Welcome to Caterpillars! We are very proud of the amazing EYFS team we have here at Westglade and we have lots of fun learning in F2.

Firstly, let's meet the F2 team!

Here is some key information:

The F2 door opens at 8:30am and closes at 8:50am. You can arrive at anytime between those times however any later than this will be marked as late. It is so important that you are arriving on time as we begin phonics at 8:55am. Please come to the class door to drop your child off in the morning and collect them from the same place at 3:15pm. 

Lunches - All children in F2 are entitled to a free school meal if they would like one. The menu is on the website for you to look at and see. There are 2 choices, usually a meat and then a vegetarian option. If you have any special dietary requirements or allergies please let the staff know. Alternatively, you can send your child with a healthy packed lunch. In addition, children have access to milk and fruit in the morning. 

Class Dojo - This is our communication app. Key dates and announcements will be posted on the School Story as well as individual updates on your child's Class Page and Portfolio. You can also message us directly on here if you need to communicate with your child's teachers. 

What to bring to school:

Please bring a water bottle every day. Water or diluted squash is acceptable however, no fizzy drinks please. If your child has wellies they would be great as we tend to do our outdoor learning in any weather! Please ensure that all items are clearly named so that we can identify who they belong to. 

School Uniform:

Our school uniform is navy. We ask for footwear to be black. As we have a lot of play based learning in early years, it would be a great idea to provide your child with a spare set of clothes to bring/keep in school in case they get wet/need a change. We do have some spare items in school however these are limited. 

What do we do in Caterpillars?

In Early Years, we follow a book based curriculum. This allows exposure to a wide variety of texts often based on the children's interests and specially picked texts which enables a deep understanding and learning experience of each text over a 3 week block period. We promote lots of language development which is an essential aspect of children's literacy development. Our texts filter through our in class provision where the children can extend their learning of the text through play and exploration.

Our continuous provision supports the development of children using the Early Years Framework and is designed to support the children to meet the Early Learning Goals. We adapt the provision to support the needs of the children and often use child initiated ideas to enhance learning areas. It is great fun learning in F2! 

Additionally, we have direct teach lessons every day. These include, RWI (phonics), writing and maths. Other weekly sessions include PSHE and PE. Other areas of the curriculum are incorporated into our daily continuous provision. 

During certain times of the year, we have our lovely dance teacher Mrs Bathgate join us for dance and gymnastics sessions. Additionally, we have Mr Evans who teaches us music every week. 

A large proportion of learning time is spent outside. Here we have further opportunities to develop learning and provide different experiences. Some examples of activities include construction, water areas, mud kitchen, potion making, climbing and an outdoor cafe. Mark making opportunities are always available in the form of chalk, paints and a variety of writing equipment.