Early Years Foundation Stage
Assistant Headteacher EYFS
Alice Mansell
Pre-School
Spring Term 1 Knowledge Organiser – 2025/2026
The latest Pre-School Learning Update!
This term, our pre-schoolers have been busy exploring the world of minibeasts. They have enjoyed identifying and naming a variety of insects they have discovered, making links to our story of the week. The children particularly loved going on bug hunts, where they found creatures such as snails, ants and practised counting them together.
Alongside this, the children have taken part in a range of creative activities. They have made their own “bug fossils”, bug collages and explored mark-making by representing different insects in ways that reflect their stage of development. These experiences have supported their understanding of the natural world, while also encouraging early maths skills, creativity, and fine motor development.
Next few weeks, we will continue to build on the children’s interests by exploring even more minibeasts. We will be learning and singing minibeast-themed songs and introducing new vocabulary through stories, discussions, and play to help further develop the children’s communication skills and deepen their knowledge of the world around them.
PSED- Safely explore through play and stories
C&L – Learn new vocabulary & Enjoy singing and music
L- Enjoy sharing books with an adult.
Nursery
Summer Term 1 Knowledge Organiser – 2025/2026
The latest Nursery Learning Update!
Our topic is ‘Beautiful Beasts’ in which we will discover and learn about a variety of minibeasts.
In Literacy we will be reading ‘The Very Lazy Ladybird’ and ‘The Very Busy Spider’. The children will engage in longer conversations, learning and using new vocabulary. They will also begin to use their print and letter knowledge in early writing, such as making lists or writing initial sounds like ‘m’ for mummy.
In Maths the children will develop their counting skills by reciting numbers beyond 5 and matching one number to each object. They will understand that the last number counted tells how many there are, use fingers to represent numbers to 5, describe sequences using words like ‘first’ and ‘then’, and begin to explore their own marks and numerals.
In Understanding of the World the children will explore natural materials using all their senses through hands-on experiences. They will also explore and compare different materials, noticing how they are similar and different.
In Expressive Arts and Design the children will explore materials and choose how to use them to create their own ideas. They will also play instruments with more control to express their feelings.
As part of our learning in PSED the children choose and use activities, with support when needed, to reach a goal. They are also learning to talk about their feelings using words like ‘happy’, ‘sad’, ‘angry’ and ‘worried’.
Dear parents and carers,
On your adventures with your children, please collect any of the following, which will help us replenish our natural materials:
- Twigs
- Small sticks
- Small stones
- Small wooden logs
- Pebbles
- Seashells
- Conkers
- Acorns
- And any other natural material that you think the children may love to explore.
Kindest,
The Nursery Team
Reception
Summer Term 1 Knowledge Organiser – 2025/2026
The latest Reception Learning Update!
PSED
In PSED, we will be thinking about how and why we listen. We will play a series of listening games whereby children will give focused attention to what the teacher says and then respond appropriately, showing their ability to follow instructions involving multiple ideas at once.
C&L
In C&L, Reception will reflect on the core book, The Big Book of Bugs and they will use their new vocabulary, linked to minibeasts, in a wide range of contexts.
PD
In PD, Reception will develop their fine and gross motor skills as they build bug hotels. Children will bend and manipulate recycled materials and join them with tape and glue.
Mathematics
In Maths, Reception will focus on addition. They will begin by counting on and then adding more to an amount. Children will further consolidate counting to 20; please can we ask parents to encourage to children to do lots of counting at home as some are getting their teen numbers jumbled up!
Literacy
Linked to our minibeasts topic, we will continue to look at the non-fiction Big Book of Bugs. Children will be writing descriptions of minibeasts, looking closely at their physical features.
UTW
In UTW, Reception will continue to explore microhabitats. They will compare and contrast the environments in which minibeasts live and discuss why they prefer some conditions over others.
EA&D
In EA&D, Reception will be focusing on creating collaboratively, sharing ideas resources and skills when they work on their bug hotels.
The Reception team would like to remind you to bring in your child’s reading journal and school book on a Wednesday so it can be changed and return on a Friday.
