1. Year 5 Parent/Carer Information session
Thursday 7th September 2017
3pm

2. Unleashing Possibilities
Mission Statement
Enriching Lives
Unleashing Possibilities
Building Futures
At the Opossum Federation we believe that all pupils deserve high quality education which engages, inspires and challenges; so that everyone meets their full potential. We strive to create a safe and happy learning environment which promotes independence and high expectations of all. We are committed to providing opportunities which promote open mindedness, empathy and celebration of the rich and diverse community which we serve; so that everyone is able to contribute positively to society. We are dedicated to promoting healthy lifestyle choices so that our students can meet their physical and emotional needs. We are determined that our students will be successful and will leave us as confident, highly educated pupils.
We do this by:
Raising achievement through quality first teaching which enthuses and motivates; aspiring all to fulfil their potential. 
Ensuring pupil voice is at the heart of all we do to enable children to become confident, resilient and reflective independent learners.
Offering a broad and varied curriculum which ensures all children can read, write and are numerate.
Having an open and welcoming environment where that everyone feels welcome and included.

3. Meet the team: leadership
Prue Barnes Kemp
Executive Headteacher
Lisa McIntyre
Head of Federation
Liz Brandon
Head of School
Michele Moir
SENCo

4. Curriculum Overviews
Literacy and Maths are taught discretely. The skills of writing are also practised daily through Journal writing (9-9:20am)
Reading is taught during Guided Reading sessions
The curriculum is mapped into topics which are linked to either Geography/ History
PE is taught by specialist tutors
To view your child's curriculum map please visit the Oakhill website

5. Reporting to Parents/Carers
Autumn: Open Evenings- 26th and 28th September to discuss Key Skills and initial progress at the start of the year (NO written report card). There will be an opportunity to view your child’s books
Spring: Annual written report outlining achievement and progress in all areas. Open Evenings-20th and 22nd March opportunity to discuss report
Summer: Written report card outlining levels of achievement. Open evenings- 10th and 12th July – opportunity to discuss end of year achievement.

6. Working in partnership: at home
Learning of number facts, quick recall of TIMES TABLE (using INVERSE also)- 15 minutes practise daily. Children should know this by heart by Y4
Daily reading for at least 20 minutes (asking questions about the text).
Talking with your child about their learning that day, getting them to show you what they have been learning.
Completing Mathletics (Maths revision).
Bug Club
Half termly poetry recital
Complete set pages in home learning workbooks (Grammar and/ or Maths)
Home learning projects- half termly ( ed during the first week of term)
Home learning logs- completed daily
Half termly information sheets- ed

7. Write what Maths activity has been completed e. g
Write what Maths activity has been completed e.g. practised number bonds to 10 and any other home learning which has taken place
Write the name of the book and page numbers read
Teacher will sign weekly (not comment)

8. UNIFORM
Please ensure that your child is dressed in the Newport school uniform each day.
Shoes must be appropriate for play – no ‘party’ shoes, Ugg style boots or backless shoes
Earrings -small studs or sleepers only
Hair ties – plain elastics/ribbons. Decorative clips, ties should be kept for special occasions please.
PE – please ensure that your child wears the school PE kit to school on add day; they will wear it for the entire school day

9. PE
Class
PE day
Year Five
Year Cinco
Tuesday- swimming and games

10. Visits help to enrich learning by providing real life experiences.
Educational Visits
Visits help to enrich learning by providing real life experiences.
Year 5
Autumn
St Pauls Cathedral
Spring
British Museum- Greeks
Natural History Museum
Summer
Ragged School Museum
Gilwell Park
Parent volunteers are often essential for school visits –we appreciate your support. Please be sure that you are able to commit before offering to accompany a visit as the trip may have to be cancelled in the event of lack of supervision.
Please complete the consent form which covers all visits for the year. If you have any concerns, please speak to the teacher. Voluntary contributions help to increase the range of experiences we can provide; your support in this is greatly appreciated.
Parent volunteers are often essential for school visits –we appreciate your support. Please be sure that you are able to commit before offering to accompany a visit as the trip may have to be cancelled in the event of lack of supervision.

11. Residential programme
Y5 Gilwell Park:
1 night- Monday June 25th
Gilwell Park, Chingford- travel by train
£20 deposit by 30th September (non-refundable), final payments by 28th February
Variety of activities- orientation, camp fire, climbing etc.
Permission slip and info will be sent out next week

12. Health and Medication
Please inform the school about your child’s medical condition.
Some conditions will require an Individual Healthcare Plan which we will develop together.
The only medication which can be administered at school is prescribed medication. These must be signed in/out via the school office and not given to teachers/ children
Please do not keep your child home for minor coughs and cold

13. Dropping and Collecting your child
Please ensure that you are on time to avoid any distress for your child
If you are unavoidably delayed, please phone the school office to let us know who will be collecting your child. You will be asked to provide a password which the collector will know.
Permission must be obtained if children are to walk home alone
Please ensure that you have informed the school office of all adults you have authorised to collect your child.
All collectors should be at least 16 years old. Please discuss any exceptional circumstances with a school leader
For the safety of all children and adults, please respect the ‘no stopping’ zig zag lines on Alders Avenue. Allowing children to get out of a car in the middle of the road is very dangerous; please do not stop in the street to drop your child off.

14. Attendance & Punctuality

15. Positive Behaviour Platinum Pride programme
Every child begins the day on ‘green’
Positive learning and social behaviour choices lead to moving up the scale.
Negative learning or social behaviour choices result in moving down the scale. Parents will be telephoned in the event of a ‘red’ behaviour
The school’s expectations are based on the principles in the UN Rights’ Respecting programme

16. Staying in Touch
We communicate in a number of ways: information, face to face, weekly bulletins, half termly newsletters and importantly through the school’s website. Please check this regularly for updates.

17. Problem Solving
Messages, Queries, Concerns
Person to Contact
If your child is absent from school…
Please notify the school office each day of absence either by telephone on or in person. Please note that this notification does not guarantee that absences will be authorised.
If you have a quick message for your child’s teacher about collection arrangements, health concerns, home learning…
Talk to your child’s teacher on the playground; all teachers are outside every morning and afternoon. Urgent messages may be left at the school office if you do not get a chance to speak to the teacher.
your child’s learning progress…
Make an appointment to meet with your child’s teacher. If, following your discussion you would like more information, make an appointment to meet with the relevant School Leader.
If you would like to talk about child protection/safeguarding concerns…
Contact Liz Brandon or Laura Houghton as soon as possible – no prior appointment required.
If you are concerned about social behaviours or bullying…
If you would like to discuss something related to your child’s teacher…
Make an appointment to meet with the Head of School, Mrs Brandon
If you would like to discuss your child’s special educational needs….
Make an appointment to meet with Michele Moir, SENCO.
If you would like to find out about school clubs or have a query...
Check the school website, Parent Pay or ask at the school office.
We aim to address concerns and resolve problems at the earliest stage and in a timely fashion.
If you have a concern about your child’s learning, please speak with the teacher in the first instance.
If the problem is not able to be resolved, please follow the steps in the communication protocol.
School website: school information- policies & reports- communication chart

18. Thank you for attending today’s meeting
Thank you for attending today’s meeting. We look forward to working in partnership with you