Hello, my name is Miss Seaman and I am delighted to be in my tenth year of teaching here at St John’s. Most of my experience has been as a Reception Teacher, and this year I will be teaching Sparrows for three and a half days each week.

Previously, I was the subject leader for Art and Design and Design Technology, which reflects my love of all things creative. I enjoy weaving creativity into everyday learning—whether that’s painting tigers coming to tea or helping pirates hunt for treasure! In Early Years, children are encouraged to try new things, discover hidden talents, and use art as a wonderful way to explore their ideas.

I also have a real passion for literature and believe that a good story not only fires up the imagination but also plays a key role in learning. 

Outside the classroom, I love sport and adventure—whether that’s cycling, sailing, or watching (and now only sometimes playing!) rugby.

 

Hi, I’m Mrs Nottage and I teach in Sparrow class on a Thursday afternoon and all day on a Friday. 

I love teaching at St John’s and helping children settle into school life. I enjoy helping children with arts and crafts; having lots of fun together, painting, stickiness and glitter! 

I’m married and have 3 wonderful children. I love baking, tennis, Pilates and walking in the countryside or by the sea. 

 

Additional adults working in Sparrow class: Ms Royden

Additional adults working across both classrooms: Miss Plummer

Save the date:

Save the date:

Monday 7th September 8.30-11.30am

Tuesday 8th September 8.30-11.30am

Wednesday 9th September 8.30-11.30

Thursday 10th September 8.30-1.30pm (children will stay for lunch)

Friday 11th September 8.30-3.15pm (children in all day)

Week beginning 14th September all day

Tuesday 8th September Book Sale 3pm outside the hall

Thursday 1st October - Pirate Lunch Day

Friday 23rd October - Last day of term

Monday 2nd November - Inset Day (Staff Only)

Tuesday 3rd November Back to school for Term 2.

Term 1 timetable 

Term 1:

Our learning this term: 

Our topic this term will be 'Marvellous Me!'. Our learning will be based around our main texts (see below), 

Literacy

 In Year R we will be reading these books: 

 

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In Literacy, we will learn to:

• Recognise and read our own names
• Write some letters accurately, including the first letter of my name 
• To hear words that rhyme 
• To begin to use my knowledge of letters and print in my writing, e.g. writing a shopping list that starts at the top of a page or writing ‘m’ for Mummy. 

Phonics

We are learning to read and write sounds in this order: 

​We use Read Write Inc to teach phonics at St John's. This term your child will be introduced to many of the Set 1 sounds. They will learn to say the pure sounds for each letter. For example, 'mmmm' rather than 'muh' for 'm'

You can help support your child with their phonics by practising the sounds located in the front ​ of your child's reading record. This video will help with how to say each sound. Please focus on Set 1 sounds. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUbrJPAt65g&t=105s

We will also focus on oral blending, using Fred Frog who can only speak in sounds - Fred talk. Adults will say the sounds in simple words using Fred talk and the children will learn to put the sounds together and say the word e.g. c-a-t = cat, p-e-n = pen. We will use lots of fun games to support the learning in this area. 

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Maths

This term we will learn about counting, matching, sorting and patterns. 

We will learn to:

• Recognise and recreate a simple repeating pattern

• Sort items in a range of ways (size, colour, type), matching items that look the same 

• Use our fast eyes to recognise small groups of up to 3 objects without having to count them (subitising) 

• Recite numbers past 5 

• Say one number for each item in order, when counting up to 5 items 
• Understand that the last number reached when counting tells me how many there are in total 
• Talk about and explore 2D shapes using informal and mathematical language e.g. flat, round, sides  

Learning at home for Sparrow Class:

Reading

Read stories to your child at least once every day. These can be in English and / or your home language. Please record these in your child's reading diary. You could join your local library if you are not already a member and borrow books for free. The library in Canterbury is located in The Beaney. 

Please send your child's book bag into school every day with their reading diary. 

Books

During this term, your child will come home with a Wordless reading book; this is a book for your child to use to tell a story using pictures rather than words. These books help your child build essential language and early literacy skills. 

Be ready for learning! In Sparrow Class, your child will need to have these items in school: 

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Everything you send to school MUST be labelled clearly with your child’s name. Lost property will be available for parents to access daily on the school premises should anything go missing. Please check labels regularly as they often wash out or fall off. 

• Book bag (provided by school) 
• Water bottle (no squash or juice) 
• Lunch box (if not having a school meal) 
• Wellington boots (to leave in school) 
• Coat (weather appropriate) 
• Bag of spare clothes to leave on your child's peg. (A drawstring bag is ideal.)

Please don’t bring other items or toys into school, as we do not have space to store these, and it can cause upset if things are lost or damaged. 

Outdoor learning:

Outdoor learning plays a pivotal part in our children's development. Therefore, much of our learning in EYFS takes place outside, and we aim to enjoy our outdoor learning area in any weather! So please, provide a pair of named Wellington boots which you are happy to leave in school for outdoor play. 

Here are some of the areas your child is learning to explore, share and enjoy in our outside and inside provision: