Reception Weekly Blog (6.11.26)

Date: 5th Nov 2026 @ 3:56pm

Reception Weekly Blog

What a lovely first week back after half term we have had! The children returned well rested, full of enthusiasm and ready for a jam-packed half term as we begin our countdown to Christmas. We have lots of exciting learning and experiences ahead!

As the weather has taken a turn and the colder days are creeping in, please remember that children can bring thick coats, hats and gloves to school. We kindly ask that all items are clearly named to help avoid anything becoming misplaced.

Fire Service and Bonfire Night

This week, the children were very excited to return to school and begin learning all about the Fire Service. We spent time exploring the important role firefighters play in our community and how they help to keep us safe. We talked about fire safety, what to do if we were ever near a fire and the importance of making sensible choices.

With Bonfire Night approaching, the children engaged in lots of wonderful conversations about firework safety and the history behind this annual celebration, which dates back over 400 years! We enjoyed watching videos of different fireworks, learning their names and describing what we could see and hear. The children even put their creativity to the test by making their very own bonfires in the ROLA, using sticks, leaves and other natural objects.

But the excitement didn't stop there! We were incredibly lucky to welcome Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service to school. The firefighters took time out of their busy day to show us their fire engine and tell us more about the important work they do to protect our community. The children loved exploring the different pieces of equipment, trying on some of the protective clothing and, of course, having a turn at using the hose! What a fantastic experience and a wonderful way to bring our learning to life.

Continuing with our theme of lights and celebrations, on Friday we also introduced the children to Diwali. We talked briefly about how families who celebrate Diwali decorate their homes with beautiful Diva lamps, use tea light holders and enjoy fireworks as part of this special celebration. It was lovely to see the children making connections between different celebrations and the ways people come together within their communities.

Maths – Don't Count, Say the Amount!

The children have absolutely amazed us in maths this week! We have been developing our subitising skills, learning to recognise quantities without needing to count each object individually. We have explored different representations of numbers up to 3, comparing quantities and looking at irregular arrangements of objects.

Our focus has been encouraging the children to look carefully, recognise the amount and confidently say what they see – don't count, say the amount!

Next week, we look forward to introducing number 4 and consolidating our understanding of numbers within 4 before moving on to explore number 5. Please continue to look for opportunities to practise recognising small quantities at home during everyday activities.

Literacy – RWI set 1 sounds

We have reached a really important milestone in our phonics learning! The children have now been introduced to all of their Set 1 single letter sounds and Set 1 Special Friends (two or three letters that work together to make one sound).

It is essential that these sounds continue to be practised regularly at home to help build confidence and fluency. We recommend revisiting all of the sounds and keeping a little pile to one side of any that your child finds tricky to recognise or recall. Little and often really does make a difference!

Our expectation for Reception by Christmas is that children can recognise all of their Set 1 sounds and begin to orally blend sounds together to hear words. This is an important milestone for all children across our Reception classes, and we will continue to work towards this together.

Thank you for your continued support with phonics practice at home. It really does make such a difference to the children's progress.

We hope you all have a lovely weekend and look forward to welcoming the children back on Monday for another exciting week of learning!

The Reception Team

Don't forget, we love hearing about the children's achievements outside of school too! If your child has some good news they would like to share with us, please send us an email at [email protected] so we can celebrate it together.