Starfish Class
Welcome to the Starfish Class webpage
Welcome children and families to our home page. This year we have lots of exciting playing and learning opportunities ahead of us.
Starfish Class comprises of our amazing EYFS children who just love to learn through play!
Class team
Class Teacher: Miss H Young
Learning Support: Ms L Davis and Mrs H Baker
Class documents
Starfish Class Timetable
starfish class timetable pdf.pdf
Our Learning
As a school, we follow the Cornerstones Curriculum. Each ‘short’ term (6 times a year) the topics change. There is always one main theme followed by a companion project.
Term 1 'Let's Explore' - This project teaches children about the environments that they share with others, including their homes, school and places in the local community. 'Build it up' - This project teaches children about structures and materials and gives them the opportunity to work in groups to create collaborative structures.
Term 2 'Marvellous machines' - This interest-led project teaches children about the technology that is part of their daily lives and how machines help us. The project gives children the opportunity to build and create marvellous machines. 'Puppets and pop-ups' - This creative project explores puppets and pop up books and gives children the opportunity to make puppets and use them to tell exciting stories.
Term 3 'Long ago' - This project teaches children about how they have grown and changed since they were babies and how life in the past was different from today. 'Stories and rhymes' - This project teaches children about traditional stories and rhymes and gives them the opportunity to play with words and learn new vocabulary.
Term 4 'Ready steady grow' - This project teaches children about food and farming and explores themes, including where food comes from, what plants and animals need to grow and survive and what constitutes a healthy lifestyle. 'Signs of spring' -This project teaches children about the changes that happen during the spring, including weather and the festivals that are celebrated at this time of year.
Term 5 'Animal safari' - This project teaches children about the animals that live around the world, how to look after animals and the importance of caring for our local and global environments. 'Creep, crawl and wriggle' - This mini project teaches children about invertebrates that live in their gardens and local environment.
Term 6 'On the beach' - This project teaches children about the plants and animals that live at the seaside. It also explores holidays in the past and the importance of keeping safe in the Sun. 'Move it' - This mini project teaches children about the importance of exercise, sleep and a balanced diet, and explores outdoor, summer games and activities. 'Moving on' - This Reception-only project celebrates the children’s successes throughout their Reception year. It explores how they have grown and changed and supports them with the changes to come as they move into Year 1.
Read Write Inc
In EYFS at Bethersden our children develop their phonetic knowledge through the popular phonics scheme Read Write Inc (RWI). Our children will begin their phonics journey by learning their set 1 sounds this includes learning to say, identify and write them. As we learn these sounds we will begin blending the sounds together to read simple words with the help of our Read Write Inc companion Fred the frog.
Mastering Number and Power Maths
Mastering Number - Mastering Number is a National Centre for Excellence in Teaching Mathematics (NCETM) programme that builds a strong foundation in number sense. It uses hands-on manipulatives to help children develop fluency and flexibility with numbers, focusing on concepts like subitising (instantly recognising small groups of items), composition (breaking numbers into parts), decomposition (recombining parts to make a whole), and more. The programme helps children move beyond simply counting to truly understanding number relationships, setting them up for future mathematical success. Power Maths - In addition to Mastering Number we embroid our children's mathematical knowledge through the Power Maths 'shape' programme.Drawing Club
In addition to phonics, maths and the wider curriculum we have recently embarked on the very exciting adventure of 'Drawing Club' based around the golden blend of picture books, tales and animations, it involves a short period of time together as a whole class followed by time with children exploring their ideas and creativity. Drawing Club immerses children in the world of story and show them the joy of who you are, share a treasure trove of vocabulary with children to open up the playground of language to them and much more. Watch this space!
Play!
In EYFS at Bethersden we continue to value the power of play and opportunities to learn, play and explore no matter the weather both inside and outside the classroom. Our children continue to enjoy building, digging, racing, working collaboratively, creating, imagining and more in our 'outstanding' provision...
EYFS Play
Home learning
Here at Bethersden our priority with home learning is reading. Please ensure you are reading with your child at least 4 times a week, these can be logged in your child's yellow reading record. If your child is accessing Read Write Inc. in school, a weekly eBook will be set for your child every Thursday. This can be accessed via Oxford Owl.
Home learning will be set termly for children and their families to work through over a number of weeks - introducing Bethersden Bingo! These will cover a number of curriculum topics areas, tasks will range from physical activities, discussions, questions to explore, projects etc. – all activities we hope you will enjoy! Once a task has been completed, cross it off the bingo list. Below is an example of our Bethersden Bingo of which has been set previously.
We are looking forward to continued support with home learning.
Tapestry
Tapestry is an online Childhood Education Platform in which we use to capture all of your child's learning and magic moments. You can access your child's Tapestry online learning journal online or through the app. On Tapestry you will find photos, videos and detailed descriptions of your child's achievements
Useful links
How can you help your child?
- Engage with all home learning activities including reading and your home learning tasks.
- Spend time with your child on Tapestry talking about your child’s learning that has been captured to celebrate their successes and achievements and reflect on what they have learnt.
- Ensure your child sleeps well and has a healthy breakfast to prepare them for the school day.
- Please provide appropriate clothing for outdoor learning, we will not let the weather stop us!
- Ensure your child brings a water bottle to school, hydration is essential to help your child learn and play.
Contact us
In Starfish Class we have an open door policy. We are always available after school if you need a quick catch up. If you need a longer or more private meeting, please book this through the office and we will be happy to accommodate.
We are so excited to continue our learning journey with you...
Very best wishes,
Miss Young and your EYFS Team
