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Autumn Term

Autumn 1
Welcome to RD. On this page we will post photographs regularly so that you can see your child in school and find out about what we are learning in Reception. 
On Wednesday 3rd of September we welcomed our first Reception intake. The children were so grown up and sensible. They enjoyed exploring the provision and completing some creative tasks with their grown ups first. Then they stayed in school all on their own for the rest of the morning. Children and grown ups then enjoyed a school dinner together in the hall. The children were wonderful listeners and we are so excited to welcome then back on Monday morning. 
On Thursday 4th September our second group of children came for their transition morning. What a wonderful morning our second group of children have had! Take a look at all the fun activities we have taken part in. 
On Friday 5th of September our third group of Reception starters began school. The children had a lovely morning. We saw some wonderful examples of team work and sharing. 
Welcome to Blakehill! The whole new Reception cohort arrived this morning. We had a lovely first day together. 
What a wonderful class we have this year! Look how smart the children look in their new uniforms. 
Today we had our first music session with Mr Graham. Mr Graham comes to teach us music every week. Today he introduced his guitar and taught us the 'Hello' song. We enjoyed singing some familiar songs such as Incy Wincy Spider and The Wheels on the Bus. We even had a go at standing up and moving to the music. We finished by singing the 'Goodbye' song. 
Zones of Regulation 
PSHE  This week in Reception we have been working on embedding routines and rules. We have been doing a short circle time each day talking about our feelings and emotions. In school we use the Zones or Regulation. The children helped to make posters to show their understanding. We did this as an oracy session each day. 
We continued our PHSE learning by reading the Colour Monster book. We then worked together to sort out photographs showing emotions. We decided which zone they should be in. 
Reception wore their PE kits today and went to the hall to learn about what we do in PE. We are excited to take part in our first full lesson next Friday. 
Today we had our first Phase 2 phonics lesson. The children learned the 's' grapheme and phoneme. 
Our provision supported the children in learning the 's' sound. We match some of our provision with the sounds we are teaching. There are swirls and spirals to create, squashing, scooping, sorting and squeezing in the water and sorting smelly socks in the sand. 
We are exploring the seasons in Reception (Science). We are spotting signs signs of Autumn and providing extra seasonal opportunities in our provision. 
Early Writing (L) and Fine Motor (PD)
Every day in Reception we take part in Dough Disco. We pick our favourite music and then manipulate the dough to strengthen our fingers. Our fingers need to be strong in order for us to write. We squeeze, roll, pinch, poke, smack and nip. 
Making Dough (KUW, PD, CLL)
Every week Mrs Spivey works with a small group of children to make playdough for our classroom. The children measure ingredients and make their own bowl of dough. 
This week our provision supports many aspects of our EYFS curriculum. We have opened our woodland area and are encouraging exploring, digging and using imagination (Science KUW, PD, EAD). Children can take part in bug hunts using magnifying glasses and clipboards (KUW). 
We are investigating signs of Autumn in our outdoor and indoor areas (KUW CLL).
 
We have been enhancing our provision with phonics activities such as matching initial sounds with objects (Phonics, L, CLL). We have also focussed on developing fine and gross motor activities PE (PD). All of our provision encourages sharing and turn taking (PSED) and promotes listening and talk (CLL). 
Sensory Circuits
Before learning time, children can take part in a sensory circuit. This is a time for children to be physical and practise following instructions (PD, CL, PSED)
PE (PD, PSED, CLL) Children in Reception took part in a dance workshop. Children followed instructions to take part in a hip hop dance. We had lots of fun!
Phonics (CLL, KUW)
Today we went on a listening walk. We walked around the inside and outside of our school and listened for sounds. We learnt about the skills we need to become good listeners and used our skills to identify sounds. We heard footsteps, talking, music, birds, traffic and the wind. We wore our listening hats on our walk. we made these ourselves and cut the ears out with scissors (PD- fine motor control).
International Day (KUW, CLL)
The children in school were all given a different country to celebrate in school. Reception were given France. We came to school dressed in red, white and blue. In the afternoon we learnt some French songs!
Phonics- Phase 1 (CLL)
Children in Reception are still working very hard to develop their listening skills. Phase 1 phonics underpins all our phonics teaching. We spend time every day practising Phase 1 phonics activities. We have been playing a musical instrument game. Children listen to the different sounds made by the instruments. We then take turns to hide in the tent. When we hide the other children play an instrument. We have to guess which sound we can hear. 
Art (EAD)
We had a go at designing and making our own gingerbread people. We used different resources to make them extra special. 
The Three Little Pigs
Literacy (CLL)- We introduced the story of The Three Little Pigs. We had a look at some resources to help us predict what our new story might be about. 
We have enhanced our provision this week to develop the learning in Reception.
Maths 
Toady we learned about the meaning of more and less. We looked at different representations of quantity and talked about the meaning of more and less. We concluded our lesson by playing a game. Children were shown two quantities. They had to decide which represented more and which represented less. 
Maths
We investigated size in Reception. We looked at the vocabulary we use to describe size. To help the children to understand we created a Teddy Bear picnic. The children organised the picnic items according to size. 
We have enhanced our provision this week to support our learning in Reception. Take a look at some of our amazing activities. 
Maths
Comparing mass. Today we made our own weighing scale. We compared the mass of classroom objects, predicting which might be the heaviest and the lightest first. 
Science (KUW, CLL)
We went on an Autumn Walk around our school grounds. We searched for signs of Autumn. We talked about the changing seasons and what we might see, hear, smell, taste and touch. We gathered evidence of Autumn to use in our provision. The leaves will come in very handy as we are making some Autumn leaf printing!
Wear Yellow for Mental Health Day (October 2025)
Science (KUW, CLL, PD)
As part of our Autumn exploration, this week we are adding pumpkins into our provision. Children are using their senses to investigate. 
Maths 
We have been learning to use our body to make a pattern. We have used claps, taps, stamps, turns and jumps to create repeating patterns. We have used musical instruments to make patterns in music. We played a game in provision where children sit back to back with a partner and try to re-create each others musical patterns. 
Halloween has come to Blakehill Primary School (KUW- celebrations)
Our provision has been inspired by all things spooky this week!
Break the Rules Day!
Bradford- City of Culture (KUW, CLL, EAD)
We have been learning about where we live. We looked at a globe and found the United Kingdom. We used google maps to find Bradford and even found our school. We have been learning about Bradford. Years ago Bradford was famous because it produced lots of wool. That is why we have a lot of Mills still in Bradford. We had a go at making sheep. We learnt how the sheep wool went to the mills to be turned into yarn and then into clothes and carpets. 
Scavenger Hunt (KUW, CLL, PD)
We did an Autumn Scavenger Hunt. The children searched for picture clues and used a clipboard and tick sheet to record what they found. Lots of fun!
Space (KUW)
This half term we will be exploring space. Take a look at our space themed provision enhancements to kick start our exciting new learning. 
Planetarium (KUW, CLL)
We had a visit from Wonderdome. We went inside the Wonderdome and we saw the sun and the planets. We sang a song about the planets. We took a rollercoaster ride through space and watched a rocket launch. We loved seeing how Earth looks from space. We finished our Wonderdome experience by watching an amazing firework display. 
Shapes (maths, CLL)
We spotted and recognised 2D shapes. Today we investigated and sorted triangles and circles. 
Bonfire Night Fun! 
We learned about the tradition of Bonfire Night (KUW). Following this we created firework pictures using chalk pastels and black paper (EAD).
Chocolate sparklers
The children in reception made chocolate sparklers to celebrate Bonfire Night. This helped the children to share and take turns (PSED). Whilst the children were making their sparklers they shared their bonfire experiences (CLL, KUW)
We have enhanced some of our provision to develop curiosity and talk opportunities.
Maths- positional language.
Today we introduced positional language. We used the bears to show our understanding. 
Provision enhancements
Take a look at our new exciting areas of provision. 
Children in Need
Today we celebrated Children in Need. Children wore special clothes and we talked about helping others (UTW and PSED). 
Maths
2D shape sorting. we have learnt the properties of familiar 2D shapes. We worked together to identify and sort them. (Maths, CLL)
Christmas
Well it is that time of the year again when we begin to prepare for Christmas in Reception. Our classroom has been enhanced to provide children with the opportunity to explore and question the change of season and the Christian festival of Christmas (UTW, CLL, PSED). 
Hand washing Workshop
The children in Reception took part in a handwashing workshop. They learned all about the importance of washing hands and how to wash their hands correctly (PSED)
Ho Ho Ho
Santa has come to Blakehill!
What a wonderful experience for the Reception children!
Well done in your Christmas Nativity performance Reception!
(C and L, PSED, ETW EAD)
The final week in school before Christmas is always lots of fun. The children have enjoyed using some Christmas themed provision. We have had Christmas jumper day and a Christmas dinner. On Thursday we will be celebrating with a Christmas party! What a busy week!