Autumn Term 2026

Welcome to our Autumn Term in Reception – our very first term at school together! It has been a wonderful start to our learning journey, with the children settling in beautifully and beginning to build new friendships. Throughout this term, we have enjoyed exploring our classroom, learning new routines and taking part in lots of exciting activities designed to spark curiosity and independence. Here you will find a collection of some of the lovely learning experiences we have shared so far this term...

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Our School Promises

     

During our first week of school, we explored our school motto: Be Kind – Work Hard – Stay Safe. The children enjoyed discussing what each part means and how we can show these values in our everyday classroom life in an age-appropriate way. We then created colourful handprint artwork and added the children’s ideas to each piece. These are now proudly displayed in our classroom to remind us of the values we are learning to follow together.

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Our Buddies

   

At our school, we are very proud of our Buddy System, where our Year 6 children support and care for our new Reception pupils. Each Reception child is paired with a Year 6 buddy who helps them settle into school life – offering friendship, guidance and a familiar face to look out for them.

Our buddies enjoy helping at lunchtime, playing together in the playground, and being positive role models. The Reception children absolutely love spending time with their buddies, and these special relationships create a strong sense of community and kindness across our school.

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Phonics in Action!

      

Our Reception children have been working incredibly hard in their phonics lessons and are already beginning their writing journey! This week, the children have been practising forming letters in their blank books, carefully thinking about how each letter is shaped.

It has been wonderful to see their confidence growing as they use their phonics knowledge to support their early writing. We are so proud of their enthusiasm, determination and fantastic effort. Keep up the great work, Reception!

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Autumn Fun at the Community Gardens

    

   

Reception had a wonderful afternoon at the Community Gardens! We started by learning all about hedgehogs before heading off on an exciting hedgehog hunt. The children then harvested apples and pears from the garden and even had the chance to taste the delicious fruit they had picked themselves. To finish our visit, we made our own bird feeders using apples and sunflower seeds, helping to care for the surrounding wildlife. It was a lovely afternoon spent exploring and appreciating God's wonderful world.

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Boogie Bounce Visit St. Joseph's!

  

Reception enjoyed an energetic Boogie Bounce session this morning! The children had great fun bouncing, moving and following instructions to the music. They showed excellent listening skills, coordination and enthusiasm throughout the session. It was wonderful to see so many smiling faces as the children developed their confidence, balance and physical skills while keeping active. Well done, Reception!

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Our Trip to Cheltenham Literature Festival

  

  

Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 had a fantastic day at the Cheltenham Literature Festival! The children enjoyed inspiring sessions with Nick Sharratt and Pippa Goodhart, got creative as budding illustrators, and were swept away by imaginative storytelling. There was plenty of excitement too, with Mr Mason winning a competition by balancing 10 bagels on his head! We were also thrilled to bring home a signed picture from Nick Sharratt. A wonderful day celebrating stories, imagination and a love of reading!

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