Welcome to years 1 and 2

1. Welcome to years 1 and 2 • Miss Ellis • Miss Harvey • Miss Payne • Mr Aanonson • Mrs Linkens • Mrs Kearns • Miss Bladon

2. Getting to know the new routines • We know from experience that you and your child may feel anxious and excited about beginning this new phase of their education. • They will be introduced to their new routine gradually over the first few weeks and will soon feel settled. • Try not to worry – they’ll be fine!

3. Transition • Both Year 1 and Year 2 be spenting time with their new teachers to gain familiarity with their teachers and new rooms. • As the day structure is very different moving from reception to Year 1, the new Year 1 children will participate in ‘challenges’ rotated over the week during English and Mathematics sessions for the first 2 terms. Children will all have the same input on the carpet then half will work with the teacher while the others complete independent ‘challenges’. In the past these have included write it, count it, create it, investigate it, draw it, talk it and outdoor it. This aids transition as it develops the independence they have gained in reception while lengthening the time spent on focused activities. • Summer Project- Building a castle

4. Your child will need • Pencil case – pencil, rubber, sharpener, thin whiteboard pens. A glue stick would also be useful. • PE kit – white T shirt, blue/black shorts, black pumps; in a draw-string bag. A track suit and trainers for winter months is useful. • The t-shirt can be a team shirt which can be ordered via the office. • Art shirt • Reading folder/ Please no large rucksacks. Everything must be named please

5. Changes from Foundation 2 to Key Stage 1 Year 1 • For the first two weeks of Autumn term the year 1 children will need to line up next to their teacher at the side of the Reception and Nursery fence by 8.45 am. They will then walk to their classroom with their class teacher, just before 8.55 am. (Any child arriving after this time will need to report to the office). The children will go in to their cloakrooms/classrooms by themselves carrying their own belongings. Year 2 • For the first day of Autumn term the year 2 children will need to line up next to their teacher at the side of the Reception and Nursery fence by 8.45 am. They will then walk to their classroom with their class teacher, just before 8.55 am. (Any child arriving after this time will need to report to the office). The children will go in to their cloakrooms/classrooms by themselves carrying their own belongings. After the first day year 2 children will walk around to their classrooms by themselves. • Both year 1 and 2 will be brought around and dismissed from this same location.

6. Reading • Children will need to bring their reading books and reading records daily. We expect children to read regularly at home (ideally three times a week) and parents need to sign when they have read with their child. • Upon arriving at school, they will put their book in a designated place as informed by their teacher. When they have read their reading book at school, a comment will be made and initialled by an adult if they read that particular day. • Guided reading in groups – weekly. Reading records will be stamped to show they have read. Children will also read daily within literacy lessons. • Library books are available to use in each classroom for children to extend their reading. • Reading books will be changed at least once a week. In Year One books will be changed on a particular day while in Year Two children can change their books independently. Please make sure that children are heard reading their book but also and more importantly to question their understanding.

7. School website Dates, newsletters, updates, celebration of work and other information. Please tell us if you do not give permission for your child’s photo to be taken during school activities DOJO’s- reward system and also allows messages and photos to be sent and shared- please sign up http://www.walterevans.derby.sch.uk/ ‘How we teach…’ materials Behaviour policy

8. Homework • Children will be given weekly spellings. Can you help your child learn these by using the method look, cover, write. These spellings will be available on the school website to practise. • Once a week the children will be tested. In the spelling test they will be asked to write each learnt word inside a sentence. • Homework such as creative projects or research about the topic we are covering will be sent out on a half termly basis. When this work is set you will receive an sheet detailing the project. • Once the children have settled at school they will receive a number fact sheet. The children will benefit from any practise you can fit in a home. They will be regularly tested on these facts at school.

10. Topics • Autumn 1 – Towers, Tunnels and Turrets • Autumn 2-Superheros • (Mince Pie and Carol day) • Spring 1- Paw, claws and whiskers • Spring 2- The Enchanted Woodland • (Jungle Book or Lion King performance) • Summer 1- Moon Zoom • Summer 2-Splendid skies

11. We are approachable! • We are available at the end of the day at the side of school and strive to be friendly/approachable. Any queries or little problems see us then. • Please do not expect to be able to speak to the class teacher before school as we have other responsibilities at this time. • If you need to speak to us in confidence please arrange an appointment through the school office, or write a note to us and we will arrange direct.

12. You are welcome to see where the classrooms are before leaving and the route into class. For those who wish to see where their child should be dropped off, hang their coat, be picked up/dropped off in the morning and at the end of the school day, please follow us now and we will show you. Thank you – we look forward to welcoming your child into KS1!