Welcome to Sunflowers Class

Sunflowers Class is taught on our Snape school site. Nursery, Reception and Year 1 are taught within Sunflowers. Within our safe, vibrant, and purposeful learning environment we build strong foundations, engaging our youngest learners. Interests are carefully followed and activities are enhanced regularly to ensure learning is personalised and supportive of our characteristics of learning. 

Our class teacher, Mrs Harper, guides our fantastic little Sunflowers to grow as individuals and as a team.  Mrs Lapthorne enhances our learning and supports small groups with their knowledge and understanding as well as supporting the children’s learning, running catch-up programmes and ensuring that the children’s well-being and individual needs are met. Mrs Mason and Mrs Morley support an individual child but we work together as a team to make sure every child is challenged, is happy and is having fun.

Both our indoor and outdoor environments encourage independence and support our children to become inquisitive learners. We teach children to learn using metacognitive development methods which help children understand how they learn and how to keep trying when met with a new challenge.

Foundation Stage is all about fun and learning through active, collaborative play. We make time to play with our children and model good quality interactions. Play is fundamental to every child’s development and we aim to develop every child’s play in a positive and constructive way. Children learn best through their own interests. Our role is to provide activities that motivate and inspire our learners whilst preparing children for a smooth transition into KS1. We recognise that the value of every individual is central to our Christian vision. We value our partnership with parents, grandparents and the local community.

The 7 areas of learning within the Foundation Stage are:

• Communication and Language (CL)
• Physical Development (PD)
• Personal, Social and Emotional Development (PSED)
• Literacy (L)
• Mathematics (M)
• Expressive Art and Design (EAD)
• Understanding the World (UW)

National curriculum subjects in Year 1 :

• English
• Maths
• RE
• PSHE
• Science
• Design and Technology
• History
• Geography
• Art and Design
• Music
• Physical Education
• Computing

PE

PE sessions take part on Tuesday mornings and Friday afternoons. 

Home Learning

Home learning is an essential part of being a successful learner in life.  At school, we value it as it helps our children to practise and perfect their skills, master key concepts, as well as deepen their knowledge and understanding through regular short bursts of repetitive tasks.  It also gives you as parents/ carers an idea of what your child is learning about in school. Spelling Shed, White Rose Maths’ Minute Maths App and Times Tables Rock Stars will be introduced to our oldest children for extra challenges.

Early in the Autumn Term, we send information home regarding phonics, reading and number, and we hold information meetings for parents/ carers.  We hold other parent/ carer information meetings across the school year, encouraging parents/ carers to let us know what they would like support/ information about.

We have an open door policy and encourage parents/ carers to speak to us whenever they have any questions or concerns.