Class 2

Welcome to Class 2. Here is some important information about our class.

The teachers in Class 2 are Mrs Martin and Mrs Loose. In class 2 we have 2 teaching assistants, Mrs Stone and Mr Beresford-Wylie. Mrs Stone will be in class every morning and Mr Beresford-Wylie will be in class every afternoon.

Every Friday afternoon the teacher has some time for PPA (planning, preparation and assessment). During this session the children will be having a specialist PE lesson with ‘Total Sports’ and an art lesson with Ms Savoia.

In the morning

Each morning we have an ‘early bird’ activity for your child to do when the doors open at 8.45am. You are welcome to stay and do this with them. At 8.50am we will play some music or ring a tambourine which is the signal for the children to come and sit on the carpet to do the register and for parents/carers to leave. Parents are not obliged to stay for the ‘early bird’ activity.

Outdoor clothing

The children go out to play each day, and also have regular outdoor activities. They need to bring a coat to school every day, which will withstand light rain. A hat, gloves and scarf (and wellies) are also a good idea during the cold weather and a sunhat when it is hot.

Drinks in the classroom

The children are allowed to drink water freely during the day especially when it is warm. Please can you provide your child with a water bottle for school and label it with their name. Reception children will be provided with a carton of milk. If your child is in Year 1 and would like a carton of milk each day, please let the office know and they will give you a form that you need to complete.

P.E.

We will be doing P.E. on a Friday and Year 1 will have an extra P.E. lesson on a Monday.  Please check that your child has a full P.E kit with plimsolls, as trainers are unsuitable for our gym; everything should have their name on. The children will need a pair of jogging bottoms for outdoor P.E. Please leave kits in school on the P.E kit pegs and we will send them home each half term for washing. If your child wears earrings, it is school policy that these are either removed or covered for P.E. lessons. Please be reminded that only studs should be worn, not hoops.

Reading books

We will hear children read, in groups and individually, regularly in class. They will be given a reading book to take home which will be changed in class once a week. Please see the note in the front of your child’s reading record explaining when their reading book will be changed. We recommend this is supplemented with other reading material such as library books. Please write any additional books the children read in their reading record. They will need to bring their book and reading record to school each day. If possible please hear you child read for ten minutes each day as this makes a big difference to the progress they make.

Travelling Ted

We have a soft toy, ‘Travelling Ted’, which the children take turns to take home each week. Ted has a bag and diary. Please encourage your child to write a few sentences, draw a picture and take photographs of things they got up to with ‘Ted’. ‘Ted’ will be handed out on a Friday afternoon. Please return ‘Ted’ the following Friday as we will talk about his adventures over the week and will be given to another child to take home.

Homework

Each Friday we will send the children’s homework books home. Each Year 1 child will be given a homework book with a list of suggested activities, and a spelling book with 6 key words to practise. Please bring these in each Wednesday so we can mark and return them to your child on Friday. Reception children have phonics homework and Maths challenge cards to have a go at.

Library

The children have the opportunity to change their library book each Monday afternoon. They will only be permitted to take a new book home if they return their current book. A reminder letter is sent out after two weeks if the book is not returned to the library.

Forest Schools

The Reception children attend Forest Schools every Tuesday afternoon. The Year 1 children attend Forest Schools every Thursday afternoon. Please make sure they have a pair of wellingtons in the class for wet days and suitable outdoor clothing.

Stay and Play

We invite parents of Reception children to ‘Stay and Play’ sessions alternate Fridays from 9.00am to 9.30am. This is a lovely opportunity to play with your child in class. There is a sign-up sheet outside the classroom. Please add your name under the date you wish to attend.

Toys

Please do not allow your child to bring toys into school. We have lots of resources to play with in school and toys from home may be lost or broken.

Good work Assemblies (Year 1 children only)

We have a Good Work Assembly every alternate Friday at 9.00am. Different children from throughout school are selected to show their work. If your child is chosen they will be given a letter on the previous Friday and then presented with the Good Work certificate within the assembly. Parents are very welcome to come and watch but we understand many of you work so don’t worry if you can’t make it. If your child has been awarded a certificate for an activity they have done outside of school, e.g. swimming, these will now be presented in the KS1 assembly. Good Work Assembly will last approximately 30 minutes.

Lunch

All children in Reception and Key Stage 1 are entitled to a free school meal. We give the option of either a cooked lunch or a ‘Grab Bag’. Your child can choose each morning which they would like or they may bring in a packed lunch from home if they wish.

Lost property

We would like to reduce the amount of lost property we accumulate in school. To help us reunite children with lost clothes it is essential they have names on all items of clothing. Please help us by labelling all of your child’s property, including P.E. bags, kits and pack up boxes.

Thank you for your continued support.

Mrs Martin, Mrs Loose, Mrs Stone, Mr Beresford-Wylie.