We are Polar Explorers Class!

Welcome to our page.

Mrs Mackey is the Teacher in Carle Class.

Mrs Jameson and Mrs Mills are the Learning Assistant.

In Polar Explorer Class, we’re always busy learning, playing, and having fun together! Here’s a little peek at what a typical day looks like for us.

We begin each morning by checking in with our Zones of Regulation display. This helps us think about how we’re feeling and what we might need to get ready for a great day of learning.

Next, we take part in Dough Disco! This is one of our favourite activities — we use playdough to exercise our fingers and hands through fun movements and music. It’s a brilliant way to get ready for writing and to strengthen those fine motor skills.

After that, it’s time for register and our meal choices from our wonderful Diamond Dinners.

Then, we move on to phonics. We follow the Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised programme across Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1. This fun and structured approach helps children learn different sounds (phonemes) and letters (graphemes) through visual prompts, songs, and repetition. It gives children a solid foundation in reading and writing, helping them grow into confident, enthusiastic readers and writers.

 

The link below provides further details about the Little Wandle teaching program.

Little Wandle Web link to the Little Wandle website 'parents' section.

Pronunciation_guide_Autumn-1_June-2023 (1).pdf

Pronunciation_guide_Autumn-2_June-2023 (1).pdf

How-to-say-Phase-3-sounds- (Spring Term).pdf

Let's go to the DOUGH DISCO!

 

The further through the year, we look at different movement breaks to support us in being ready for learning.

After phonics we dive into our daily Literacy session, where we take part in something truly magical — Drawing Club!

Each week, we focus on a story, traditional tale, or short animation that inspires us to get creative and use our imagination in our writing. During Drawing Club, we create our own drawings and write a special ‘code’ to bring them to life! At first, these codes might be single letters, but as we build confidence and develop our phonic knowledge, they soon grow into words, captions, phrases, and sentences. This fun and creative approach really helps children see themselves as authors and storytellers.

For more information about Drawing Club, please visit the Drawing Club – Greg Bottrill website.

Next, it’s time for Maths! We follow the Mastering Number sequence of learning, supported by exciting resources and activities from White Rose Maths. Each session begins with a counting warm-up or a quick revisit activity, such as counting along a number line, chanting numbers aloud, or revisiting previous learning.

Then, we are introduced to a fun ‘hook’ that captures the children’s interest and helps them see how maths is used in real life. Our lessons explore key mathematical ideas such as matching, sorting, addition, subtraction, doubling, halving, and grouping. Children are encouraged to apply their new knowledge through hands-on activities and investigations — helping them to develop a deep understanding of number and a real love of maths.

After lunch, we focus on reading using the Little Wandle programme. These sessions include three key parts — decoding, prosody (reading with expression), and comprehension. This structure helps children become confident, fluent readers who understand and enjoy what they read.

In the afternoon, we explore our exciting Topic lessons. Throughout the year, we learn about a variety of fascinating themes — from the world around us, to different cultures and beliefs, and how and why things work. These lessons help children make sense of the world, ask questions, and develop their curiosity.

We finish each day with a calm and happy moment — enjoying a storytime or news-sharing session before heading home. It’s a lovely way to reflect on the day and end on a positive note.

Look at what we're learning! 

 

Autumn Term 2025

 

In Polar Explorers we learn through lots of different mini-topics. This ensures that children are offered a broad and balanced curriculum which effectively supports their learning and development across all areas of the Early Years Curriculum.

 

The topics for this term are:

Autumn 1: Me and My

• Feelings and emotions 
• Our own chronology 
• How do we get rid of germs
• Harvest 
• The polar regions 
• Self portraits 
• Material explorations 
• A study of Alma Thomas

Autumn 2: Autumn & Winter

• Baking gingerbread 
• Bonfire night 
• Diwali 
• Changes of the seasons 
• Christmas

 

P.E. Lessons for Carle Class are on

 

Monday and Thursday

 

Please ensure that your child's P.E. kit is in school on these days. These can be brought in at the start of the week and will be kept on their pegs. P.E. kits must include shorts/jogging bottoms, your child's team colour t-shirt, a jumper/jacket and a pair of trainers or plimsoles.

Earrings MUST be removed.

 

The Thursday lesson will be with P.O.S.H. and usually takes place outside (weather permitting!)

 

          

 

Our Woodland Area session is on Friday afternoons each week.

Please ensure that your child's woodland kit is in school every week and is complete with warm clothing.

Please see the attached letter for further information as to what could be included in their kits.

Listening to your child read every night supports their learning and development immensely!

This opportunity allows children to practice and apply their phonic knowledge and helps them to refine their reading skills.

Research has repeatedly shown that child who regularly read develop better writing skills as they are exposed to texts and language consistently which feeds their imagination.

 

Mathematical opportunities are all around us! Simple activities like counting up and down the stairs, looking at numbers on house doors or reading prices in the supermarket all support with children's understanding of numbers and the number system.

 

Please click the links below for more information on how you could support your child's learning at home and THANK YOU for your continued support.

 

https://www.oxfordowl.co.uk/for-home/starting-school/reading-in-school/

https://www.oxfordowl.co.uk/for-home/starting-school/mathematics-in-school/

 

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