In Autumn 1, our topic will be Marvellous Me, with a special focus on helping the children settle into school life, build relationships and develop a sense of belonging. We will spend time getting to know one another, learning our classroom routines and discovering what makes each of us special. Through play, stories and everyday experiences, the children will begin to develop our Homefields core values of Kindness, Courage and Respect, while building the confidence and independence they need to thrive at school.

Key Stories:

• There’s Only One You – We will explore what makes each of us unique, celebrating our individuality and encouraging children to talk about themselves and what makes them special.

• You Choose – Through this story, the children will explore making choices, sharing their preferences and developing confidence in expressing their ideas.

• All About Families – We will talk about the people who are important to us, sharing experiences and learning that families can be different in many ways.

Building Relationships and Settling into School

Our first priority will be helping the children feel happy, safe and secure in their new classroom. We will learn the names of our friends and adults, practise sharing and taking turns, and begin to understand how we can work and play together. Through our daily routines, the children will develop independence, confidence and a growing sense of belonging.

Our Homefields Values and Attitudes

We will introduce and model our school values of Kindness, Courage and Respect, helping the children understand what these look and feel like in everyday school life. We will encourage children to have a go, persevere when things are tricky, listen to others and celebrate their own and others’ achievements. We will also begin to explore the idea of the learning pit, helping children understand that making mistakes and trying again are important parts of learning.

Understanding Ourselves and Our Families

Through our core books, the children will talk about themselves, their interests and the people who are important to them. We will explore what makes us unique, share experiences and learn that families can be different in many ways.

Personal, Social and Emotional Development

We will begin to explore different emotions, learning to recognise and name feelings such as happy, sad, angry, tired and excited. Through stories, discussions and our Zones of Regulation approach, the children will begin to understand their feelings and learn simple strategies to help them feel calm and ready to learn.

Communication and Language

Developing confident communicators will be a key focus throughout the term. The children will have lots of opportunities to talk with adults and friends, listen to stories, share their ideas and experiences, and learn new vocabulary. We will encourage children to take turns in conversations, listen attentively and begin to express themselves in full sentences.

Literacy and Phonics

We will enjoy a range of stories, rhymes and songs, developing a love of reading and encouraging the children to join in with familiar language. The children will begin Phase 2 phonics, learning new sounds and practising oral blending, sounding out and blending words. They will also have opportunities to develop their early writing skills through mark making, name writing and purposeful writing in their play.

Maths

The children will begin to develop their mathematical understanding through daily maths sessions and purposeful play. We will explore matching, sorting and comparing, numbers to 5, simple patterns and 2D shapes, while encouraging children to notice and talk about the maths they see around them.

Exploring the World

We will explore the children’s own lives, families and the world around them. Through our discussions and play, we will begin to learn about different people, communities and celebrations, including Harvest, Diwali and Black History Month. The children will also explore the changing weather and seasons, making observations and talking about what they notice.

Creative and Expressive Learning

The children will have opportunities to explore a range of materials, colours and techniques, creating artwork linked to themselves, their families and our stories. We will also enjoy singing, music, movement and imaginative play, encouraging children to express themselves creatively and develop their confidence.