1. Key Stage 2: years Five and Six
Information for parents and children
Autumn 2017

2. General Information Every day your child needs to bring;
School book bag with spelling book, reading record book and current reading book. Year six also need homework diary.
named coat and jumper/cardigan
a named water bottle- no juice or squash please
Sun cream and sun hat (warm days)
On Monday please also bring a drawstring PE bag and leave in school until Friday. Please can children have proper trainers not plimsolls.
If a child is having school dinners then this should preferably be paid for in advance, via the new electronic system, or money may be bought in a named envelope on a Monday morning for the week ahead.

3. School website:
Please do use the school website and class page to access all our newsletters, copies of homework letters and topic webs.
The Sycamore and Hawthorn class webpages will provide updates and hopefully photos when the children participate in class trips.

4. Our Learning Journey…
In our school we are focusing on creating independent learners who are on a learning journey. Part of this involves children identifying learning codes in others, therefore being able to demonstrate these same learning codes themselves. These are: being curious, persevering, learning from each other, evaluating their work thinking around a problem and reading for meaning. Dojo points will be awarded when children demonstrate these behaviours as well as when they show good behaviour.
Children will be encouraged to challenge themselves and take responsibility for their own learning. They are encouraged to be ver independent in organising themselves as they are the oldest children in the school.
They also support each other through nominated Leading Learners on each table where the mentor helps to support the group’s learning.
We have talk partners, so children talk more and teachers talk less. This helps children cognitive processes and creates a supportive learning environment.

5. Literacy Literacy includes speaking, listening, reading and writing.
Daily class Literacy lessons include work related to word work (spellings, phonics), sentence work (construction) and text based work (books or sections of writing).
Literacy includes speaking and listening activities such as group presentations, response partners, role-play and hot seating.
Writing expectations are high and children will be encouraged to challenge themselves with content and presentation.

6. SPELLING- year five
On a Friday, children will have a pre-test on a large group of words. From these, focus words will be selected for the child to learn and underlined on the spelling list. If your child is an able speller they may be able to already spell the words so the focus at home could be on the meaning of the words; any grammatical features such as suffixes, prefixes; or finding antonyms or synonyms. The challenge activity will demonstrate that the child understand the spelling pattern.
Children will be given a word search/crossword and practise sheet on a Monday which will be started in school and sent home to finish. Although this will not be collected in again by school it will be really helpful for children to finish this at home as it will allow them to practise and understand their spellings better.
The children are then tested on their words on a Thursday morning.

7. SPELLING- year six
We are trailing a different way of learning spellings in year six this year so we would appreciate any feedback from parents after the children (and teachers!) have had a few weeks to get used to the new system.
On Mondays the children, with teacher guidance, will generate a personalised spelling list made up of words they have spelt incorrectly in lessons, year 5/6 HFW’s and words which follow the spelling rules we learn in class. These will be lists of 12 words that are completely individual so practise at home will be key. A record of the words chosen will be kept in school in case spelling books become mislaid!
On a Friday the children will work in pairs to test each other on their lists and the scores will be recorded by the teacher. If the child scores less than 9/12 they will be asked to keep learning the spellings over the weekend and re-tested on Monday.

8. Numeracy
Numeracy sessions involve both teaching of calculation methods and how to apply these in different ways. Problem solving and reasoning is a key skill. Wherever possible these are linked to real life situations.
The expectation is that by the end of year four children should know all their times tables so if any children are still unsure on their times tables then home practise is essential. Children are tested on times tables and linked divisions every two weeks.

9. Numeracy homework
Numeracy homework is usually given out once a week. In year six this will be on a Friday to be returned on a Tuesday. Sometimes this may be a game, an investigation or a written activity. All homework (except games) should be returned to the class teacher by the date it is due so that we can go through it with the children at the beginning of that day’s numeracy lesson. They will mark this themselves but under our guidance.
Please come to see the class teacher if you are unsure on the methods to use with your child or if they find their homework too easy or too difficult. The homework is based on class work but children can forget methods taught so please ask the class teacher to explain if your child isn’t sure. The calculation policy on the school website will also provide help with the methods used in school.

10. Reading
In school the children have a range of reading experiences; whole class shared text, group guided reading and independent reading.
In guided reading the children are taught to use a range of strategies to decode unknown words, analyse hidden meanings in a variety of texts and learn about the structure of stories. This is a form of direct teaching that helps readers become more independent and to engage with and really enjoy a variety of genres.
Reading with your child at home is really important, so please let us know that you have done this by signing their reading record. Although not essential to listen to every page, it would be most encouraging if you listened to them reading a few times a week. We would, however, expect that children would read daily. All reading can be recorded in the reading record- not just when a child has read aloud.
Although they are older now, it is still really beneficial for the children to read aloud at home as it is a skill in itself to engage your listener when reading.

11. Reading is fun.
Reading at home is fun too!
please share your child’s book
this should be enjoyable for you both
sharing their book allows your child to show off and practise the skills they are learning in school
always praise every effort and encourage your child to talk about what they have read
choose your reading time carefully (not during dinner or while the TV is on)
Talking about the book and what has happened in the story is as important as reading the words themselves, suggested questions can be provided by the school- please ask if you would like these.

12. HOMEWORK Projects
Our main homework is the topic homework project. There may also be smaller pieces of homework from time to time.
Please do not leave this until the day before – make it an opportunity for you and your child to share their learning. This not only encourages them but also helps maintain links with the school and what they are learning here too. Suggestions on how to carry this out are given at the start of each project.
Please remember that a project is for the children to complete and while it is a fantastic way for you to get involved in your child’s learning we emphasise that the project is not homework for you.
Children can ask for photocopies of books from school if they feel it would help them in their projects.
Projects are displayed along our corridors at the end of each term, following peer and adult evaluation. Children really enjoy sharing these projects and having the opportunity to look at work from across KS2.
Projects are primarily research and literacy based, however ICT and DT also form part of personal presentational choices.

13. Topic
A lot of our work is Topic based and we try to link the foundation subjects (art, history, geography, DT, PSHE as well as Science where appropriate) to a topic. This term our topic is Demanding Dilemmas.
More about what is included in our teaching of the topics is available on the school website on our termly topic webs. Each class is following their own curriculum even though the overarching topic is the same.
An international day on Thursday the 14th of September will allow the children to experience the culture of a different country and parents are invited in to see their children's work at 3.00PM.

14. Early Work
Children should come in quickly and quietly at 8:40am and settle down to their early work task.
This is an important time as not only do children change their reading books and hand in homework, they also read any marking from the previous day where they may have a next step / follow up to do.
Some children also attend interventions in this time so it is key for them to arrive on time.

15. PE and Swimming
PE is on a Monday and a Wednesday for both Sycamore and Hawthorn classes but PE kit can be needed for other sporting activities therefore should be in school everyday.
As we are approaching winter months please could children have a school hoody/ tracksuit as well as sensible outside trainers.
Both classes will take part in swimming lessons later in the year.

16. Assemblies Monday – whole school values based worship
Tuesday – class devotion.
Wednesday – religious or singing assembly
Thursday – class values/PSHE based assembly
Friday – celebration, and class assemblies.
Na assembly on the 29th of September for parents of both Sycamore and Hawthorn classes will be a chance for children to share about the PGL trips.

17. How you can help us (DBS CRB)
Parent govs
FoBS
Readers
Special skills to share
Gardening
School trips / swimming
Helping with after-school activities or sports
Sharing your occupation with the children (Friday assembly or in class)

18. Do you need to speak to us?
Small concerns directly to the teacher
Before school is not always a good time for a longer chat
Happy to chat after-school
link on class webpages
More serious complaints should be directed to the Head Teacher if no satisfaction has been reached with the teacher. Call and make an appointment please.
Parent Evenings before half term

19. Question Time!
If you have any other questions about what child is doing in school don’t hesitate to ask.
Or if you would like to volunteer some of your time to hear readers or help with art
activities please let us know. Your help will
be gratefully received.