This term
Below you will find information about what the Reception classes are learning about this term. Please also read our topic page to find out more about our Topic Work.
Summer 2026
Personal, Social and Emotional Development
The children will continue to grow in confidence and independence.
Next term, we will be reviewing The Colour Monster to support the children in recognising, understanding and talking about their emotions. Through stories and activities, the children will learn to identify different feelings and develop strategies to manage them in a positive way.
We will also continue to use our ‘Achievosaurs’ to help the children understand how they learn and what makes a successful learner. The children are becoming more resilient and are beginning to challenge themselves, take risks and try new activities with greater independence.
To support their personal and social development, we will keep encouraging the children to resolve conflicts independently using our school ‘High Five’ approach. They are building strong relationships with their peers, learning to cooperate, share and show kindness towards one another.
As the term progresses, we will continue to promote independence by encouraging the children to take ownership of their learning, make choices and complete tasks with increasing confidence.
Communication and Language
The children will continue to develop their communication and language skills through a range of engaging speaking and listening opportunities. They will be given regular opportunities to work with talk partners, which will support them in sharing ideas, building confidence and practising how to express their thoughts before speaking within a larger group.
The children will broaden their vocabulary by learning new and exciting words, particularly when describing places and their experiences. Through storytelling, discussion and role play, they will begin to use this vocabulary more independently in their speech.
Adults will regularly model and ask a range of how and why questions, encouraging the children to speak in full sentences, explain their ideas and make links in their thinking. The children will also continue to develop their listening skills, showing improvement in turn taking during conversations, listening attentively and responding appropriately to others.
The children will become more confident communicators, increasingly able to express themselves clearly and engage in meaningful conversations with both adults and their peers.
Physical Development
The children will continue to develop both their gross and fine motor skills through a range of activities in P.E. and across the continuous provision. In P.E., they will take part in Real P.E units, which will support them in developing balance, coordination and control, in line with the Physical Development Early Learning Goals. They will show increasing confidence in moving in different ways, negotiating space safely and using equipment with care. The children will also develop their core strength, stability and agility, helping them to move energetically and with control.
Within the classroom, the children will engage in a range of activities to strengthen their fine motor skills, such as mark making, threading, construction and using a variety of tools. These opportunities will support them in developing the strength, control and coordination needed for effective handwriting.
The children will continue to develop their independence in managing their own self care. They will increasingly be able to dress and undress independently, including fastening coats and putting on shoes, showing perseverance and a growing sense of responsibility for their own needs.
The children will also continue to develop their understanding of healthy lifestyles. They will learn about the importance of being active, making healthy food choices and maintaining good hygiene, supporting their overall wellbeing.
In writing, the children will continue to practise forming letters correctly, in line with the Literacy Early Learning Goals. Many will form recognisable letters with increasing control and accuracy, using their developing fine motor skills to support their writing. They will begin to apply their phonic knowledge to write words and simple sentences that can be read by themselves and others. As they progress, more children will write simple sentences independently, demonstrating growing confidence and a secure foundation in early writing skills.
Literacy
Our Talk for Writing texts will be How to Plant a Seed and We’re Going on a Bear Hunt. The children will learn and internalise these stories through story maps, actions and repetition, helping them to build confidence in retelling familiar narratives. They will have many opportunities to revisit and act out these stories in a variety of ways across the provision, supporting their language development and understanding of story structure.
As the term progresses, the children will begin to adapt and create their own versions of these stories, using their imagination and applying newly learnt vocabulary.
In writing, the children will continue to practise writing simple sentences using their phonic knowledge. They will be encouraged to write sentences that can be read by themselves and others, using capital letters, finger spaces and full stops with increasing consistency. Some children will begin to write longer pieces, including simple narratives and instructions.
The children will also learn to write for different purposes, including composing simple letters, helping them to understand how writing can be used to communicate.
Reading will continue to be promoted through a range of purposeful opportunities within the classroom, encouraging children to apply their phonics skills and develop comprehension. The children will continue to bring home reading books and phonics activity sheets, please continue to support your child by reading with them as often as possible at home.
Maths
In Maths, the children will continue to deepen their understanding of numbers to 10, ensuring they have a secure foundation. They will practise recognising, representing and writing numbers, as well as subitising amounts and confidently finding one more and one fewer.
As the term progresses, we will extend this learning to include teen numbers. The children will begin to recognise, order and understand numbers beyond 10, developing their understanding of how these numbers are composed.
The children will also continue to explore addition and subtraction through practical, hands-on activities, using objects, pictures and familiar contexts to support their understanding. They will be encouraged to explain their thinking and begin to solve simple number problems.
In addition, the children will develop their understanding of measure by comparing and describing objects according to their weight, length, height and capacity, using appropriate mathematical vocabulary.
Throughout the term, we will support the children in developing confidence, fluency and a deeper understanding of number, in line with Early Learning Goals.
Understanding the World
This term, the children will be learning about signs of spring, how plants grow, and the fascinating world of life cycles and minibeasts. They will explore the life cycle of a plant, from seed to shoot and eventually to a fully grown plant, through planting, watering and observing changes over time. The children will have opportunities to care for their own plants, helping them to understand what living things need to grow and stay healthy.
As part of their learning about life cycles, the children will also be introduced to simple animal life cycles, such as those of butterflies and frogs, helping them to recognise that all living things grow and change. Alongside this, they will explore minibeasts, learning about creatures such as worms, snails, ladybirds and bees, and the important roles they play in our environment.
The children will also explore seasonal changes in the local area, looking for signs of spring such as budding trees, blooming flowers and new life. They will be encouraged to ask questions, make observations and record their findings through drawings, discussions and simple writing. Through these hands-on experiences, the children will develop their understanding of the natural world and begin to describe the changes they see in plants, animals, weather and the environment.
Expressive Arts and Design
The children will have a wide range of opportunities to develop and express their creativity across all areas of the classroom. In line with Development Matters for the Reception summer term, they will be encouraged to explore, use and refine a variety of artistic effects and to express their ideas and feelings through different forms.
We will continue to provide purposeful challenges and engaging activities that support independent skill development. For example, the children may create representations of life cycles or design and build a bug hotel, encouraging them to plan, make decisions and review their work. They will also explore texture and materials through collaborative collage work based on animals, developing their ability to combine different media and tools.
The children will be supported to choose and use a range of resources for a purpose, using tools safely and effectively to shape, assemble and adapt their creations. They will be encouraged to talk about what they are making and how they can improve or change it.
In the music area, the children will have opportunities to listen attentively, sing, create sounds and play instruments, exploring rhythm and movement. They will also be able to express themselves through imaginative play in the outdoor small theatre and within a variety of role play areas, developing their confidence in performing and expressing ideas and emotions.