Our Nursery children are using different Nursery Rhymes to help them to learn to listen very carefully for the first sounds in words, rhyming words and clap syllables. They work really hard to identify the 'odd one out', the rhyming partner and copy clapping patterns. These are all essential skills for learning to read and write successfully. They also have regular 'writedance' sessions, moving and drawing along with the music to create large marks on big paper.

This year in Reception we have been trialling a different way to encourage our children to write. It is called 'Drawing Club'. 

We start with a good quality picture book and choose some interesting vocabulary from the story or about the story, words such as 'impersonate', 'nervous', shimmering and 'collaborating'. We then create a movement to represent the word with the children.  Each session begins with revision of this vocabulary and an enthusastic reading of the book.

Sessions then explore a character from the story, the setting and an adventure time session. Each drawing is modelled by the teacher. The drawings explore something about the story but the children have to create something a little different such as a way for the wolf to disguise himself in Little Red Riding Hood. They are then encouraged to use their phonic knowledge to write a 'code' which will make the drawing do something. 

We have some very enthusiastic participants in this activity and the children are beginning to produce short words and some can manage phrases too.

Well done EYFS.