Class 4

Welcome to Class 4. Here is some important information about our class.

In this class there is 1 teacher:

• Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday mornings, Thursday and Friday – Miss Thomas
• Every Wednesday afternoon, Miss Thomas 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.

• Ms Savoia is the main Class 4 teaching assistant. On Monday mornings we have Miss Ford as our teaching assistant.

In the Morning

Each morning we have a brief ‘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, a child will be chosen to use the rainmaker instrument 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. We provide a plastic cup for each child in the class, which they can go and fill up to use whenever they need to. The children are also welcome to bring a named water bottle to school for lunch time that is okay.

P.E.

We will be doing P.E. on Wednesday and Friday afternoons. 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. If your child wears earrings, it is school policy that these are either removed or covered for P.E. lessons. Please either teach them to do this themselves or remove them before they come to school that day, as we are not able to do it for them. Long hair should also be tied back with either a hair bobble or a hairband. Please leave kits in school and we will send them home each half term for washing.

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, but you are welcome to change their book as often as you wish from within their coloured band. We recommend this is supplemented with other reading material such as library books. If possible, please hear you child read for ten minutes each day, as well as asking them some simple comprehension questions about what they’ve read, as this makes a big difference to the progress that they make. Please write any additional books the children read in their reading record. They will need to bring their book and reading record to school every day. The reading record makes it possible for you or your child to write a comment about their reading at home and for us to communicate back about their reading within school.

Writing Sack

We have a writing sack with a soft toy which the children take turns to take home each day. This sack is to encourage children to practise writing out of school. They can write what they got up to with the toy or just write a story. Please return the writing sack the next school day so it can be shared with the class and given to another child to use.

Homework

Each child is given a homework book with a list of suggested activities and a spelling book with key words to practise containing graphemes taught that week in phonics. We will also share and suggest activities linked to our topic which you could complete if you wish too. Please bring these in each Wednesday so we can mark and return them to your child on Friday. You will be reminded about homework on a weekly basis on our class Bloomz page. Children are also set weekly maths homework online on MyMaths and each task is linked to work that has been completed recently in their maths group.

Library

The children have the opportunity to change their library book each Friday afternoon. Please note that they will only be permitted to take a new book home if they return their current book.

Toys

Toys are not permitted in school unless it is for their show and tell. Pokémon cards will be confiscated and given to the headteacher if seen in school.

Show and Tell

We will hold regular show and tell sessions where your child can bring in something from home to talk about. We set key themes each month which will help the children know what to bring. Please keep an eye on the class notice board for details of whose turn it is that week and what the focus is.

Good Work Assemblies

We have a Good Work Assembly each Friday at 9am. Each week 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. These assemblies will last approximately 30 minutes. Please note that any additional certificates / awards from outside of school, e.g. swimming, will be presented in KS1 assemblies on Thursdays.

Traffic Lights

In Class 4, we have green, orange and red traffic lights which follow our school’s behaviour policy. In addition, we also have silver and gold traffic lights to reward good behaviour. When a child has their name moved to silver, this recognises that they have had a great day and when moved to gold, it means they have had a fantastic day and they will receive a special gold sticker. A child will receive a certificate once they have reached gold five times, and some treats from the prize box once they have reached gold ten times. This is a great incentive for the children to behave well and they are always very proud when they have reached silver or gold!

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, a jacket potato or a ‘Grab Bag’. You child can choose each morning which they would like or they may bring in a packed lunch from home of 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 your child’s property, including P.E. bags, kits and pack up boxes.

Thank you for your continued support.

Miss Thomas and the Class 4 team