July Update

As we come to the end of a fantastic Reception year, I would like to say a huge thank you to all of our families for your support, encouragement and partnership throughout the year.

July has been full of special moments, from our trip to Filey and our seaside-themed learning to welcoming families into school for our final Stay and Play session. It has been wonderful to look back on everything the children have achieved and celebrate just how far they have come.

Over the past year, I have had the privilege of watching the children grow in confidence, independence and resilience. They have developed into enthusiastic readers, writers and mathematicians, embraced new challenges and formed wonderful friendships along the way. Every child has worked incredibly hard and should feel very proud of all they have accomplished during their first year at school.

The letter below is a special message to the children, celebrating the many memories we have shared and the amazing journey we have been on together in Reception.

Dear Reception,

I can't quite believe that our year together has come to an end. It only feels like yesterday that you walked through the classroom door for the very first time. Some of you arrived full of excitement, some of you were a little nervous, and some of you weren't quite sure what to expect. From that very first day, I knew we were going to have a wonderful year together - and what a year it has been!

This month has been the perfect way to finish our Reception journey. We loved our whole-school trip to Filey, making happy memories by the seaside with our friends. In Drawing Club, we explored seaside stories such as What the Ladybird Heard at the Seaside and The Snail and the Whale, and your imagination and storytelling never stopped impressing me. In maths, we learnt about positional language and how we can describe where things are and how they move. We also became artists, creating colourful snail collages inspired by Henry Matisse. It was a lovely way to end the year, especially when we welcomed your families into school for our Stay and Play session to share and celebrate all of your fantastic learning.

When I think back to September, I am so proud of every single one of you. You have grown in so many ways. You have become more confident, more independent and more determined. You have learned to keep going when things feel tricky, to help your friends when they need support and to celebrate each other's successes along the way.

We have made so many wonderful memories together. We have stepped into magical worlds through Drawing Club, bringing stories such as We're Going on a Bear Hunt, Superworm, Stick Man, Jack and the Beanstalk and Tyrannosaurus Drip to life. We became scientists as we watched caterpillars transform into butterflies, explored minibeasts, planted sunflowers and discovered more about the world around us. We enjoyed countless adventures outdoors too – building, creating, exploring, making magical potions, digging in the sand, visiting Skylark Nature Reserve with Outdoor Ted and taking part in the Big Schools' Birdwatch with our Year 5 and 6 buddies.

Our classroom has always been full of busy hands, curious minds and lots of laughter. I have loved watching you write menus in the café, work together in the construction area, create beautiful artwork, solve problems, tell stories and grow more confident each day.

One of the things that has made me most proud is seeing you become readers. At the start of the year, many of you were just beginning to learn your first sounds. Now you are reading with confidence, writing words and sentences independently and showing a real love of books and stories. You have worked so hard, and your progress has been amazing to see.

More than anything else, I will remember you. I will remember your excited "Good mornings!", your funny stories, your kindness, your curiosity, your brilliant imaginations and the laughter that filled our classroom every day. You have made Reception such a happy and special place to be.

Thank you for every smile, every conversation, every story you wanted to share and every moment that reminded me why I love teaching.

To your wonderful families, thank you for trusting us with your children. Thank you for your support with reading, phonics and learning at home, for your encouragement throughout the year and for working alongside us every step of the way. It has been a pleasure to watch the children grow and flourish, and we feel very lucky to have been part of such an important year in their lives.

Reception Class, you should all be incredibly proud of yourselves. Keep being kind, keep being curious and keep believing in yourselves. I know each and every one of you will continue to work hard, enjoy learning and achieve wonderful things as you move into Year 1.

Have a fantastic summer filled with fun, adventures and special family memories. Play outside, read lots of stories, make the most of every moment and enjoy being children.

Thank you for making this such a wonderful year. We will never forget this amazing Reception class and all the memories we have shared together.

Keep smiling, keep shining and always remember that you can achieve amazing things.

With very best wishes,

Mrs Dodson & the Reception Team