Home Page

Preparing your child to start school in September 2020

We look forward to welcoming you and your child/children to Sunnymede Infant School.

On this page you will find some information to support transition into school and some useful resources to support you in helping prepare your child for the learning they will experience once they start school.

You can take a short tour of the school here.

Watch the video with your child. You will be introduced to the staff and can take a peek inside the classrooms.

Welcome to Sunnymede Infant School. This powerpoint is an overview of the key systems and ethos of the school which is usually shared at the second induction meeting in the summer term.

New Intake Meeting 2 2020

Essex TLC campaign

Help prepare your child for starting school TLC is an Essex campaign that looks to help parents, carers and families of young children support their children’s communication development and learn how to help their children gain the best start to life through playful learning at home

Relaxed Dough Disco

This helps strengthen hands and fingers and is great fun. We do this every day in school and it can easily be done at home once you know the moves! Good hand and finger control helps children develop their mark making and writing skills. This is a slowed down version to help you learn the moves. There are lots of other versions on the website to enjoy.

Reading at Sunnymede using Read Write Inc

From September 2020 Sunnymede Infant School is using Read Write Inc to teach phonics and reading. Please click on the links below to find out more about how the scheme works and how you can help your child learn to read.

Parent video: What is Read Write Inc Phonics

Parent video: Understanding Phonics

What is phonics and how does it help my child read?

Parent video: Why read to your child?

Time spent reading together is really important - find out why.

Parent video: Introduction to Daily Read Write Inc. Phonics Lessons

Watch this video to find out what you need to know about Daily Phonics Lessons. Click here to download our YouTube Speed Sounds Lessons Schedule: form our we...

Parent video: How to say the sounds

It is important to pronounce each sound correctly. Find out by watching and listening here.

Parent video: Sound blending

Children learn to blend the individual sounds to read words. See how it is done here.

Parent video: 10 things to think about when you read to your child

One of the most important things you can do for your child is read with them and to them. Here are some top tips!

You can find out more about reading at Sunnymede on the dedicated reading page. Click below to find out more about how the phonemes are introduced, the teaching order and much more.

All about learning to read at Sunnymede

Handwriting

At Sunnymede Infant School we use a joined handwriting style which we introduce from Reception. In this style all letters start on the line, which means children do not need to remember different start points for different letters. You can download a copy of the handwriting formation sheet below.

Joined handwriting letter formation

how-to-form-cursive-letters.pdf

In the Read Write Inc scheme they have some lovely verses which help children remember letters and formation. However, they do not use a cursive or joined style of handwriting. At Sunnymede we combine both! We simply say "upstroke" at the beginning of each verse and make sure that the pencil starts on the line. At the end of each letter we say "flick". This is important as it helps children to have a flowing style and join.

Read Write Inc handwriting phrases - dont forget to say "upstroke" at the start and "flick" at the end!

handwriting_phrases_v2.pdf

Maths at Sunnymede

Children learn an amazing amount about number through play. We recommend that you regularly dip into CBeebies Numberblocks. There are lots of songs and activities for you and your child to do together which will help develop a strong foundation for mathematics. We use Numberblocks in school for some of our maths lessons in Reception.

Numberblocks - Counting Challenge | Summer Sums ☀

As seen on CBeebies! Watch Numberblocks full episodes on BBC iPlayer: https://bbc.in/2ZHvNtl
There are lots more videos to watch on the Numberblocks YouTube channel or BBC iPlayer.