Shining Start Class is a welcoming and stimulating environment where every child is celebrated. Our child-centred approach ensures that teaching is adapted to meet individual needs, allowing children to make exceptional progress. Our ambitious curriculum provides rich and engaging experiences, while our carefully designed classroom offers a supportive space for learning and exploration. Through individualised planning, we help children achieve small steps towards their goals, fostering confidence and independence.

Our Team is made up of:

• Mrs McNeil (Specialist Teaching and Learning Assistant)
• Mrs Wheatley (Teaching Assistant, Afternoons)
• Miss Hatton (Care Assistant)
• Miss Miller (Care Assistant)
• Miss Mansey (Robins Class Teacher)
• Mr Judge (EYFS Coordinator and Shining Start Coordinator)
• Mrs Bourne (SENDCo)

Each child has a reading diary and two books to take home:

• A reading book matched to their reading ability.
• A sharing book to enjoy together at home.

Please read with your child at least three times a week and practise the phonemes (sounds) and tricky words recorded in their reading diary. Reading regularly at home helps to build confidence, fluency and a love of reading.

Please sign the reading diary after each read. Further guidance and support can be found inside the diary.

Developing strong maths skills starts with lots of practical experiences and everyday opportunities to explore numbers.

Your child will receive login details for NumBots and Times Tables Rock Stars, where they can practise number skills, multiplication and division facts. We also recommend Hit the Button, which helps children develop addition, subtraction, number bonds, doubling and halving skills.

How can I help?

• Count everyday objects such as toys, stairs, fruit or cars.
• Spot numbers in the environment, such as house numbers, buses and road signs.
• Sing number rhymes and songs together.
• Play simple board games and dice games to develop counting skills.
• Practise recognising, ordering and writing numbers.
• Talk about shapes, patterns, size and measure during everyday activities.
• Encourage your child to solve simple problems, such as sharing objects equally or finding one more and one less.

Making maths part of everyday life helps children develop confidence, fluency and a positive attitude towards mathematics.

Forest School takes place every Monday afternoon with Miss Stevenson and is always a highlight of the week for our Reception children.

Children enjoy a wide range of exciting outdoor activities, including creating nature art, making clay sculptures, exploring the natural environment, learning about the world around them and gathering around campfires for special treats. Forest School provides valuable opportunities for children to build confidence, develop independence and learn through hands-on experiences.

We provide wellies for every child. However, if you would prefer your child to bring their own, please ensure they are clearly named and sent into school in a bag.

Please be aware that Forest School can be a little muddy and messy, but that's all part of the fun! ??????

PE takes place on Tuesday and Friday. Please ensure your child comes to school wearing their PE kit on these days and that all clothing is clearly labelled.

PE kit should include:

• White or pale blue T-shirt (with or without the school logo)
• Plain black or navy sweatshirt, or school sweatshirt
• Plain black or navy shorts
• Plain black or navy jogging bottoms or leggings (no logos or large branding)
• Trainers or black plimsolls

Each term, your child will receive a homework booklet containing fun activities, as well as reading, maths and tricky word practice.

Please support your child to complete the activities, sign them off and return the booklet to the class team every Monday. Homework is marked on Mondays, and children can earn points for completed work which can be exchanged for rewards and prizes.

Photos of completed homework can be emailed to:

homework@ironvillecodnorpark.derbyshire.sch.uk

Please send your child to school each day with a clearly labelled water bottle containing water only.

Children in EYFS and Key Stage 1 are provided with a piece of fruit each day as part of their morning snack, so there is no need to send an additional snack from home.