1. Learning Meeting for Parents
Friday 12th September 2014

2. A new National Curriculum
Why the big curriculum change?
The main aim is to raise standards. Although the new curriculum is intended to be more challenging, the content is actually slimmer than the current curriculum, focusing on essential core subject knowledge and skills such as essay writing and computer programming.
The main changes (in core subjects)
English
Stronger emphasis on vocabulary development, grammar, punctuation and spelling (for example, the use of commas and apostrophes will be taught in KS1)
Handwriting( not currently assessed under the national curriculum) is expected to be fluent, legible and speedy
Spoken English has a greater emphasis, with children to be taught debating  and presenting skills.

3. A new National Curriculum
Maths
Five-year-olds will be expected to learn to count up to 100 (compared to 20 under the current curriculum) and learn number bonds to 20 (currently up to 10)
Simple fractions (1/4 and 1/2) will be taught from KS1, and by the end of primary school, children should be able to convert decimal fractions to simple fractions (e.g = 3/8)
By the age of nine, children will be expected to know times tables up to 12×12 (currently 10×10 by the end of primary school)
Calculators will not be introduced until near the end of KS2, to encourage mental arithmetic.
Science
Strong focus on scientific knowledge and language, rather than understanding the nature and methods of science in abstract terms
Evolution will be taught in primary schools for the first time
Non-core subjects like caring for animals will be replaced by topics like the human circulatory system

4. A new National Curriculum
Design & technology
Design and Technology has become more important in  the new curriculum, setting children on the path to becoming the designers and engineers of the future
More sophisticated use of design equipment such as electronics and robotics
In KS2, children will learn about how key events and individuals in design and technology have shaped the world.
ICT
Computing replaces Information and Communication Technology (ICT), with a greater focus on programming rather than on operating programs
From age five, children will learn to write and test simple programs, and to organise, store and retrieve data
From seven, they will be taught to understand computer networks, including the internet
Internet safety – currently only taught from – will be taught in primary schools
Languages
Currently not statutory, a modern foreign language or ancient language will be mandatory in KS2. Children will be expected to master basic grammar and accurate pronunciation and to converse, present, read and write in the language

5. Assessment without levels: what does it mean for schools?
Assessment from September 2014
In March 2014, the Department for Education (DfE) published information for schools on the National Curriculum and assessment from September The document stated that level descriptors would be removed from the National Curriculum and will not be replaced.
They added:
Schools have the freedom to develop their own means of assessing pupils' progress towards end of Key Stage (KS) expectations.

6. Statutory Tests The following assessments will be statutory:
The existing progress check for two-year-olds
A short reception baseline, as part of the assessment that teachers make of children in reception
The year 1 phonics check
Teacher assessment at the end of KS1 in mathematics, reading and writing
KS2 national tests in mathematics, reading, and grammar, punctuation and spelling; and a teacher assessment of maths, reading, writing and science
KS1 and KS2 tests will be based on a scaled score
The response document explains that the KS1 and KS2 tests will be based on a scaled score where 100 represents the new expected standard for the relevant KS.

7. Assessing progress without levels: DfE principles
The DfE published additional guidance which says:
The assessment framework should be built into the school curriculum, so that schools can check what pupils have learned and whether they are on track to meet expectations at the end of the KS.
(Schools need to develop assessment systems which complement the programmes of study for the new National Curriculum.)

8. Year 2
Mrs Batchelor
Miss Magdij
Miss Huggins
Mrs Spyrou (Wednesdays)

9. Current Learning Challenge
WOW: Children receive a visit from Kamrita and they need to have a range of questions to ask them about where they want to visit.
Where could I take Kamrita on a special outing in our town?
Why would Kamrita need to know my postcode to find my house?
How would Kamrita use her map to find her way to school?
What would appear on Kamrita’s map of our town?
How can we create paintings from our photographs of special places in our town?
Recommended text: Follow That Map, by Scot Ritchie

10. PE Premier Sports Coaching Tuesdays and Thursdays
Lunchtime PE club for Y2 (15 children on each day)
Please make sure your child has their PE kit in school.

11. Home Work
Reading
Spellings: Look, cover, write, check, half term focus task to be completed weekly.
Maths
Home work is given out on a Friday, to be returned on a Wednesday.

12. Any concerns?
Please come and talk to me so that we can work together to sort it out.