Reception

Welcome to Reception

At Brambles Primary Academy, we are READY, RESPECTFUL and SAFE.

Welcome to Reception!

On this page you’ll find out all about the exciting things we’ll be getting up to in Reception, what learning looks like in Reception and the topics we will be learning about.

We will also give you lots of ideas and information in regards to what you can do at home to help support your child’s learning.

Reception Team

Important Information

The School Day

The gates will open from 8:30am. The class register will be taken at 8:45am and learning will begin immediately after this. It is vital that pupils are on time to school so that they do not miss any important learning.

Pupils should bring to school each day:

Their book bag
A water bottle
Suitable clothing for the weather to ensure they are comfortable during outdoor break times
A packed lunch (if required)

Please ensure all items are clearly named.

Pupils are to be collected from school at 3:15pm

P.E will take place on Wednesday

Please click here for details of PE kit and school uniform

Reception Timetable

Key Dates

Monday 13th April - Children return to school for Summer 1

Tuesday April 28th - Friday 1st May - Reception Balance Bikes

Monday 4th May - Bank Holiday

Friday 15th May - Reception Trip to Swithens Farm

Friday 22nd May - Elmer Day

Friday 22nd May - Finish for Spring Bank

Monday 1st June - Return to School

What will we be learning in Reception?

Topic Overview – Summer 1

This half term our topic is “Colourful Creatures.”
Building on our learning from Spring 2, the children will continue to explore life cycles and growth, developing their understanding of the natural world through first-hand experiences and observation.

We will care for caterpillars in class and watch them grow and change, linking this to our continued work on life cycles. The children will also plant and grow their own beans, learning what plants need to grow and how to care for living things. Alongside this, we will keep observing the weather and seasonal changes as we move further into spring and towards summer.

As the topic develops, we will explore a wide range of animals and their habitats, learning about animals that live in different countries and environments. We will talk about animals and their young, noticing similarities and differences and building early scientific vocabulary through stories, play and discussion.

Later in the half term, our learning will move on to farm animals and the food we get from farms, exploring the idea of farm to fork. This will link closely to our real-life experiences and will be brought to life through our exciting farm class trip, where children will see animals and farming in action.

Throughout the half term, we will also take part in a range of themed days and special events to enrich our learning:

Earth Day – learning how to care for our planet and protect living things
Elmer Day – celebrating individuality, colour and kindness
Farm Visit – developing understanding of animals, food and farming

This topic encourages curiosity, respect for living things and a deeper understanding of the world around us, while supporting learning through play, talk, creativity and exploration.

Personal, Social and Emotional Development

Building on the confidence and independence developed in Spring 2, children will continue to grow in self‑belief, emotional awareness and relationships with others. Through the My Happy Mind – Engage unit, they will learn how to manage feelings, stay motivated and keep trying, helping to develop resilience. Elmer Day will support children in celebrating individuality and difference, encouraging kindness, empathy and positive relationships as confident learners.

Communication and Language

Building on the language developed through growth and life cycles in Spring 2, children will continue to extend their vocabulary, listening and speaking skills through rich stories and real‑life experiences. Through core texts such as Jack and the Beanstalk, Superworm, The Ugly Five, Mister Seahorse and Commotion in the Ocean, children will explore animal, habitat and farm‑related language.

First‑hand experiences, including caring for caterpillars and our farm trip, will encourage children to ask questions, describe what they observe and share ideas confidently.

Physical Development

As the weather improves, we will make full use of our outdoor environment. Children will develop gross motor skills through climbing, balancing and large-scale movement inspired by growing plants (stretching tall like beanstalks!) and minibeasts.

Fine motor skills will be strengthened through planting seeds, digging, scooping soil, drawing life cycles and careful cutting and sticking activities. These experiences support hand strength and coordination in preparation for writing.

Literacy

We will explore a range of fiction and non-fiction texts linked to our topic, with a particular focus on Eric Carle as our author for the half term.

In Phonics, we will continue following Little Wandle Spring 2, revisiting and applying previously taught digraphs. Children will practise reading and writing words and simple sentences with increasing fluency and confidence.

We will apply our phonics skills through writing linked to our topic, including: Labels for parts of a plant; Simple instructions for planting seeds; Story maps and retelling Jack and the Beanstalk; Captions describing the life cycle of a butterfly

During World Book Day, we will celebrate authors and illustrators, further developing our love of reading.

Mathematics

In Maths, children will continue to develop

secure number sense and deepening understanding through practical exploration.

Our maths learning will link closely to our topic, including: measure - exploring capacity, comparing rainfall, measuring growth and discussing heavier/lighter; Sequencing life cycles and ordering events; Counting seeds, comparing quantities and solving practical problems and Exploring patterns inspired by minibeasts and spring flowers.

Children will use mathematical language such as taller, shorter, longer, heavier, lighter, full, empty, first, next, last.

Understanding the World

This area is at the heart of our topic. Children will explore the changing seasons, observing signs of spring in our school grounds. We will discuss weather patterns and how they affect plants, animals and people.

We will investigate life cycles — from seed to plant and caterpillar to butterfly — and learn what living things need to survive and grow. During Science Week, children will take part in simple investigations, making predictions and observing changes over time.

Celebrations such as Holi, Eid and Easter will support children in recognising similarities and differences between cultural and religious communities.

Expressive Arts and Design

Children will explore colour and creativity through learning about Holi, creating artwork inspired by the Festival of Colours. We will also explore collage techniques inspired by Eric Carle, using layered tissue paper, bold colours and textured effects to create our own caterpillars, butterflies and minibeasts. Spring art will include observational drawings of flowers, symmetrical butterfly paintings and collage blossom trees, encouraging children to experiment with colour mixing, printing and pattern.

Through music, movement and role play, children will retell the story of Jack and the Beanstalk and create imaginative small-world scenes.

These experiences will encourage children to explore, experiment and express their ideas confidently while developing their creativity and imagination.

Phonics

Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised is our phonics programme used in school. Right from the start of Reception, children will have a daily phonics lesson which follows the progression for Little Wandle Letters and Sounds and this continues in Year One and Year Two to ensure children become fluent readers.

This half term, the children will continue to follow the Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised phonics programme. We will build on the learning from Spring1 by revisiting and applying previously taught digraphs. Children will practise reading and writing words and simple sentences with increasing fluency and confidence.

During our daily phonics sessions, children will have lots of opportunities to apply their learning through reading and writing activities, games, and small-group practice. We will also continue to focus on developing confident letter formation and using phonics to support early reading and writing in all areas of the curriculum.

Phonics Overview:

Previous Overviews:

Spring 1 - Phase 3 Sounds

Autumn 2 - Phase 2 Sounds

Autumn 1 - Phase 2 Sounds

Support for Parents:

Literacy Core Texts for Summer 1

Author of the Half Term - Giles Andreae

Giles Andreae is a well‑loved children’s author who writes fun, rhyming stories with colourful characters and positive messages. His books are lively and engaging, helping young children to enjoy listening, joining in with repeated phrases and developing their early language skills.

During this half term, we will be sharing some of his favourite stories, including Giraffes Can’t Dance. These stories will support our learning through play, encouraging children to talk about their feelings, build confidence and celebrate what makes them special. Giles Andreae’s stories will inspire role play, music, movement, art and storytelling, helping to foster a love of reading and creativity.