Topic for the term

This half-term our topic is:

What Happened to the Dinosaurs?

Everyone knows that dinosaurs are big and scary; but how do we know this… During our new topic the children will discover how to recognise a dinosaur by its feet, experience an archaeological dig, create fossils and design their own dinosaur!

You can see more detail in our topic tree here.

Literacy and RWI

We will continue with our RWI sessions with a session each day this term. It is important to remember that all children develop at a different pace. At this time of the year, some children are ready to word build, while others are learning their sounds. This is all very normal! We will continue to help your child progress at their own pace in a fun and interactive way. If you have any concerns or worries, please do chat with a member of the Beehive team. We are always happy to provide feedback, help and advice. All children will also be assessed by our EYFS RWI specialist, Mrs Moutrey, this term to ensure we have an accurate picture of their current stage of development.

Our main Topic Book this term is, ‘The Lighthouse Keeper’s Cat.’ We will also share our book of the week on the Friday board, along with the new RWI sound. Please try to share as many books at home as possible with your child. This is the time to develop a love of reading, and I’m sure all the children enjoy a snuggle at bedtime with an enjoyable book! Again, please do get in contact if you need any recommendations.

Maths

The children will continue to follow our bespoke Beehive Curriculum this term. We will  focus on the numbers 1-10, including writing them independently. We will also look at shapes; identifying them in our environment and using positional language, as well as measurement, such as weight and capacity. Outdoor Maths will be part of extension work using the sweet shop, hook a duck, garden equipment and water troughs.

Health & Wellbeing

For all absences, please complete the absence request form via the Parent Portal. Please see the guide here on how to request an absence for your child.

Please ensure your child is well enough to attend school each day. If they’ve required Calpol in the morning, they aren’t well enough for school, so please don’t send them in. If in any doubt, please contact Matron to discuss your concerns.

If your child will need any prescribed or over-the-counter medication administered during the school day, please complete the following form here. No medication can be administered without this form.

This term we will be focusing on self-belief, and achieving a ‘good goodbye’ in preparation for moving on into Reception at the end of the term. Our activities will involve recognising emotions, in addition to naming parts of the body and road safety.

Transition Activities

It is really beneficial for the children moving up to Reception in September to get to know the Reception staff and learning environment this term. Therefore, we will be ensuring that each child takes part in activities to help them prepare, including:

  • developing focus
  • practicing fine motor skills
  • extending working memory
  • sparking inspiration
  • enjoying independent tasks.

Additionally, the children will have the opportunity to spend time in Reception this term, as well as get to know the Reception staff team really well. Our goal is to make the transition, when it comes, as smooth as possible. It is such an exciting time for the children and we will be there every step of the way!

Tuesday 25th June will be our Moving Up Day, where all the children moving in to Reception, will spend the day in the Reception classrooms. That evening we will also be hosting a ‘Meet the Teacher’ evening, where parents are invited to come in to school to find out more about day-to-day life in Reception, and get to know the Reception team.

More information, along with Reception class lists, will follow towards the middle of the term.

Beehive Routine

A reminder children may be brought to the Beehive between 8:20am – 9:00am for registration. Children arriving earlier should please be booked in for breakfast from 7:30am or join our Early Birds in the Beehive garden from 8:00am.

As part of the changes to the nursery timings, we have introduced new options for the morning session. Parents have the flexibility to choose whether to collect their child before lunch, at 12:00pm, or to have them stay for lunch and be collected at 12:30pm.

For a smooth transition, we will be using the side door directly into Beehive (next to the garden) for drop-off and pick-up. This will help us maintain a controlled and organized process.

The afternoon session will now begin at 12:00pm and continue until 3:30pm. Children attending just afternoon sessions, and arriving at 12:00pm, will not be served lunch.

The afternoon session finishes at 3:30pm, and again, we will be using the side door directly into Beehive (next to the garden) for drop-off and pick-up.

If you’d like your child to join us for breakfast, or stay beyond 3:30pm, please contact extendedday@pennthorpe.com to arrange this.

Dates for your Diary

As well as your pocket-sized diary, parents can also view the Summer Term calendar via the website and Parent Portal.

Please do have a look through and pop important dates in your diary.  Of course, sometimes plans need to be updated, and so any changes will be updated on our electronic calendar and communicated to you as soon as possible.

The key events for our Beehive parents include:

  • Beehive Class Teacher Parents’ Evening is scheduled for Thursday 16th May with appointments starting from 4:15pm.
  • On Monday 20th May the Pre-Prep children will celebrate ‘Dinosaur Day’.
  • The Honey Pot & Beehive children will be teaming up for a Teddy Bears’ Picnic on Tuesday 21st May.
  • Sports Day followed by our Pennthorpe Family Summer Social will be taking place on Friday 24th May.
  • Parents are invited to a Read, Write Inc Come & See What We Do session on Monday 10th June at 9:00am.
  • The Honey Pot and Beehive Showcase & Celebration Huddle will be held on Friday 21st June.
  • Tuesday 25th June is our ‘Meet the Teacher’ evening, an opportunity to meet key staff for the next academic year.
  • Music for a Summer’s Evening on Thursday 27th June.
  • The children are invited to dress up for our Whole School ‘Be You’ Dress Up Day on Friday 28th June to celebrate PSHEE & Diversity Spotlight Week.
  • Save the date for our Pennthorpe Golf Day on Sunday 30th June.
  • Monday 8th July is Prizegiving for children in Honey Pot, Beehive and Reception.
  • Wednesday 10th July is the end of term with school finishing for Beehive at 11:40am.

FoP events

Our brilliant Friends of Pennthorpe, as always, will be doing lots to support our school and community this term. Key things for you to watch out for include:

  • Bags of Support collections on Friday 26th April and Friday 14th June.
  • The Summer Term Friends of Pennthorpe meeting is scheduled for Thursday. 2nd May at 8:30am. Everyone is welcome to attend to help develop upcoming FoP plans.
  • After school Ice Cream Sale on Friday 17th May.
  • The Friends of Pennthorpe Father’s Day Shop will open its doors on Wednesday 12th June.
  • The Friends of Pennthorpe AGM will be held on Tuesday 18th June.
  • Friends of Pennthorpe Second Hand Uniform Shop & Blueblood Sports Pop Up Shop on Tuesday 25th June.

Uniform

Beehive uniform remains much the same in the Summer Term, a Pennthorpe sweatshirt, polo shirt, jogging bottoms or shorts. We ask that the children wear white socks and black shoes.

Please make sure your child has a sun hat and sun cream in school during the Summer Term, as the weather gets warmer. Please also apply sun cream before the children come to school as we will be outside as much as possible. We cannot provide sun cream in school so it is essential that children bring this in themselves.

The children should also have their play coat, waterproof clothing and wellies in school at all times, as we will get outside in all weathers at break times, as well as for our Forest School sessions on Tuesdays. If things get particularly muddy, these will be sent home to be washed, but please can they be returned to school on the following Monday.

Please make sure that children have spare clothes in school, including pants and socks, as there will be lots of opportunities for the children to get messy! These can be kept in a drawstring bag on your child’s peg. Please name everything clearly!

On Tuesdays and Thursdays, the children have PE so please ensure they have named trainers in school. The Sports Department will support the children in changing their shoes as this is an important part of their development. Any support in encouraging your child to dress and undress independently would be very much appreciated!

If you have any uniform requirements, please place an order via our website here. You can also book an appointment at the Uniform Shop by contacting uniform@pennthorpe.com or drop in during the times below:

  • Monday 8:30am – 9:30am
  • Tuesday 3:30pm – 4:30pm
  • Wednesday 3:30pm – 4:30pm
  • Thursday CLOSED
  • Friday 8:30am – 9:30am

Car park

Please do not park in the drop-off lanes at the front of school if you are coming past the gates to drop your child into school, or collect them from outside of the Beehive. These lanes are intended for dropping-off only!

Instead, please park up in the car park, or find a safe place to park on the neighbouring roads (being considerate of our neighbours, especially with regards parking near to junctions or driveways).

Mrs Jackson is available at the start of the day to help children to walk from the front of school down to the Pre-Prep independently of parents. Please do use this option if you are in a rush and need to drop your child and leave. Mrs Jackson always has some ‘Independent Iggy’ stickers to reward children for being grown up and independent 🙂