. We loved taking part in this wonderful inclusive practice and it was a hugely positive experience for our young learners to see such role models. We look forward to them returning this week. OT sessions this week have been pushing our learners to improve their fine motor skills and embed a strong sensory diet to help them throughout their day. This week we will also be returning to forest school as we seek to identify different bugs and species living there. We also had lots of fun joining in music and PE this week and interacting with our friends from Reception class. We will be back in Jephson Gardens on Friday and will continue to work on “safe walking in the community”. Pupils are learning to walk next to a staff member without support and this will be a huge milestone as they continue in Gems. In maths, we have been continuing to learn and recognise the numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. In phonics we have been learning/ recapping the sound ‘o’. We have also really enjoyed reading Clean up by Nathan Byron. Please continue phonics work at home if you can. But please rest assured, there is no expectation to know all phonics. All pupils are on a journey, and we want them to work at the pace that suits them. We find that LittleBig Foxes, Number Blocks and RWI songs on their websites are a great source of fun and education. 

    

Key messages

• Please dress pupils in winter coat, hat and gloves. We still take part in a lot of outdoor learning and it is vital to be dressed appropriately.

• Please practise writing and saying the set 1 sounds at home, using the phonics website by Ruth Miskin to help you. 

website: https://sites.google.com/thevineyardschool.org/phonicsthevineyard/reception

• Reading books: please note we don’t expect children to be able to read the story books that they have chosen to bring home. They are for you to read to them. 

• Pick up time for Gems pupils is 3pm. Please try to be prompt so we can maximise the time we have to set up for the next day’s learning.