Pioneers Class

Pioneers children are Reception aged (four or five years old). Children enjoy a range of creative and engaging play based activities, as well as formal inputs, to support their development and growth. Children in Pioneers are taught by Mrs Hann, Mrs McGill and Miss Greaves.

Learning begins the minute they walk through the door. The classroom is a carefully curated collection of wonderful things to allow the children to flourish. The classroom is theirs and everything in it is there for a purpose. What they chose to do may be completely different for each individual. This is when the learning happens. The resources are ready to use and accessible and the team work together to create, to communicate, to count and to grow 

Each day starts with exploration of the resources and suggestions for learning set out around the room. The Pioneers will come together for teaching. This will happen in small groups, as a whole class and often one to one. Across the day we will gather for mathematics, reading, writing and phonics sessions, to share stories and to learn about the world.

PE kits are in school all week to allow us to do PE at any time. This term, the Pioneers have dance on a Tuesday afternoon. 

Mrs Gurney teaches computing on a Thursday morning.

We are rolling with phonics and children will bring a book and their reading record home each day. Please read little and often and write a message in the reading record. All reading is good reading. This is such an exciting time.

Please look out for a text message to let you know when we will go to the forest. We will use our wonderful outdoor space as much as we can and this will not always be on the same day each week. 

Children’s progress and activities are recorded in their own Learning Journeys. These act as a summary of the journey children embark upon during their time in Reception and demonstrate the progress and success that has been achieved, as well as the next steps that may need to be taken.

Christingle in Church

The Church was full for this beautiful service. The Sleights School Family were altogether again to think about those less fortunate. Many of the older children lead us in prayer and gave the readings. The choir,led by Mrs Rowland sang for us all. The Year 6 children lit the candles and shared the light.

Well done to everyone who managed not to eat their jelly tots before returning to school!

Real Botham’s-What a Treat!

 

Today was tremendous from start to finish. The Pioneers took the bus to Whitby to see how a real tea room functions. 

Walking along Skinner Street,we spotted a single black glove. Could this belong to Santa?

We received a fabulous greeting on arrival and we were taken to our table. Every guest was treated to their choice of cake and beverage. Tea was poured very carefully. All the staff came to chat and to tell us about their role in making the wonderful Botham’s work. A real Mr Botham came to tell us about the history of the business and the children shared stories about their families.

As we finished our tea,it was brought to our attention that a letter,tied in green ribbon had been left for us. Could this be another letter from Santa? It was and it told us that he really liked a Lemon Bun.

We had to go to the shop right away and buy one for him. Perhaps he will fly over Sleights tonight to pick it up.

Throughout this visit we were treated so so well and made to feel really special.

The children walked along Skinner Street back to our bus,singing with happy hearts.So much wonderful learning took place.

Thank you so much Botham’s of Whitby 

Go Team Pioneer.

A Christmas Tree is Delivered

The Pioneers set off to go to the Spar to buy a tree for their front door. As they turned the corner they saw before them a beautiful little tree. It had a note attached,tied in green ribbon. One Pioneer spotted something red and white on the side of the tree. On closer inspection it was found to be a hat-Santa’s Hat. The note was from Santa himself and told the children about the tree and left a message to say to look out for his hat as he had lost it. Right at that moment a man all dressed in red walked across the road. He shouted “Ho!Ho!Ho!” We also found a little piece of nibbled carrot.

Quite amazing.

New Bothams (Pioneers Branch)

The role play in the shop has been fantastic. I have heard lots of wonderful customer service conversations beginning with,”Good Afternoon Sir.How can I help you?” many scones with jam and cream have been ordered. I was corrected when I said on bread product was a croissant and told that it was actually a doughnut.

Mrs Botham brought some goodies from the real shop and these will be added to enhance our play.

The clipboards are incredibly popular with everyone filling in order forms,writing menus and ticking off lists. The play will continue and develop next week.

Please pop in to Stay and Play for a cup of tea and a very heavy pretend bread bun.

So much learning

A Visit From Mrs Botham

To extend our work in our class shop,we had a visit from Mrs Botham to do some bread making with us. When I told one of the children that Mrs Botham was coming, his response was,”A real Mrs Botham?”  And she certainly was real. Everyone got stuck in and the end result was some fine,if rather dense bread buns. Each Pioneer took home a Bothams bag and two buns.

A mighty fine day.

Thank you to a real Mrs Botham for her visit.