Dear Parents

This is a short newsletter to let you know how you can support your child in and out of school this term.

Topic

Our Science topics will be Life Processes and Humans as Organisms.

History will be about Special Days, Events and People including Remembrance Day, Appleby Fair and Florence Nightingale.

In Geography we will be looking at some contrasting localities with Barnaby Bear and using simple mapping skills.

Reading

It is most important that you hear your child read at home as often as possible as this will have a marked effect on their progress.  Each child should bring their reading book home and return it to school daily.  Please sign the reading record book when your child has read, especially to indicate when the book is finished and also to make relevant comments.  It is often beneficial to read a book through twice to develop fluency.  Please encourage your child to read a wide range of both fiction and non-fiction, not just the books from school.  A ‘wider reading’ sheet is at the front of the reading record book on which you can write down other books read.  Also ask your child questions about the text, its characters and to re-tell the story.   Complete the book review, if they are given one, when your child has read the book.  Send it in with the book when the book needs changing on the stated days.  The word wall must be kept in the reading record book.   Staff will add words and tell your child when they can colour them in.

We endeavour to change completed books on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

S.A.T.S

As you are probably aware your child will take part in Key Stage I S.A.T.S in Year 2.  The emphasis is on teacher assessment but each child will still do tasks and tests to support judgements.  Most tests and tasks will take place in April, May and June so please would you try and avoid booking holidays during school time.

P.E.

We are having P.E. is on Mondays and Thursdays.   All children require T-shirt, shorts, plimsolls and track suit bottoms and trainers for cold weather .

In the interest of a child’s safety, jewellery, including earrings, must not be worn during P.E./Games lessons.   They should be removed on these days or surgical tape provided to cover them, which the child must put on themselves.  Long hair should be tied back.

All school clothing should be named. 

Homework

Your child will be given a list of spellings usually on a Thursday to bring and keep at home for revision.  Please help them with these.  These will be tested the following Thursday.  Your child has been shown how to use the spelling sheet.  Please ask if any confusion arises.  Try and avoid leaving the learning of spellings until the night before, little and often is best.  When necessary, number and literacy work to consolidate that done in the classroom will be given.   A letter formation sheet is being sent home.  Please go over these with your child also, as letters need to be formed correctly.  Please help your child with any learning targets.

I thank you in anticipation of your support.  Please don’t hesitate to contact either myself or Mr Bullock regarding any concerns you may have during the school term.

Mrs J Williams