Nursery R & V 2025 - 2026
Mrs Roche
Mrs Vaughan
We would like to begin by saying 'Welcome back'. We hope you had a fun and relaxing half term.
We have a busy and exciting half term to look forward to.
On this page you will find information about the current topic, news and updates regarding special events and dates to remember as well as access to photographs of the children and the fun things they have been doing whilst in school.
The class teachers for Nursery this school year are Mrs Roche (class NR) with Miss Holt and Mrs Akhtar (class NA) with Mrs Hodge. Also, Mrs Popel and Miss Davies work with the children throughout the week.
This half term we will be sending our new weekly newsletter ‘In the Loop’ out via Tapestry please let us know if you are having trouble accessing your Tapestry account.
Let’s Learn through Growing
Our topic for Spring 2 is ‘Growing’ this topic gives the children a greater understanding of our living world around us and how plants and insects grow and change over time. We look at life cycles and the natural environment including lots of experiments e.g. planting seeds, exploring where our food comes from and we also continue to look at our changing environment as the seasons shift. For more details of our activities please look at our medium term plan below.
During this topic we will be reading the following books in our Literacy lessons to help engage the children into our new topic: ’Jasper’s Beanstalk' by Nick Butterworth and Mick Inkpen; and ‘The very hungry caterpillar’ Written by Eric Carle. Literacy lessons will build and develop children’s love of stories and extend their book knowledge skills with a large emphasis on their ‘Communication and language’ supporting them to speak using simple sentences in English and to ask and answer questions.
In Maths children will be continue to look at numbers 0-5 and consolidate our knowledge. We will also be learning to compare objects by their size, weight, length, height and capacity/ and continue with our number formation and exploring real life number problems on a Friday. We will be following the ‘mastery maths approach’ along with the rest of the school.
In Phonics this term the children will begin our ‘Little Wandle Letters and Sounds' programme. During these lessons, the children play different games and are introduced to new items that begin with the sound of the week.
This term the sounds we are learning are:
Week 1: u
Week 2: r
Week 3: h
Week 4: b
Week 5: f
Week 6: l
We will continue to use our 'Rainbow challenge’. This is used by the children during their ‘continuous provision time’ after adult input lessons. It is broken up into different areas/tables for the children to learn and play e.g. the ‘Construction area’ or the ‘Writing table’ or the ‘Reading corner’ and each are associated with a specific colour. Children are encouraged to explore their whole environment throughout the week and in doing so gain a coloured lollipop stick for each area they have engaged with. If they complete the Rainbow they are rewarded with a sticker and a prize at the end of the week.
In addition, we will continue each week to engage in a ‘Music Assembly’ whereby the children sing songs and explore sound and instruments. We will also have a celebration assembly each Friday to award our ‘Stars of the week’ and ‘Citizens of the week’. During this half term parents and carers will have the opportunity to come into school for Celebration Assembly and see their child receive their certificate on Thursday 5th March in the School Studio at 9am and Thursday the 26th March in the School Studio.
Please see the 'Files to download' section below to find out more about your child's daily timetable and curriculum.
Reminders:
Although the weather is warming and we are approaching Spring please send a coat with your child everyday as the weather can change and be sunny in the morning but may rain in the afternoon. Please make sure your child is bringing a water bottle to school which they can access throughout the day to stay hydrated.
Please remember to send in a pair of Wellington boots for your child. We play outside in all weathers and the children really do love to splash in muddy puddles.
We would like to remind all parents that as part of your child’s school uniform. Please have a spare set of clothes in school at all times. This is in case there are any toileting accidents or messy play mishaps. It is an expectation that children come to school toilet trained but we appreciate this isn’t always so easy and will support them as best we can in school.
Homework – Once all the children are settled we will start to send home their homework book which is sent home on a Friday and must be returned by the following Wednesday AM.
Thank you for your support, we look forward to our continued work with you this year!
Application for Reception September 2026 Has now closed and you will find out if your child has a place in our Reception class in April.
Diary dates:
Thursday 5th March 9.00am EYFS assembly in the studio.
Thursday 5th March World book day – come to school in pyjamas and bring in your favourite story.
Friday 6th March come and sign up for the dentist visit in the studio at hometime or Monday 9th March at drop off time. You can talk to the oral health team about the dentist appointment and sign your child up for an appointment in the studio all are welcome.
Mother’s Day stay and play on Thursday 12th March 2 - 3.10 pm. Please come to the main reception and we will collect you.
Friday 20th March is red nose day; your child can come dressed in red (please make a donation on the day).
Thursday 26th March EYFS Assembly in the studio 9.00 am.
Friday 27th March Buddy practice dentist visit to all the children who have signed up (please see above).
Monday 30th and Tuesday 31st March Parents evening you will be notified of when you can sign up for an appointment.
School finishes this half term on Thursday 2nd April. We will re-open on Monday 20th April.
Thank you for your support, we look forward to our continued work with until the end of the year and beyond!
One final message...
Here in Early years at Ashbury meadow primary school we put every effort into building strong relationships with our pupils so that school is a place they not only enjoy, and feel safe but THRIVE and communication and Language forms the foundation of this, please take a few minutes to watch this TED talk which encompasses our ethos
How Every Child can Thrive by Five by Molly Wright