What We’ve Been Learning This Half Term

What a wonderful first few weeks we have had in Rowley Owls! We have been busy settling into our new routines, building relationships and developing our confidence as we explore our exciting learning environment.

Our theme of ‘All About Me’ has given us lots of opportunities to talk about ourselves, our families and the people who are important to us. We have also been learning how to share, take turns, be kind and care for our friends. We are becoming more independent as we learn to manage our nursery routines and look after ourselves and our environment.

Autumn and Harvest

We have loved exploring the changes that autumn brings! We have noticed changes in the trees, leaves and weather and collected natural objects to investigate. We have also been learning all about harvest, exploring different vegetables in our allotment and talking about where our food comes from.

Our learning has been very hands-on! We have dug, explored and investigated vegetables before using them in our creative activities, including vegetable printing and painting. We have certainly enjoyed getting messy!

Maths

In Maths, we have been developing our understanding of number, shape, size and sorting through practical play and everyday experiences. We have been exploring towers of 3, counting objects and noticing when we have three. We have also been comparing tall and short, using our bodies and resources to explore different heights.

We have enjoyed sorting objects by their properties, including colour, and have been encouraged to explain how and why we have grouped things together.

Super Sounds

Our phonics learning has focused on developing the important listening skills children need before they begin learning individual letter sounds. Through our Super Sounds activities, we have been listening carefully to sounds in our environment and learning to recognise and match them.

We have explored animal sounds, object sounds and environmental sounds, playing listening and matching games and developing our ability to tune into and remember different sounds. We have also been enjoying lots of songs, rhymes and opportunities to talk!

Communication, Language and Early Writing

We have been using Makaton signs alongside spoken language to support our communication and help us express our needs, ideas and feelings.

Nursery is full of opportunities to develop language, mark making and early writing skills. We have started Squiggle While You Wiggle, using big movements, music and whole-body actions to develop the strength, coordination and control needed for future writing.

Learning Through Play

Our continuous provision has been carefully planned to encourage children to explore, investigate, create and problem-solve. From messy and creative activities to construction, small world, role play, sensory exploration and outdoor adventures, there are lots of opportunities for children to follow their interests and develop their skills through play.

Looking Back

Most importantly, this half term has been about belonging. We have been learning that Nursery is a safe and happy place where we can make friends, try new things, become more independent and have lots of fun while we learn.

We are so proud of how far the children have come already and cannot wait to see what they get up to next!