Squirrels Class

1. Squirrels Class Mrs Elkington: Monday – Thursday Miss Barker: Friday Mrs Stone: Monday – Wednesday Thursday and Friday mornings only Mrs Larcombe: Monday to Friday 9.45 – 12.15

2. Building resilience and independence https://ideas.classdojo.com/f/perseverance-the-dip-1/0

3. North Newton Primary School Squirrels Timetable Autumn term 2017

4. Morning Routine • Drinks, PE bags and book bags in lockers and coats on coat pegs. • Please drop your children at the classroom door to encourage independence. • Please encourage children to put money/letters etc. into the Squirrels post box independently. • Children will have different activities to do each morning so it important that they settle quickly. • Free reader: reading books to be changed at the library 8.45am – 9am. Children reading can be changed in Foxes after school. • Medicine: speak with Mrs Stone

5. Topic/EnglishOur topic for this term is Up, Up and Away • ‘Talk for Writing’ approach. – Immerse, Imitate, Innovate, Invent! • This term our first story will be the adventures of Flat Stanley. We will be taking part in the Flat Stanley World Wide Project which connects schools around the world. We will also be exploring the film ‘Up’ for writing inspiration. • Punctuation and Grammar is a key aspect of the curriculum, so the children will be learning lots of new terminology and how to use it correctly in their writing.

6. Phonics and Spellings • Children in Squirrels have been assessed and have been put in to a group which is appropriate to their stage of learning. • Mrs Stone’s spelling group: tested on a Monday • Mrs Tucker’s / O’Leary’s spelling group: tested on a Monday • Mrs Elkington’s spelling group: Year 3 tested on a Tuesday • Year 4 tested on a Thursday • Focus: spelling rules and application of spelling in work • Timetable in book to follow terms spellings • Word list for Year 3 and 4 (statutory requirement)

7. Maths • In Maths, the focus for the Autumn term is: • Place Value • Addition and Subtraction: mental and formal methods • Shape Homework: • Focus: fluency of number facts. • Maths logs: recorded and signed • 4x a week for 5 minutes Additional: • Prodigy www.prodigygame.com/play

8. Maths Test • Times tables - Children will practise times tables in school as part of mental maths. • Every Monday • Brain Barometer: weekly Monday test. Children complete 50 in 5 minutes. • Please note children are now expected to be able to instantly recall their, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8 times tables by the end of year 3 (5, 10, 2s by end of year 2). All children need to be able to recall all times table up to 12x12 byt the end of Year 4. • Children will bring their test sheets home for you to see their progress however their name will be displayed in the classroom next to their current target if you are unsure of what they should be working on. • 1 House Point for improving their last score • 2 House points for moving up a target

9. Reading Logs • READING – please read with your children as much as possible as it is an important part of their learning. • Reading books will get checked every Monday and house points awarded. Parents/carers/older siblings must sign. 1 HP -4 x a week, 2hp – 7x a week

10. Swimming • Children will be going swimming at Blackbrook on a Tuesday afternoon. We will be leaving at the slightly later time of 3.30pm • Minibus drivers needed please  Please sign up on the relevant sheet. We cannot provide swimming provision if we do not have parent helpers. • All children will now be required to wear a swimming cap under GLL rules. Each child will be given a free cap on their first visit and they will have to wear one. If they are lost it will cost £1 for a replacement. Children will not be allowed to swim unless they are wearing a hat. • Colours are as follows: • Red – Non-swimmer • Amber – Weak swimmer • Green – Competent swimmer

11. Class Information • Other subjects will link to each topic. Each termly newsletter will update you as to what our topic is. Please bring in any story/non-fiction books relating to this topic if your children have any. • PE – Monday and Wednesday – children will come home on a Wednesday in PE kit. • Please feel free to ask for an update of your child’s progress throughout the year or if you have any concerns that you would like to raise. • Please inform us if your child is going home with another family or family member. We will NOT allow a child to go with a different adult unless we have your permission.

12. Reward System • Whole school • Behaviour and achievement based • House points – house gems • Maths / English Star • Class star of the week – Nutty • Celebration assembly in Village-hall/outside until half-term. • A text will be sent out to advise you if your child have been chosen.

13. School Information • Rules and expectations of the school are we encourage independent learning and have high standards of behaviour and engagement in learning. • Open door policy – Please feel free to see your teacher at the end of the day after school ends. Alternatively arrange an appointment with your child’s teacher if your require a longer discussion time. • Reduced provision due to budget – MFL in KS2 only LSA have reduced hours Mr Arnold teaching 1.5 days (Foxes Wed am, Badgers Fri all day) No samba in Foxes Class Cleaning staff reduced hours Main gate unmanned. Office only for basic enquiries on Tuesdays – Office closed for other business

14. School Information • Safeguarding and Online Safety – Please continue to talk to your child about online safety and use of online site such as YouTube. There is a Children’s YouTube that has enhanced safety. • Parent Voice – Please view the School Website to learn: • Who the School Governors are • How to best support your children in reading, writing maths etc. • Up to date information and newsletters and key information and policies. • Sickness – 48 hours after the last bout of sickness and diarrhoea. • DBS – If you haven’t already signed up please leave your name with us after the talk so we can arrange for Ros in the office to contact you.