Squirrels: Reception and Year 1

Squirrels are our youngest children at Wroxton Primary School, welcoming Reception and Year 1 pupils into our school community. They are curious, enthusiastic learners who enjoy exploring, discovering and developing new skills every day. Their teachers are Mrs Jennings and Mrs Orchard, and they are supported by Mrs Clayton and Mrs Woodcock.

Home Learning

Reception

Year 1

All About Squirrels

Squirrels are an excitable bunch who love practical learning, learning through our play and teamwork. We care, we are helpful and we are inclusive – everyone matters and everyone belongs! We have a very busy role play area, a well-loved art workshop and amazing construction area. We are also big fans of our outdoor classroom - waterplay and the sandpit are current favourites of ours!

Our Teachers

Mrs Jennings

Since graduating as a teacher in 1995, I have discovered my true passion is Early Years. When I'm not at school, I enjoy spending time with my teenage children and friends and like country walks and trips to the theatre and cinema.

Mrs Orchard

I have taught in Kent, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Oxfordshire in Early Years, KS1 and KS2 classes. In my spare time, I enjoy spending time outside, visiting the seaside and reading.

In Squirrels class, we think about our learning behaviour and consider our choices carefully. We learn from our mistakes and support each other. We collect stars for making the right choices and together we have chosen our rewards:

120 stars in the jar	150 stars in the jar	180 stars in the jar	210 stars in the jar
Short film with a biscuit	Favourite clothes day	Party with games	Ice cream and water play

Our approach to EYFS and Year 1

In Squirrels, we learn in a variety of different ways. Sometimes we have whole class input/carpet time. Sometimes we will be learning in small groups with an adult (both indoors and outdoors). Reception children often learn through our play, and our adults step in to ask important questions that help us to think and extend our play. We also have ‘Busy Time’ where we improve our skills in our enhanced provision. We can choose our area of learning and use the resources provided to consolidate previous learning.

Phonics

Phonics is taught daily in groups, working on a specific set of sounds according to the ability of the child. Each session has a distinct structure following Read Write Inc (RWI). Each week, the children take home new sound cards, Ditty sheets or a RWI book for them to re-read each night with an adult. This helps them develop fluency.

Summer 2: Castles, Knights and Dragons

Here is our termly cog document where you can find details of the different subjects we are covering this term:

Books to support our learning

Our key books this term are stories featuring dragons.

In 'The Knight and the Dragon' by Tomie DePaola a knight and a dragon prepare for battle but ultimately become friends and form a BBQ business together.

In Emma Yarlett’s ‘Dragon Post’, a boy named Alex finds a dragon in his house. He writes a series of letters asking for help. The replies from the fire brigade, local butchers and so on, are included in the book. The story ends with a very special postcard for Alex.

Additionally, our daily stories and reading enrichment activities will enable the class to encounter different familiar and project linked stories and non-fiction texts.