I hope everyone has returned feeling refreshed for what will be a long but ultimately rewarding term. We will soon be approaching the end of our second year as the Gems provision and we feel we have come a very long way from those early days in the bungalow.

In YR, the topic of past, present and future is really engaging our learners and I was thrilled to see the quality of writing around this subject.  Y1 is working on The Smile Shop and they are already confidently sequencing the story and telling us how the little boy feels  throughout his journey. Please reinforce this work at home by watching the story on YouTube. The pupils really enjoy it.

YR had a brilliant trip before the half term break to Hounslow farm. We were so impressed with all the pupils' listening and engagement.  It was a long journey and everyone coped well with an unfamiliar setting. Well done!

This term we will be factoring in exciting trips to Hobbledown Heath and aiming to explore more areas of local interest in Richmond. We know how much families value these trips and we want all our pupils to feel safe and confident in the community.

We continue to work with all mainstream classes to prepare for phonics screening. There is no pressure with any of this and pupils work at the level that is appropriate for them. 

Our butterflies safely hatched and have been released into the community. It was great fun watching them over the last few weeks and a wonderful learning opportunity.

All the Gems team.

Please email jrigby@vineyard.richmond.sch.uk with any queries and the Gems team will be happy to help.

  

  

 

Please continue Phonics work at home if you can. There is no expectation to know all phonics. All pupils are on a journey, and we want them to work at the pace that suits them. 

We also recommend “reading for pleasure” as much as possible. If stories are too difficult, even just looking at the pictures and seeing what their attention is drawn to, is great for developing concentration and awareness.

We will continue to send home differentiated reading packs. Again, this is just for confidence building.

We find that LittleBig Foxes, Number Blocks and RWI songs on their websites are a great source of fun and education. 

 

Key messages:

• If are late in the morning and we have gone to OT, please bring your child to the main office and someone will help you from there.

• Reading Records will be sent home weekly. Please read with your child even if the text is too difficult. Looking at the pictures and exposing them to language will always be beneficial.

• Please practise writing and saying the sounds at home, using the phonics website by Ruth Miskin to help you. 

• Drop off time is 8.40. Pick up time for Gems pupils is 3.05. Please try to be prompt so we can maximise the time we have to set up for the next day’s learning.

• Please ensure that you have notified the school if you are going to be late. Gems registers MUST be completed by 8.50.