Over the next half-term our topic is: Books, Books, Brilliant Books!

We will be sharing wonderful stories with the children, repeating them over and over, so the children can familiarise themselves with the story, gaining the confidence to talk about them and re-call the key parts.  We will also be talking about the different settings and characters that we discover in stories, and having lots of props in the classroom, so the children can recreate them and invent their own narratives.

Check out our big ideas' poster to share with your children at home (a clearer version is attached as a PDF below)

The UKHSA (UK Health Security Agency) has asked all schools to share the following information with parents in the EYFS:

You will be aware of the coverage in the media concerning Group A streptococcus infections, also known as Group A strep, strep A or GAS. Group A strep is a common bacteria, which many of us carry in our throats and on our skin. It doesn’t always result in illness, but it can cause infections, some mild and some more serious. More serious infections are caused by the bacteria getting into parts of the body where it’s not usually found, like the lungs or bloodstream. These are usually linked to invasive group A strep also known as iGAS.

The increase in cases is being investigated, but is not thought to be because of a new strain of bacteria. It is more likely to be as a result of a number of factors including more social mixing and increases in other respiratory illnesses.

Key messages for parents

1. Group A strep (GAS) is a common bacteria which causes a range of infections, including scarlet fever. These infections are usually mild. Invasive group A strep (iGAS) is a rare infection when the bacteria gets into parts of the body where it can cause more serious disease, like the lungs or bloodstream.

2. There are currently higher than seasonal expected levels of scarlet fever. The early symptoms of scarlet fever include sore throat, headache, fever, nausea and vomiting followed by a characteristic red, pinhead rash giving the skin a sandpaper-like texture. For more information and advice, please see: Scarlet fever NHS  (www.nhs.uk)

3. Good hand and respiratory hygiene are important, including:

• washing hands for 20 seconds with warm water and soap
• catching coughs and sneezes using tissues – catch it, bin it, kill it
• keeping away from others when feeling unwell.

4. As a parent, if you feel that your child seems seriously unwell, you should trust your own judgement. Contact NHS 111 or your GP if:
• your child has a sore throat, fever, chills or muscle aches, but they are getting worse
• your child stops feeding or is eating less than normal
• your child has a dry nappy for 12 hours or more or shows other signs of dehyrdration
• your baby is under 3 months and has a temperature of 38oC, or is older than 3 months and has a temperature of 39oC or higher
• your baby feels hotter than usual when you touch their back or chest, or feels sweaty
• your child is very tired or irritable.

5. Call 999 or go to A&E if:
• your child is having difficulty breathing – you may notice grunting noises or their tummy sucking under their ribs
• there are pauses when your child breathes
• your child’s skin, tongue or lips are blue
• your child is floppy and will not wake up or stay awake

For more information please see: UKHSA Blog - Group A Strep - What you need to know.

In school, we are aware of the signs and symptoms of scarlet fever (which is caused by group A strep) and following rigorous hygiene routines such as hand washing, regular cleaning of the classroom and equipment and ensuring good ventilation. 

This week our big idea questions are:

• What is a story?  
• What stories were told 100’s of years ago?   
• How are castles different from where we live?  

Over the next couple of weeks we are blasting back to the past (over 200 million years ago) to find out all about dinosaurs! Our big idea question's over the next two weeks are:

- What does extinct mean?
-What does a palaeontologist do? 
-What is a museum? 
-Who is Mary Anning?

We will be sharing these wonderful books....

Dear Dinosaur 🦖

Winnie's Dinosaur Day 🦕 

We will be finding out who Mary Anning is, the woman who helped to discover that dinosaurs did once exist! She was a Palaeontologist and collected lots of fossils.

We will be singing along and doing the actions for this song!

Check out the Cbeebies website for lots of dinosaur inspired fun!

  

In F2, we will be continuing our small group phonics sessions-the children have been AMAZING during these! The sounds they have been focusing on will be in their reading diaries, along with some reading activities to try at home. 

As always, keep signing those diaries and working towards your bronze & silver reading awards! 

You could: 

• Practise your speedy sounds (just like we do in school) 
• Make up a story together
• Share a book together
• See if you can read any road names/aisles in the supermarkets/writing on packaging etc

F1's you could have a go at this- pressing the sound buttons and trying to work out what the different noises are.

Here is the vocabulary F1 will be learning over the next coupe of weeks-see if the children can talk about dinosaurs at home using some of these words:

Here is the vocabulary F2 will be learning during our two weeks of all things dinosaurs! 

• Huge thank you to everyone that sent in baby/toddler photos-the children have loved sharing these with their friends this week!
• If anyone has any stories or books with dinosaurs in at home-we would love to borrow these to share with the children over the next couple of weeks (please make sure your children's name is in them, so we can keep them safe).
• (F2) Keep up with your doodle maths (we currently have 50% of children on track, which puts us in 4th place across the school).
• Feel free to have a go at some of these dinosaur inspired activities at home over the next couple of weeks - or think of your own (we love seeing what you get up to on Tapestry!)

In the Long Ago project your child will learn about their history and how they have changed from when they were babies. They will learn about their family history and heritage and find out what life was like in the past. They will learn about what it was like to go to school in the past and how everyday objects, such as clothes, toys and vehicles have changed.

We will be sharing stories that have been passed down and told for hundreds of years (Fairy tales), and looking at castles, finding out how long ago they were built and talking about how they are different from the homes that we live in.

We will also be finding out about dangerous dinosaurs! Your child will find out about prehistoric animals that lived on Earth. They will learn facts about dinosaurs and discover how big some of these giant creatures were. They will learn about the difference between carnivores and herbivores and find out what the word 'extinct' means. 

Supporting your child at home

• Look at photographs of the children as babies and discuss how they have grown and changed.
• Look at family photographs so the children can see family members when they were children.
• Talk about what your life was like when you were a child/Grandparents were a child.
• Go onto the Natural History Museum website and look at interesting facts about dinosaurs together.
• Go to the CBeebies Dinosaurs website and explore the games and videos together.
• Look up interesting dinosaur facts to share them with the class.
• Visit a local castle or historic building (remember to share your photos with us on Tapestry!)
• Share traditional tales and see if your children can re-tell the key parts from the story (Jack and the Beanstalk, Cinderella, Snow White, Rapunzel etc).
• Share and discuss the ‘Big Ideas’ resource – sharing ideas about the enquiry questions and talking about the vocabulary.

Here is our Big Ideas poster (please see clearer copy as PDF attached below)

We couldn't be any prouder of how well the children have settled into Little Dreamers life this half-term- they have been utterly amazing!

We hope you all have a lovely break, having lots of fun and some well deserved rest! 

We would LOVE to hear what you get up to over half-term... This could be having a film night, sharing a favourite book, exploring on an autumnal walk, dressing up for Halloween, baking a delicious treat... It can be absolutely anything the children would like to show us. 

If you could upload these photos in one post on tapestry that would be great.  We will print these and use them for a talking/sharing activity with the children once they are back in school. 

We have to note that tapestry is quite expensive and if it is not being accessed regularly, we unfortunately might have to lose it.