This week in Shell Class we have been talking all about our families and what makes them special.

The children have really enjoyed looking at their family photographs and talking to their friends and adults about who lives at home with them. It has been lovely hearing all about the important people in their lives and the things that make their families special. The children have also enjoyed drawing pictures of their families and telling us about the different people they have included.

We have been reading the lovely story Owl Babies and talking about how the baby owls feel when their mummy goes away to find food, but always comes back. This was a lovely opportunity to talk about our own feelings when our grown-ups leave us at school and the reassurance that they will always come back.

This week has also been a big milestone for our Shell Class children as they have started attending full days. They have been absolute superstars! We are so proud of how well they have managed the longer days, although we have definitely had some very tired little children by the end of the week. This is completely normal as they adjust to their new routines and busy days at school.

A good bedtime routine is especially important at this stage. A calm routine of dinner, bath, a story and then bed can really help children to wind down after their busy day. We recommend aiming for children to be asleep by around 8pm so that they are getting the recommended amount of sleep for their age and are ready for another exciting day at school.

Where possible, try to avoid screens before bedtime as these can make it harder for children to settle and fall asleep. A quiet story and lots of cuddles are a lovely way to finish the day.

In phonics, we have been developing our listening skills through lots of fun listening games. We have also been experimenting with the sounds we can make using our voices, including making different animal sounds. These activities help the children to listen carefully and begin to notice and copy different sounds, which are important early phonics skills.

In maths, we have learnt a brand new word: subitising! Subitising means being able to look at a small number of objects and know how many there are without having to count them one by one. This week we have been practising subitising 0, 1, 2 and 3 objects through lots of practical and playful activities.

Next week we will be learning all about our emotions. We will be talking about different feelings and helping the children to recognise and name the emotions that they experience. We will also explore how our bodies and faces can show how we are feeling.

Well done, Shell Class! You have all been amazing this week and we are so proud of how well you are settling into your full days. ❤️

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