EYFS Pathway Update
Welcome to our first EYFS Pathway newsletter which will be the first of many; you will receive these termly.
Firstly, I would like to formally introduce myself to you. My name is Kirsty, and I am the newly appointed Assistant Headteacher. I have been enjoying getting to know your children since April; and I look forward to getting to know you all throughout the remainder of the year. If you have any queries or questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Welcome to Caroline, our new Teaching Assistant in Butterfly Class, and to Archie, our new pupil in Caterpillars.
Thank you to everyone who attended the Spring Extravaganza; it was wonderful to see you all and the children had a fantastic time, exploring lots of activities. We will be hosting another event at the end of the year; details will follow.
Across the school, are currently busy with transition arrangements for the upcoming academic year and would like to remind you of our Transition Coffee Morning at St Nicholas School on Thursday 16th May at 10am. Details for individual transitions are still being finalised and will be shared with families in due course.
Finally, as the sun is starting to come out and the weather is turning warmer, can we please remind you to send in named sunhats and suncream, as well as spare changes of clothing for water play opportunities.
Kirsty Oudot-Smith Strategic Lead/Assistant Headteacher
for EYFS Pathway
Dates for your diary
• Friday 24th May – last day of Term 5
• Monday 3rd June – first day of Term 6
• Friday 14th June – EYFS ‘Stay & Play’ sports spectacular!
• Friday 5th July – Year 1 Celebration Assembly @ Parkside
EYFS Pathway Newsletter
Caterpillars
Firstly, we would like to welcome our new pupil, Archie and his family to the school; he has settled in beautifully and is enjoying exploring his new classroom environment in preparation for his new class in September.
The children in Caterpillars are continuing to make excellent progress with their communication, independent skills and joint attention.
Some of the children are focussing on their joint attention through Bucket Stage 1 and 2 of Attention Autism with Carolyn; some of the activities have included cake foam splat, raining xylophone and raining on me. Some of the children are focusing on their Early Communication Skills with Julie. The children have enjoyed interacting through water play, bubbles and balloons, as well as spending time in the sensory room.
Caterpillars have been lucky enough to have Carolyn J, a SALT, join us on site for observations, sessions and training opportunities. Carolyn is currently hosting an Intensive Interaction Course for parents.
In other news, we have two stay-and-plays at the end of term 5, and are looking forward to planning our Summer picnic for our families and children.
EYFS Pathway Newsletter
Butterfly Class
This term, Butterfly Class have been working extremely hard on all areas of the EYFS curriculum and are continuing to show their independence and resilience.
Butterfly Class have had Embracing Arts on a Tuesday which they have absolutely loved. The sessions are full of sensory experiences, embedded by the ‘Superheroes’ topic and all the children have been mesmerized and engaged throughout.
Butterfly Class have continued to explore their termly topic, ‘Pirates’ and have enjoyed weekly trips to the pirate ship, as well as creating pirate hats and exploring a pirate ship tuft tray.
Bucket (Attention Autism) has continued to be a firm favourite for Butterfly Class and the children have explored Stage 2 activities such as paint splat, the rocket and cake splat.
On Friday’s, Butterfly Class have enjoyed Forest School with Nigel. The children have enjoyed sensory stories in the forest school area, playing games with their peers and using the fire to toast marshmallows.
EYFS Pathway Newsletter
Ladybird Class
This term, Ladybird Class have been continuing to work extremely hard.
They have continued to enjoy exploring all things ‘Pirates’. In our Topic lessons we have made our own pirate ship for our classroom, we used communication board to make pirate hats and used materials that we made in class for playing in the pirate ship e.g. we created a treasure chest and we wore our pirate hats when we spent some time on the pirate ship! Ahoy!
In Maths we have been focusing on numbers to 20 and for some children, beyond 20. We have been finding numbers in the environment, counting and practising writing our numbers.
In Literacy, we have focused on the story ‘Pirates Who Wear Underpants’. Each week we have read the text and then taken part in a range of follow-on activities such as mark making and letter formations.
Ladybirds have thoroughly enjoyed their cooking lessons. They have followed instructions and worked as a team to create several delicious delights – cupcakes for the Extravaganza, flapjacks, banana boats and fruit kebabs!
EYFS Pathway Newsletter
Bumblebee Class
Bumblebee Class have had a fantastic term so far.
In our Maths sessions, we have been looking at patterns in the environment as well as making lots of repeating patterns. The children really enjoyed making fruit kebabs and making patterns with different coloured pasta.
In Literacy, we have been focussing on The Very Hungry Caterpillar and we have been learning about word meaning. The children loved making strawberry jam tarts on our strawberry day!
For Art & Design we have been learning about nature which has involved vegetable printing and painting with flowers.
Our Physical Development focus has been fine motor skills and the children have enjoyed mark making, threading and using various pinching and squeezing tools.
Bumblebee Class have thoroughly enjoyed Horse Riding at the RDA this term. We have all had a turn in either riding the horses or stroking and feeding them carrots!
The EYFS Pathway Team
Kirsty Oudot-Smith Strategic Lead Assistant Head Teacher k.oudotsmith@stns.org.uk
Charlotte Wiffen Pathway Lead Specialist Nursery Manager c.wiffen@stns.org.uk
Julie Harris Caterpillars Teacher j.harris@stns.org.uk
Ellie Foster Butterfly Class Teacher
e.foster@stns.org.uk
Louise Friel Ladybird Class Teacher l.friel@stns.org.uk
Joanna Beeby Bumblebee Class Teacher j.beeby@stns.org.uk
Jamie Daniels Rainbow Fish Class Teacher j.daniels@stns.org.uk
Our School Wellbeing Team
At St Nicholas School, we are lucky to have an experienced and very knowledgeable Wellbeing Team who are available to support you if needed. They are there if you ever need someone to talk to.
They can also support you with:
• Transport queries
• Signposting and referring to services
• Funding information and support
• Filling out forms
• Parent/Carer Workshops
Please do email them at wellbeingteam@stns.org.uk if needed.
Emma Steph Kate
EYFS Pathway Newsletter
EYFS Pathway Newsletter
