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Taw Pre-school Autumn Term 2024

29.11.24 

This week the topic has been ‘Diwali’. We read the book ‘Lighting a lamp’ and talked about the representation of light.  

 

Activities this week at pre-school: 

  • Diwali home corner – The children have been playing in our Diwali home corner with party food, pretend candles and colourful scarfs. They have been having ‘Diwali’ celebrations.  

  • Rangoli patterns using numicon – The children made rangoli patterns using numicon resouces. They tried to copy pictures that showed examples. We also looked at mirrored patterns – repeating the same pattern on both sides.  

  • Diva lamp playdough – Children made their own diva lamps using playdough, sequins and candles.  

  • Diva lamp craft – The children made a variety of diva lamps using craft resources. Some children decorated a paper lantern, and others made one out of card.  

  • Diva lamps- On Monday the children made a diva lamp using salt dough. They will be painting and decorating these next week.  

 

Next week we will be focusing on the topic ‘Gingerbread man’.  

Phonics: Body percussion  

Develop an awareness of sounds and rhythms. The children have been practising making sounds with their bodies for example, clapping, stomping, tapping, humming.  

 

Important information 

  • Christmas Craft Workshop – Thursday 12th December 9-10am 
    Parents are invited to join in with some Christmas crafts and activities in Codden and Taw classes and try to complete our Elf Challenge. (Due to numbers and ratios this session is only for children who attend Pre-School on a  Thursday). 

 

  • Christmas Jumper Fridays! 

Every Friday in December your child is invited to wear a Christmas jumper with their school uniform.  

Friday 6th - Bring a bottle for the Christmas Fair. 

Friday 13th - We have set up a JustGiving page to fundraise for Save the Children, if you feel you are able to donate then please click on the link. - Thank you, your donations are really appreciated. 

Friday 20th - Non-school uniform Christmas theme! 

 

  • PTFA Christmas Fair – Friday 6th December  

On Friday 6th December we are holding a Christmas Fair at school. There will be refreshments, stalls, a range of activities and most importantly a chance to see Father Christmas in his grotto!  

We have the return of the famous bottle in a bag game, donations of bottles gratefully received in school by Wednesday 4th December.  

 

  • PTFA Christmas Shop – Monday 9th December – pre-school children will do it at some point during the week 

Each year all the children are invited to buy presents for members of their family/loved ones.  

The gifts are £3 each and every child may choose up to 2 presents for family members. There are both male and female appropriate gifts available.  

Children will be choosing the gifts, wrapping and writing out the gift tags. They will be sent home with them by their teachers but no peeking until Christmas Day!  

Please make sure your child has a carrier bag in their book bag ready for bringing the gift/s home.   

Please log on to Eduspot/SchoolMoney (shop tab) and reserve and pay by midnight on Monday 2nd December. 

The number of presents required needs to be finalised and confirmed and after then it will not be possible to add any extras. So please order your gifts in time! 

 

The children will be writing their tags in advance so please complete the online form.  

This will help the elves and children make sure the right gifts go to the right people!  

This form will close at 9am on Monday 2nd December. It will not be able to be accessed after this date. 

 

Please make sure that you fill out the online form as well as paying on Eduspot/SchoolMoney, if you do not fill out the online form we will not know who the gifts are intended for. 

22.11.24 

This week the topic has been ‘Diwali’. We have read books about Diwali such as, ‘My first Diwali’ and ‘Rama and Sita’.  

Activities this week at pre-school: 

  • Diwali home corner – The children have been playing in our Diwali home corner with party food, pretend candles and colourful scarfs. They have been having ‘Diwali’ celebrations.  

  • Rangoli pattern craft – We looked at photographs and videos of rangoli patterns. The children made a rangoli craft using 2D sticker shapes, glitter and shape sequins.  

  • Rangoli pattern playdough – The children have been making rangoli patterns in the playdough using 2D shapes.  

  • Henna – We looked at photographs and videos of henna. The children drew around their hands and cut them out. Then they drew henna patterns onto their handprints.  

  • 2D shape printing – The children painted a picture using 2D shape printers. They referred to rangoli patterns for inspiration.  

  • Rangoli rice – The children played with coloured rice and made their own rangoli patterns.  

Next week we will be focusing on the topic ‘Diwali’.  

Phonics: Body percussion  

Develop an awareness of sounds and rhythms. The children have been practising making sounds with their bodies for example, clapping, stomping, tapping, humming.  

 

Important information 

  • Christmas Craft Workshop – Thursday 12th December 9-10am 
    Parents are invited to join in with some Christmas crafts and activities in Codden and Taw classes and try to complete our Elf Challenge. (Due to numbers and ratios this session is only for children who attend Pre-School on a  Thursday). 

 

15/11/24 

This week the topic has been ‘Bonfire night’. We have read books about fireworks and the night-time. For example, ‘How to catch a star’, ‘Goodnight Spaceman’ and ‘What we’ll build’.  

 

Activities this week at pre-school: 

  • Sparklers – we looked at some pictures sent in of the children holding sparklers at home. The children made a ‘sparkler’ out of straws, glitter, stars, tissue paper etc.  

  • Edible sparkler – The children dipped breadsticks into chocolate and sprinkles to make an edible ‘sparkler’ for their snack.  

  • Remembrance Day – On Monday we talked about Remembrance Day and watched some videos on CBeebies. The children painted a poppy and decorated one to wear. The children also made poppies out of red playdough.  

  • Children in Need – On Friday the children dressed up in pyjamas or fancy dress. They made a Pudsey bear out of yellow playdough. The children also painted a Pudsey bear using lots of different colours for the dots.  

  • Fire station small world play- The children played with a wooden fire station, firefighters, fire engines etc.  

  • Fire station role-play – The children helped to make a fire station by painting cardboard the colour red. They dressed up as a fire fighter and played with toys, such as a torch, hose, and microphone.  

  • We talked about fire safety and looked at familiar symbols. For example, fire exit and fire alarm signs.  

  • Firework craft – The children have created lots of firework pictures using a variety of craft materials including glitter, stars, paint.  

  • Firework playdough – The children made fireworks using playdough, star cutters and pipe cleaners.  

  • Firework funky fingers – The children made firework patterns using paintbrushes and glitter.  

 

Next week we will be focusing on the topic ‘Diwali’.  

 

Phonics: Body percussion  

Develop an awareness of sounds and rhythms. The children have been practising making sounds with their bodies for example, clapping, stomping, tapping, humming.  

Important information 

  • School open afternoon - We would like to invite you to our Open Afternoon and Stay and Play session on Thursday 21st November 2024 2-3pm.Throughout the afternoon there will be an opportunity to have a tour of our school and meet children, staff, parents, governors and PTFA member. Families are welcome to spend time playing and exploring in our Early Years Gardens and classrooms.  

08/11/24

This week the topic has been ‘Bonfire night’. We have read books about fireworks and the night-time. For example, ‘How to catch a star’, ‘Goodnight Spaceman’ and ‘What we’ll build’.

Activities this week at pre-school:

  • Fire station small world play- The children played with a wooden fire station, firefighters, fire engines etc.
  • Fire station role-play – The children helped to make a fire station by painting cardboard the colour red. They dressed up as a fire fighter and played with toys, such as a torch, hose, and microphone.
  • We talked about fire safety and looked at familiar symbols. For example, fire exit and fire alarm signs.
  • We watched a fireman Sam video where he talked about ways to keep safe at bonfire night.
  • Firework craft – The children have created lots of firework pictures using a variety of craft materials including glitter, stars, paint.
  • Firework playdough – The children made fireworks using playdough, star cutters and pipe cleaners.
  • Firework funky fingers – The children made firework patterns using paintbrushes and glitter.
  • Light box – The children made fireworks using glittery pop poms, pipe cleaners and 2D shapes.

 

Next week we will be focusing on the topic ‘fireworks’. We will also learn about Remembrance Day and Children in Need.

 

Phonics: Body percussion

Develop an awareness of sounds and rhythms. The children have been practising making sounds with their bodies for example, clapping, stomping, tapping, humming.

 

 

Important information

Tempest Photography will be in school  this Thursday 14th November. If your child usually attends on a Thursday they will be taken by pre-school staff to have their individual and sibling photographs at some point during the day. If your child does not usually attend on a Thursday but you would like them to have their individual and sibling photographs taken, please can a parent/carer take them to the school hall at 8.15am. 

  • Children in Need

This year the school will be raising money for Children in Need by holding a Non-Uniform/Wear your PJ’s day on Friday 15th November. We invite children to take part in a competition for the best Pudsey Spoon! Decorate/dress up a wooden spoon as Pudsey and bring into school to be judged - a winner from each class will be picked and will receive a prize! Have fun creating it! Please donate anything you can via our JustGiving page here

  • PTFA School Disco – Friday 15th November 

RJ Richard is back again for another fun school disco in the village hall, organised by the PTFA. The Disco will take place on Friday 15th November. Please see the times for your child below, depending on their year group. · Pre-School, Reception & Year 1 from 5pm-6pm · Year 2,3,4,5 & 6 from 6.15pm-7.15pm If your child would like to attend the Disco please purchase a ticket via (shop tab) Eduspot/SchoolMoney (no later than Wednesday 13th November, to unable us to finalise numbers.) Tickets cost £3.50 per child and include a drink and a snack. We kindly ask that any preschool and reception aged children have an adult stay with them at the venue for the entirety of the Disco. 

  • School open afternoon - We would like to invite you to our Open Afternoon and Stay and Play session on Thursday 21st November 2024 2-3pm.Throughout the afternoon there will be an opportunity to have a tour of our school and meet children, staff, parents, governors and PTFA member. Families are welcome to spend time playing and exploring in our Early Years Gardens and classrooms.

18.10.24 

This week the topic has been ‘Autumn’. We been talking about the signs of autumn and read books such as ’Pumpkin soup’, ’The squirrels that squabbled’, ’The leaf thief’ etc.  

Activities this week at pre-school: 

  • We read the story ‘Pumpkin Soup’ and made an autumn home corner. The children used the resources in the home corner to act out the story.  

  • Pumpkin scooping – The children scooped out the insides of different sized pumpkins  

  • Pumpkin painting  

  • Painting with leaves. The children made leaf prints onto paper.  

  • Gruffalo small world – We read ‘The Gruffalo’ and the children used small puppets to act out the story with their friends.  

  • Pumpkin craft – The children mixed yellow and red paint to make orange. They then painted a pumpkin picture using cotton buds.  

 

Next week we will be focusing on the topic ‘Autumn’ and reading the story ‘Pumpkin Soup’.  

Phonics: Instrumental sounds 

The children have experimented playing with a variety of instruments. We played the instruments loud, quiet, fast, slow etc.  

 

Important information 

  • On Tuesday 22nd October at 2:45pm a representative from the 5th North Devon Scouts Group will be visiting our school to talk to children and parents about a new Scouting Group - Squirrels which is starting up in Bishops Tawton for children aged 4-5 Years.  We would like to invite parents to join us at 2:45pm in Codden Class if you are interested in finding our more. 

  • School open afternoon - We would like to invite you to our Open Afternoon and Stay and Play session on Thursday 21st November 2024 2-3pm. Throughout the afternoon there will be an opportunity to have a tour of our school and meet children, staff, parents, governors and PTFA member. Families are welcome to spend time playing and exploring in our Early Years Gardens and classrooms. Please see the poster attached for information. 

10.10.24 

This week the topic has been ‘Harvest’. We have read books such as ’The gigantic turnip’, ’A squash and a squeeze’ and ’The little red hen’.  

Activities this week at pre-school: 

  • Farm shop – The children played with real fruit and vegetables in our ‘Farm Shop’.  

  • Autumn tree craft – The children enjoyed painting an autumn tree. They did fingers painting with red and yellow paint. They used the paint to make ‘leaves’ on the tree.  

  • We read ‘The little red hen’ and talked about working together with your friends. The children worked as a team to bake bread like the little red hen in the story.  

  • We cut out cardboard into the shape of a leaf. The children wrapped yellow, red or brown thread around the leaves practising their fine motor skills.  

  • Conker painting – The children rolled conkers in brown paint to make a picture.  

  • Small world farm – The children played with the toy farm and farm animals.  

  • Playdough – The children looked at pictures of farm animals and tried to make them out of playdough. They also used farm animal print stones that make the outlines in the playdough.  

Next week we will be focusing on the topic ‘Autumn’ and reading the story ‘Pumpkin Soup’.  

Phonics: Instrumental sounds 

The children have experimented playing with a variety of instruments. We played the instruments loud, quiet, fast, slow etc.  

 

Important information 

  • On Tuesday 22nd October at 2:45pm a representative from the 5th North Devon Scouts Group will be visiting our school to talk to children and parents about a new Scouting Group - Squirrels which is starting up in Bishops Tawton for children aged 4-5 Years.  We would like to invite parents to join us at 2:45pm in Codden Class if you are interested in finding our more. 

  • School open afternoon on 21st November 2-3pm for parents of September 2025 school starters and new pre-school parents.  

 

04.10.24

This week the topic has been ‘Harvest’. We read stories such as, ‘The Gigantic Turnip’, ‘The scarecrows wedding’, ‘The little red hen’ and ‘A squash and a Squeeze’.

Activities this week at pre-school:

  • Small world farm – The children played with the toy farm and farm animals.
  • Playdough – The children looked at pictures of farm animals and tried to make them out of playdough. They also used farm animal print stones that made animal outlines in the playdough.
  • Scarecrow – The children cut out the different parts of a scarecrow and glued them onto a piece of red or orange card. They tried to stick the parts of the scarecrow back into the correct place.
  • Printing with vegetables – The children painted a repeating pattern using cut out vegetables. For example, carrot, parsnip, carrot, parsnip
  • Hayley brought in some corn from her farm. We rolled the corn in paint and printed it onto paper.
  • Farm shop role play – We talked about the process of growing vegetables and harvesting them. We watched a Tractor Ted Video about harvest and the children talked about where food from the supermarket comes from. The children played with real fruit and vegetables in our ‘Farm Shop’. They then pretended to take their shopping home and use the vegetables to cook a meal.

Next week we will be continuing our harvest topic.

Phonics: Instrumental sounds

The children have experimented playing with a variety of instruments. We played the instruments loud, quiet, fast, slow etc.

 

Important information

27/09/24

This week we have been reading ‘The Colour Monster’.

Pre-school activities this week:

  • Reading the colour monster and using puppets to act out the story
  • Making a colour monster using colour card and craft materials
  • Making a colour monster out of cardboard rolls
  • A group of children worked together to paint a big ‘colour monster’ cut out of cardboard. We used the colours from the book and different shaped paint rollers.
  • Colour monster playdough- The children made their own colour monster out of playdough and playdough toys. They had playdough mats showing different emotions.
  • Colour recognition – The children put different coloured objects into the correct groups.

Next week the topic will be ‘Harvest Festival’. The children are welcome to bring in any books relating to fruit/vegetables, farming etc.

Phonics: Instrumental sounds

The children have experimented playing with a variety of instruments. We played the instruments loud, quiet, fast, slow etc.

Important information

 

20.09.24

This week the topic has been ‘All about me’.

Activities this week at pre-school:

  • Making faces using different 2D shapes and cork boards. We talked about facial features such as eyes, mouth, nose, ears.
  • Exploring shapes – The children helped draw around different 2D shapes on card. We then tried to match the shapes to the correct outline.
  • Emotions and feelings activity – We looked at emotion pebbles which represented different feelings. The children then matched them to picture cards of children showing a variety of facial expressions.
  • Emotions and feelings activity – The children played with a magnetic board in the shape of a monster. They added different features to show different emotions on the monster.
  • Sensory/messy play – Inside a tuff tray we put different coloured spaghetti and outlines of faces. The children used the spaghetti to make pretend hair on the people.
  • Name recognition – We explored magnetic letters and the children tried to recognise letters that are in their name. Adults supported children to write their name using the magnetic letters.

 

Next week we will be focusing on the story ‘The colour monster’ and doing activities based around the book.

 

Phonics: Instrumental sounds

The children have experimented playing with a variety of instruments. We played the instruments loud, quiet, fast, slow etc.

 

Important information

 

 

13.09.24

This week we have been continuing to settle the children into pre-school. We have been getting to know the children and their interests. We have read books such as ‘This is the way we go to school’, ‘Goat goes to play group’ and ‘George’s first day at playgroup’.

Activities this week at pre-school:

  • The children have been exploring the pre-school and finding out what they like to play with.
  • ‘All about me’ playdough – The children have played with miniature family figures and talked about their home life.
  • ‘All about me’ craft – Decorating a paper doll. The children talked about their facial features and what clothes they like to wear
  • The children played with a familiar toys such as, peppa pig, In the night garden and Hey Duggee etc.
  • Kind hands painting – The children did hand painting and we talked about being kind to our friends.
  • Family photos- We shared photographs of our families and the children talked about where they live, who they live with etc.
  • Decorating a gingerbread person to look like them. They used icing to make facial features and clothes.
  • We read the story ‘You Choose’ and the children then cut some copied pictures from the book. The children made a collage of the pictures they liked and were interested in. We talked about their likes, dislikes and interests.
  • Name the feelings activity – We looked at miniature people showing a variety of emotions. The children matched them to pictures cards of real children showing the same emotions.

Phonics: Instrumental sounds

The children have experimented playing with a variety of instruments. We played the instruments loud, quiet, fast, slow etc.

Important information

06.09.24
 
This week we have been welcoming the children back to pre-school. We have been getting to know the children and their interests. We have read books such as ‘This is the way we go to school’, ‘Goat goes to play group’ and ‘George’s first day at playgroup’.
 
Activities this week at pre-school:
 
The children have been exploring the pre-school and finding out what they like to play with.
  •  ‘All about me’ playdough – The children have played with miniature family figures and talked about their home life.
  • ‘All about me’ craft – Decorating a paper doll. The children talked about their facial features and what clothes they like to wear
  • ‘All about me’ pancakes – The children decorated a pancake for snack. They used pieces of fruit to make a face on their pancake.
  • Colour mixing and exploring paint – The children explored mixing different coloured paints using their hands.
  • The children played with a familiar toys such as, peppa pig, In the night garden and Hey Duggee etc.
 
Important information