Nursery R & V 2025 - 2026
Mrs Roche
Mrs Vaughan
We would like to begin by saying 'Welcome back and Happy New Year!’ to all our Nursery children and families.
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 Transport
Our topic for Spring 1 is ‘Transport’ this topic supports the children to have a greater understanding of our living world around us, we look at how we travel around our environments in school, coming to school and further afield. We continue to look at our changing environments inside and outside by discussing our weather and sessions through our daily calendar. We discuss and explore how we use transport, where transport might take us, different types of transports and how it is used e.g. diggers are used differently to cars. In our weekly investigation lesson, we will explore the different aspects of how transport move. Why do planes fly? Why do boats float? How do cars move?
This half term we also have a large emphasis on children’s Personal, Social and Emotional Development (PSED) skills and will endure to support the children as they continue to settle into Nursery, make friends, become more resilient, independent and confident learners that enjoy coming to school, learning and playing alongside their friends.
For our Literacy lesson we will be focusing on text ‘The Journey Home from Grandpa’s’ by Jemima Lumley and Sophie Fatus and also ‘We all go travelling by’ by Sheena Roberts and Siobhan Bell. Literacy lessons will build and develop children’s love of stories and extend their book knowledge skills. As always, we will place a large emphasis on ‘Communication and language’ by supporting children to use new vocabulary, speak using simple sentences and be confident to ask and answer questions. This half term we are continuing to use our new ‘FANTASTIC Foundations’ scheme. In line with the rest of the school.
In Maths children will be developing their confidence with numbers 1,2 and 3, 4 and 5. We will be learning to recognise and write the numerals, count using our 1-1 correspondence, subitise amounts 1-3 and match numerals and quantities.
In Phonics this term the children will begin our ‘Little Wandle Letters and Sounds' Foundations programme. During these lessons, the children play different ‘Tuning into sounds’ 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: s Week 1: p Week 1: d
Week 2: a Week 2: i Week 2: g
Week 3: t Week 3: n Week 3: o
Week 4: p Week 4: m Week 4: c
Week 5: I Week 5: d Week 5: k
Week 6: n Week 6: g Week 6: e
We are teaching: Listening skills, rhyming, syllables and voice sounds through the following Nursery Rhymes:
Week 1 and 2: Hey Diddle Diddle.
Week 3 and 4: The Wheels on the Bus.
Week 5 and 6: Down at the station.
The children will continue with their weekly '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 also introduce the children to a weekly ‘Music Assembly’ whereby the children sing songs and explore sounds and instruments. We will also have a celebration assembly each Friday to award our ‘Stars of the week’ and our new certificates that reflect on our characteristics of effective learning. 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 15th January in the School Studio at 9am and on Thursday 5h February at 9am 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:
As we are now in Winter 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.
As the weather is changeable please also make sure with you are sending appropriate colder weather items e.g. hats, gloves, mittens ….
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 – The children’s homework book and bag are sent home on a Friday and must be returned by the following Wednesday AM. This allows the staff to review the Homework and get the new homework ready to send out on the Friday.
Application for Reception September 2025 is closing this January.
Please find below in the 'files to download' the application form for requesting your child’s place in Reception for September 2025. All Nursery children need this form to be filled in and sent to Manchester Council. Please send your form to: school.admissions@manchester.gov.uk If you have any questions about this process please ask a member of the Nursery team.
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