Summer Term

Welcome to the final term of the year! It’s a truly special time, filled with exciting learning, new discoveries, and preparations for the children’s next big adventure as they get ready to move on to “big school.”

First Half Term: Animals and Their Babies
We begin the term by building on last half term’s learning with our topic Animals and Their Babies. The children will explore how all animals have offspring, while discovering that not all babies look like their parents. Through stories, play, and hands-on experiences, they will learn about farm and woodland animals, their habitats, and how animals grow and change over time. We will also explore how animals adapt to different environments and climates.

This topic provides a wonderful opportunity to introduce caring for the world around us, supported by learning linked to Earth Day. The children will begin to understand how we can all help look after our environment in simple, meaningful ways.

In maths, we will continue developing number confidence by recognising numbers 1–10 through songs, storytelling, and practical investigations.
In phonics, children will revisit familiar sounds, practise identifying initial sounds, and develop their writing and mark-making skills.
In literacy, we will continue to build language skills through stories, discussions, and engaging activities linked to our topic.

Second Half Term: Heroes and Adventures
After the May half term, we move on to our final topic of the year: Heroes and Adventures. This inspiring theme introduces the children to people from the past who have helped shape our world, including artists, scientists, explorers, and leaders. We will revisit key ideas about the past, present, and future, while encouraging the children to imagine and create their own exciting adventures.

Alongside this, we will be supporting the children as they prepare for their transition to “big school,” building confidence, independence, and a sense of readiness for the next stage of their journey.

In literacy, we will explore rhymes and traditional poetry, helping to strengthen phonics awareness and an understanding of rhyme.
In maths, the children will develop their understanding of volume, weight, and comparing quantities such as more, fewer, and the same through practical activities and play-based learning.

Throughout this final term, our aim is to nurture confident, curious learners who feel excited to ask questions, explore new ideas, and develop their understanding of the wonderful world around them.

Recommended Websites and Apps

Is your child ready for school? Not sure? Check out Pacey's website which is a great tool for helping you to understand your child's learning. If your not sure, please speak to a staff member of Hill Class who can help you.

https://www.pacey.org.uk/working-in-childcare/spotlight-on/being-school-ready/#parents

Phonics play is a great resource for early education games. As we learn new skills, we will include the link on our weekly post or you can research them by using this link.

https://www.phonicsplay.co.uk/

A selection of free interactive games to support your child’s developing phonic knowledge (some games do require a paid subscription).

https://www.oxfordowl.co.uk/

Tapestry Learning Journals

At our Nursery, every child is provided with a Tapestry learning journal. This platform allows us to document your child's progress and share details about daily activities and special events. We encourage parents to review their child’s journal on a weekly basis. Additionally, you can use this wonderful tool to communicate with us about your child's learning experiences at home. Your involvement is invaluable in supporting your child's growth and development!

https://tapestryjournal.com/

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