Foxes

Welcome to a new half term and the final one for our Foxes class this academic year. I am so proud of how each and every pupil has developed and brought a smile to the faces of other each and every day. I would like to thank you all for your continued support, communication and engagement with school, this is especially president with illness or absence. As class lists are organised the staff here at Brookfields [both at the main site and within the satellite teams]  will support your child with transitions over this term.
 
The overview for the the summer term is uploaded to this class page. Any questions regarding this, please get in touch by email or phone. Our outdoors topic continues and over this term we will focus on the weather - lets hope the sunshine makes an appearance! Please ensure your child has a hat and sun cream this half term. We are hoping to have paddling pool fun too and will be in touch to let you know which days costumes and towels are required. 
 
Term dates:
We return to school after the half term break on Monday 6th June.
We break up for summer holidays on Tuesday 26th July - The pupils will be in school on this Tuesday.
 
Shelley and the Foxes Team 
World book day is on Thursday 3rd March 2022.  Children [and staff] are invited to dress up on this day as our favourite character if we choose to.
Our school focus is on enjoying a love of listening to stories under the theme 'you are a reader'. You can find more information on our website under the tabs curriculum - home tasks - world book day 2022.
Foxes class enjoy stories and here are a few of our favourites:
  • The hungry caterpillar
  • Kitchen disco
  • That's not my......there are a range of these tactile books available
  • Wheres Spot
We will be listening to a new and exciting story called 'The tiger who came to tea.'
Which story do you enjoy listening to at home?
WELCOME
 
Foxes Class is part of the Brookfields satellite group and is situated at The Grange School in Runcorn. This is the third year of this venture for our school and the Foxes team are very proud to be pioneers in this school development. We were joined last year by the Bumblebees class.
 
Staff [At Brookfields school the children and parents address staff using their first names]:
  • Shelley O'Connor - Teacher
  • Vicky - Higher Level Teaching Assistant
  • Karen  / Charlotte  - Teaching Assistants who work as a job share across the week
  • Sarah - Teaching Assistant
  • Sara- Teaching Assistant 
Pupils:
  • Reception and year one age pupils
  • 6 boys and 4 girls
Foxes are enjoying the resources and space both in their classroom, outdoors and wider school. We have begun getting out and about in the community for walks and using the minibus.  
 
We celebrated the Queens Jubilee in style with balloons, decorations, party food, music, dancing and themes Attention Autism activities. 
Home task update January 2022 
 
Hello Foxes Children and your families 
 
We have had quite a journey with home learning and national lockdowns over the past 18 months. Hopefully there is a consistency to your childs education within school over the year. However if regulations and restrictions ever mean that you are at home with your family and cannot attend school, then it is important that you please keep up to date with what is happening with school via email to Shelley, this website, Facebook, parent text and if required emergency contacts. Please use the school website for guidance under coronavirus section.
 
The activities listed below can be used for any times of home learning or homework / holiday ideas if you choose to engage with any of the suggestions.
 
I stand by my message to all to  BE KIND TO YOURSELF. Starting school is a big change not only for the children but their families too. If you wish to we can facilitate contact with families and other parents from school to be a support or to share experiences.
 
Although the summer is ending there is  a possibility of dry bright days, if you can and enjoy nature and fresh air:
Jump in puddles. Can you make a tree rubbing with crayons and paper? Can you blow bubbles and try and catch them? Can you use chalk and make marks on the wall or floor? Can you kick, throw or catch a ball? Can you jump on a trampoline? If possible get out in your garden to look for signs of season changes - plants, leaf colours, wildlife.
Be active - use some of the sensory exercises listed below or join in action songs that you can find on you tube. If you copy actions to fun songs Foxes children may copy or tolerate you gently supporting them.
 
You will find activities to try at home at any time on this page listed below, on other class pages [see Butterflies, Hedgehogs or Bumblebees for age appropriate] and also in the home learning section of the school website.
 
Take care
 
Love Shelley and the Foxes Team xxx
Home learning- Food
 
Our new topic for the Spring term is food.  What is your child's favourite food?
At home you could try:
  • making toast and choosing a topping to practice spreading. 
  • sensory play with a range of foods such as beans, flour, pasta [cooked and cold]or jelly 
  • use forks to stab and spoons to scoop during play
  • use a range of foods to paint and print onto paper such as apples, oranges or broccoli
  • make choices from two foods by seeing the item or a picture / photo / symbol
  • try new foods inclusion those from other cultures
  • handle and see packaging linked to favourite foods in your home - this is important for environmental print and early literacy skills
Please have a look below for links to songs and stories we will be listening to throughout the term:
 
5 currant buns
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVd8yodY8Ps
 
10 fat sausages 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBjFM-Di7_M
 
The very hungry caterpillar 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75NQK-Sm1YY
 
Kitchen Disco
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qQiYpDSVVU
 
Beans on toast
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=99FEA6ecmCU
Home learning songs
 
Here are some of the youtube songs that Foxes like to use:
 

Good morning song   - Dream English

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9Q7Y3t4m3g

Phonics song 2- KIDSTV 123

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BELlZKpi1Zs

Keep fit alphabet - Jack Hartman

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFa0b_IIRac&t=15s

Makaton alphabet - Mr Tumble

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mMog84sQp3o

Story song The three little pigs -  Cocomelon

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2s7cz6p7jew&t=23s

Number song – KIDS TV 123

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0dJWfQHF8Y

Keep fit counting - Jack Hartman

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0TgLtF3PMOc

Colours - KIDSTV123

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQASh8bbkUY

Home time song - The singing walruss

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LDArAJf7-c

Home learning- SENSORY IDEAS
 
Sensory play supports language development, cognitive growth, fine and gross motor skills, problem solving skills, and social interaction. This group of activities focuses on activities for physical movement [gross motor movement].
 
Information to note: up and down or spinning movements are alerting and side to side movements are calming. 
Be careful with spinning activities unless your child seeks this to avoid injury or disorientation. 
Be careful not to lift, push or carry objects which are too heavy - this includes for your child and yourself.
 
 Activities
  • Balance walk along masking tape on floor and walk in straight, curved and zig zag lines
  • Wall pushes
  • Pushing or pulling objects /stretchy bands
  • Push ups
  • Hand Squeezes
  • Superhero poses
  • Animal Walk - move in different ways - Cbeebies 'Andys wild adventures' help with this
  • Stretch like a bear or swing like a monkey
  • Follow the light/Follow the sound – The child’s whole head/body follows the movement of a torch

  • Sway in time with chill out music

  • Back and forth rowing - sing row the boat
  • Spinning (3 seconds in each direction)
  • Skipping

  • Jumping Jacks / star jumps

  • Arm Spins
  • Musical statues
  • Hopscotch
  • Scooter rides
  • Trampette
  • Balance / roll over / sit on gym ball
  • Walk over stepping stones [can chalk these on the floor]
  • Create indoor slides using cushions
  • Carry a backpack containing a favourite toy - not too heavy!
  • Ride a bike
  • Balance on a log

 Below are some activity links from Gross motor movements and yoga. Please do not physically put your child in these positions, show the image / model it yourself if possible.

 
Home Learning- COMMUNICATION IDEAS
 
Communication activities -Here are a few activities that support this area. It is by no means exhaustive.  Not all these activities will suit all pupils. If you need any further guidance, please contact Shelley. 
 
Routines Boards – Use visual boards with single-step actions to help children learn common routines. You can create a board for as an example - brushing teeth [draw or print images]
 
Practice Sharing – Play is an important activity for non-verbal children. While your child is engaged in play with an object such as a toy car or tea set, occasionally take the toy from them [for short times]. Then help the child learn ways to communicate that they would like the toy back. This may be through the use of vocalisations, symbols, sign language, or body language. Praise success of positive communication. Other games such as Mr potato head and pop up pirate can encourage sharing and taking turns too. 
 
See and Say – Animal sounds is a great way to introduce verbal communication. Hold the toy animal and make its sound. Remember to name the animal too i.e. cow says mooooo
 
Modeling – Using pictures of emotions such as sad, happy, angry, and hurt, the child and adult take turns modeling the emotion shown on the picture. Using a mirror is fun with this game to see their expression.
 
Sensory Bags – Sensory bags are a great way to help non-verbal children develop coordination, learn concentration and use multiple senses while exploring their environment. Sensory bags can be made with a variety of materials including rice, flour and water, pasta etc. 
 
Build a Sandwich –  learn steps and details through the use of pretend assembly play or real building of a sandwich using simple language i.e. put on cheese.
 
Same and Different – Sorting, matching and classifying are beginning steps to communication, whether verbal or non-verbal.  Use toys, pictures of apps for matching games.
 
Shopping - naming object as they are put in the basket [Extension task - can the child list symbols / worlds for what is in the basket?
 
 
Home learning- Number activities
 
Here is a link to the numtums Cebeebies page which includes episodes, games and activities to engage with at home: https://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/shows/the-numtums
 
Here is a link to the number blocks Cbeebies page which incudes episodes, number songs and simple activities to join in with at home: https://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/shows/numberblocks
 
Home activities:
- Can you lay your blocks out and count how many you have, to challenge further add more blocks or take away to see how many are left. 
- Sing number rhymes together including: 5 little ducks, 5 speckled frogs, 10 green bottles, 5 current buns.
-Can you practice writing numbers at home in flour or foam by putting some into a tray or on a plate and use your finger to write the numbers. 
-Can you order numbers 1-5 or challenge further and order 1-10. Write the numbers on paper, cut them out and order in a line. 
 - Count physical actions such as jumping, stomping or star jumps.
 
Below are a few printable number activities you can also try at home. 
 
Home learning- Shape activities

We will name shapes supported by Mister Maker. Enjoy watching  Mister Maker shape episode at home -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e883Yb8f8wA

 

Below are a few different shape songs you can listen to-                     

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTeqUejf3D0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAE79M9lCbg

 

Can you explore in your house or garden and find different shapes. For example can you find a round clock, a square window or a rectangle door?

Mark make to draw different shapes by using your finger in flour, foam or paint. 

If you have a shape sorter at home can you practice picking up your shapes and posting them.

Can you make a shape picture being supported by an adult to cut different shapes out and glue them on a piece of paper. 

Have a look at the twinkl links below for shape colouring activities to engage with. 

 Home learning- Myself and our senses activities 
 
Hello Foxes class and families,
 
It is always fun learning about ourselves and our 5 senses. Join in our learning about different smells, trying new foods, feeling a range of textures, looking at pictures and objects that interest us and listening to instruments and songs. 
 
Here is a link to a senses song you can listen to at home- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXXiyIGqliE
 
Here are some ideas for each sense to try at home: 
 
Sight-
-You could look at books or pictures which interest you at home
-You could go on a treasure hunt around the garden or your home looking for different objects on a list eg- leaves, grass, flowers etc. 
-Create a sensory bottle to shake and look at- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7zp7KbxbKY 
 
Sound-
- Make a sound bottle by adding rice or pasta to shake
-Explore your kitchen cupboards to find pans and spoons to hit to make different sounds 
 -You could play this sound game listening to which animal makes the noise - 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ucuXAYMYttc
 
Touch- 
-Explore different materials at home such as- clothes, carpets, flooring, towels etc. 
-Make jelly and touch it to see how it feels in your hands 
-Follow the instructions to make playdough, you can roll it, poke it or make a model with it. You can also add cinnamon to add smell and food colouring to make it look more interesting- https://divascancook.com/how-to-make-homemade-playdough-recipe/
 
Smell- 
-Look around your home to find different bottles you can smell eg- perfume, coffee, body lotion etc. 
- Explore your garden to find lavender, flowers, mint etc which will have strong different smells. 
- Use the playdough recipe above to create smelly playdough to enjoy by adding essential oils like lavender or spices such as cinnamon.
 
Taste- 
-Create a plate of different fruits to look at, feel and taste. You could make a fruit face to make it look more appealing to eat. 
-Explore foods of different textures such as yogurt, crisps, vegetables and rice pudding 
-Try foods of different tastes such as- salty foods, spicy foods, sour foods and sweet foods. 
 
If you try any of these activities at home we would love to see them, you can attach photos to my school email address - Shelley. 
 
Home learning- Nursery Rhyme 
 
 Nursery rhymes support us to develop rhyme patterns, sequence events and join in with words, actions or intonation. Please see the links below for the songs and signing versions - we will learn simple signs as we sing. 
What is your child's favourite nursery rhyme?
 
Here are some of our favourite rhymes:
  • Miss Polly had a dolly   
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vAbMi7DY1eo

  • Humpty Dumpty   
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0n_J2z-ILXo     
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M2lC-DlqSSY  
  • Baa baa black sheep
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CRHvTTOR8Ns
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2VGsBK94I2U  
  • Twinkle Twinkle
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ymOaMuP58NY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wah6__bc9bk  
  • Hey Diddle Diddle
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNERJWsYEpI
  • Jack and Jill   
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UE5dAFnDrqE
 
Other makaton signed rhymes can be sound following this link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2VGsBK94I2U&list=PLjT4XhijakZiqAV_QjFd-8nV5CuO5Rpnz&index=6
Home learning- outside activities
 
Out and about whatever the weather!!!
 
Some of our foxes love to be outside!!! Below are a variety of activities that we can do in different weathers if we are wearing clothing that keeps us protected. Below are some ideas for outdoor play through the seasons.