Yearly Life at Somerhill

Reception round-up What a fantastic start to the year Reception has had! The children have settled into their daily routines, happily reconnecting with friends and getting to know new teachers. To kick off the term, each child brought in a box filled with items of personal significance. Sharing these treasures offered insights into their hobbies and interests. We read stories about starting "big" school and explored the emotions surrounding this transition, linking feelings to colours and discussing how they manifest within ourselves. The children reconnected or became acquainted with our pre-prep pals, diving into our core values and understanding their practical implications. Swimming lessons have been an exciting new addition to their timetables, where the children have worked diligently to learn new skills. They have also focused on essential tasks like dressing, undressing, and mastering the art of keeping their feet dry before putting on socks! Every Friday morning, the children have enjoyed wonderful adventures in the woodlands, where they have created hedgehogs from natural materials, built dens, and engaged in a variety of activities that promote well-being, teamwork, and joyful moments. French has also been a new experience for many, with a focus on learning colours, which they have even practised during their child-led time! This term, the children have eagerly embarked on the "On the Move" topic. They have been captivated by space exploration and the stories of famous astronauts. Following an inspiring visit from the Wonderdome, they researched life aboard the International Space Station. Did you know that astronauts must strap themselves in when they sleep to avoid floating away? The children also designed and constructed moon buggies from building materials and built rockets to test their flight capabilities using balloons and strings. We cannot wait to see what next half term will bring!