Starting school is an exciting and important step in children’s development. Research shows that good Early Years provision lays solid foundations for future learning and achievement.
At Dale Hall Community Primary School our aim is to work together with parents to meet the children’s development and learning needs whilst they are in our Reception classes. We are a Montessori and ‘Hygge in the Early Years’ inspired setting, which helps us to ensure our environment and provision is welcoming, safe, caring, stimulating and fun.
Our vastly experienced team ensure that we provide playful opportunities that are open ended and challenge children’s thinking. We facilitate learning by allowing our children to explore their own ideas and choose ways to do things for themselves. We encourage our children to persist, take risks, test their ideas, learn though trial and error and to enjoy the challenge of problem solving.
"Hygge (pronounced hue-guh) is a Danish word used when acknowledging a feeling or moment, ordinary or extraordinary as cosy, charming or special. Hygge is a feeling you cannot translate. It's about a space that promotes emotional well-being, togetherness and friendship" (thecuriosityapproach.com)
Each day, there will be a lesson posted on Tapestry for phonics, maths and Power of Reading (topic based work). These will consist of videos from the teachers and/or challenges.
In addition to this, there will be a story read by one of the Early Years team each day, which will also be posted on Tapestry.
We ask that you encourage your child to complete as much of this learning as possible. Each week, we ask parents to choose a minimum of one piece of phonics, maths and Power of Reading learning their child does as well as a weekly update about their reading to share with us on Tapestry.
Please also find below a copy of our EYFS home learning offer and our EYFS guide to home learning.
Assistant Headteacher (EYFS and KS1). Seahorse Class Teacher
Mrs Morris loves to be outside. You will often find her walking around the coast and countryside with her family. Mrs Morris has two little boys that keep her very busy... When at home, she is usually busy in the kitchen or playing with trains, planes and fire engines!
Class teacher - Seahorses
Mrs.Hines loves working at Dale Hall and has been a teacher here for 13 years now. She enjoys drawing, painting and making things. She loves spending time with her family where her three sons keep her very busy.
Class teacher - Starfish
Mrs Jenkins absolutely loves music. She sings and plays different instruments in her band. She is also a big football fan and loves Ipswich Town FC!
Nursery Nurse - Starfish
You will often find Mrs Clements in the kitchen baking delicious goodies such as brownies and cakes. She also likes to read lots and to spend time with her family and friends.
Teaching Assistant - EYFS
If Miss Barker isn’t at the stables or spending time with her family, you will find her being creative with paints and craft.
Teaching Assistant - Inclusion support
Cover supervisor
Mrs Eldred covers in Reception when the teaching staff are having their PPA time on a Tuesday or Thursday morning. Mrs Eldred will also be in class, supporting the learning at other times during the week too!
Playdough is Brilliant!
Playdough is amazing for so many reasons. Not only is it a great way to develop the muscles in children's fingers as they squash, squeeze, roll, flatten, pinch, chop and pull it has so many other benefits too! Here is a really interesting article from the imagination tree, describing all of the benefits of playing with playdough.
https://theimaginationtree.com/benefits-of-playing-with-play-dough/
And here is a tried and tested recipe that must have been used hundreds of times over the last 34 years. So many little hands have enjoyed playing with the playdough from this recipe. Why don’t you give it a try?
Cooked dough (long lasting)
2 cups flour
2 cups water
2 tsp cream of tartar
2 tbs oil
1 cup salt
Food colouring
Cook all of the ingredients in a saucepan over a low heat. Keep mixing until the mixture leaves the sides of the pan. Sprinkle a little flour onto a board and knead well to finish.