Our Learning

Autumn Term

November 2025

In Hawthorn class we have settled into class routines really well. We can sit for longer periods during circle time sessions for greetings and the beginning of lessons.

In Maths we have been learning about numbers and counting amounts. We have used super sorter objects and Numicon to help us do this. We have been looking at and using money exchanging it for items in our shop. We have also been singing number songs linked to buying things such as 5 current buns.

In English we have been learning all about ‘The very hungry caterpillar’ and sequencing the days of the week.

In Phonics we have been focusing on environmental sounds/ Such as transport sounds, animal sounds and home sounds.

We have been using communication boards to have conversations and request things. We are getting really good at this.

We have also been exploring a new app called the sensory classroom. When using this we have focused on a word of the week, such as ‘What’. This has lots of different activities linked to the word each week and we are really enjoying using this.

During Science we have been learning about and exploring materials in our environment. We have explored sand, water, rice and soil. When we explore these we have also used other materials such as plastic to make sand castles or dig things up.

We are enjoying our food tech lessons. Making foods from around the world and celebrating them.

In our Humanities History lessons we have been looking at old and new toys and what they are made from. We have especially enjoyed looking at and handling some old wooden toys.

In P.E we have been learning about our bodies through dance. We have been following action songs and dancing around the hall to different pieces of music. Whilst pretending to be animals, soldiers, toys etc.

Settling In

September 2025

Hawthorn class have had a great start to the year and have shown fantastic enthusiasm for their learning. The children have settled in well and are engaging with a wide range of activities designed to build confidence, independence, and enjoyment in learning.

In Science, we have been learning about living things and their habitats. A highlight was exploring how worms move, using tissue paper and pipettes to make their movements easier to touch and see. The children were fascinated to watch the worms wriggle and had lots of fun taking part. This gave them the chance to experience living things up close and begin to understand more about the natural world.

In Maths, our focus has been on shape and pattern. Each week a new shape has been introduced, and the children are now recognising and beginning to use these shapes in practical activities. They have enjoyed creating patterns with reels and threading, as well as matching bricks and spotting shapes around the classroom. These activities have supported their early understanding of pattern while also building fine motor control.

In English, we have been enjoying the traditional tale Goldilocks and the Three Bears. The children have explored the story through props and sensory experiences, including oats to represent the bears’ porridge. They have particularly enjoyed focusing on different characters and joining in with key events, such as trying on a bear mask, touching Goldilocks’ hair, and using puppets to retell parts of the story. These experiences have helped the children to engage more deeply with the narrative. Alongside this, the children have also taken part in daily phonics sessions, using tactile letters and engaging in mark-making activities to begin building early literacy skills.

A real highlight for Hawthorn class this term has been Food Technology. Each week the children transition to the Food Technology room, where they have been learning important life skills such as handwashing, preparing food safely, and peeling and chopping fruit. These sessions are highly motivating, give opportunities for independence and communication, and also link to other areas of learning such as sequencing and making choices.

It has been wonderful to see the enthusiasm the children bring to their learning each day, and we are excited to continue building on this fantastic start to the year.