Home Learning Policy

We would like to reiterate our home learning policy which is always shared with parents and carers at the beginning of each school year. This policy has been in place for a number of years but is reviewed on an annual basis by teachers and governors. The only change this year has been the move of the values home learning to a half termly task rather than 3 tasks at the beginning of the school year. This change was made in response to feedback from parents in the parent survey last year.

We use Google Classrooms to host our home learning and parents/carers are provided with logins when their children start school. We recently sent home some login letters for children who had not logged in this year just in case the logins had been lost or mislaid. To ensure that there is no confusion, any home learning will only appear on Google Classrooms, this means the Year 2 spellings will only be on Google Classrooms and not in reading record books going forward.

An outline of the home learning policy, and in fact the policy itself, can be found on your child's class home page, which is accessed using your login to the school website.

Home learning consists of expected tasks and optional tasks. Optional tasks are for parents/carers who wish to support their children's learning further at home.

Expected tasks

Year 2

• Values home learning (half termly)
• Science task (termly)
• Reading (daily)
• Spellings (weekly)

Year 1

• Values home learning (half termly)
• Science task (termly)
• Reading (daily)
• Keywords (daily)

Year R

• Values home learning (half termly)
• Science task (termly)
• Reading (daily)
• Keywords (daily)

Optional tasks

As mentioned above, these tasks do not have to be done. The teachers post them each week on Google Classrooms (Friday). These activities relate to what the children have been learning in school during the week. These tasks will not be 'marked', but are looked at by teachers.

Year 1 & 2

• Maths 
• English 
• Wider curriculum

Reception

• An activity related to one of the 17 areas of the Foundation Stage curriculum

Candlemas

• Date: Tuesday 4^th February

We will have a special school worship to celebrate the feast of Candlemas on Tuesday 4^th February.

Candlemas is also known as the Feast of the Presentation of Christ and celebrates the presentation of Jesus at the temple, as described in Luke 2:22-40, and is one of the oldest festivals in the Christian church. In many countries it marks the end of the Christmas festivities and is when decorations are taken down. It is called Candlemas as this was traditionally the day when all the church candles for the year were blessed.

We would like to invite parents/carers to attend. Due to the size of our hall, we are limiting tickets to 1 parent/carer per family.

Scientist volunteers for Science Week

• Dates: 10^th - 14^th March

NSPCC Number Day

• Date: Friday 7^th February

We are delighted to be supporting the NSPCC by taking part in Number Day again this year. NSPCC are also celebrating 25 years!

The NSPCC need our support more than ever. By raising money, we can help to fund their vital services such as Childline – the helpline that’s always there for children and young people, whatever their problem or concern. On average, a child contacts Childline every 25 seconds.

Making maths meaningful

Number Day is a great way to make maths fun and bring about a positive, ‘can-do’ attitude towards it.

• We are taking on Buddy’s Key Challenge in our classes to help raise vital funds for the NSPCC. We are working to solve exciting maths puzzles in our classes, against the clock with Buddy, the Speak out. Stay safe mascot.
• We are having a fun day of maths activities, and we will be taking part in Dress up for Digits. Pupils are asked to wear an item of clothing with a number on it (football shirt, cap, netball shirt or even a onesie!). Or get even more creative by dressing in a maths or numbers theme. To help raise money for the NSPCC, we are asking for donations, and we’d love everyone in the school to take part in this special event.

Safe fundraising

We’ve set up a Just Giving page here.

Please donate and share with friends, so we can support the NSPCC.

It all adds up

We’re really looking forward to all the fun of Number Day, and we really appreciate your support. All the money we raise will make an enormous difference to children today and help the NSPCC be there for children tomorrow.

Big Garden Birdwatch

• Dates: 24^th - 26^th January

At home, you can also support the RSPB by gathering information about the bird population in the UK. 

The Big Garden Birdwatch will be taking place this weekend between the 24^th and 26^th January. You don't even need a garden, you can count birds and identify them from your balcony or in the park. The information you send the RSPB can help them identify how the bird population is faring and, as a result, help them to protect birds. You can sign up for a free guide and also find out how to attract birds to your garden.

Big Schools Birdwatch

We will be taking part in the Big Schools' Birdwatch over the next few weeks. This is being run by the RSPB and every class will be spending time outside, observing and counting the different species of birds that our school grounds attract. We will then submit our results to the RSPB, and this will help them understand the bird population in the country.

• Year 1: this week
• Reception: next week
• Year 2: week after next

Spring term parent consultations

Next Friday, the Parent Consultations slots will go live on our school website. We are holding these over two evenings between 4pm-7pm.

• Wednesday 26^th February
• Thursday 27^th February

To book, you will need to log onto our school website, then a 'Parents' Evening' button will appear at the very top left of your screen.

Appointments are 10 minutes long, and teachers will be sharing with parents/carers how their child is getting on at school, where they are in relation to the expected standards for this time of year, and some next steps for their learning.

You will have the opportunity to look through your child's books before or after your allocated session.

'Book Look' session

• Date: Tuesday 28^th January

We would like to remind families that we will be holding another 'Book Look' session after school on Tuesday. Parents/carers will be able to see what the children have been working on and how much progress they have made all ready this term.

Keyrings on bags

We have noticed a number of bags have far too many keyrings on, and unfortunately the children get distracted and fiddle with them. We would prefer no keyrings on bags please.

Class-led worship

Dragonfly class had their class worship yesterday. They did a lovely job, and it was nice to see so many parents in the hall. Grasshopper class is next, and if you haven't signed up yet, you can do so by clicking the button below.

Each class worship will be from 9am-9.30am. We are limiting 2 tickets per family.

Please make sure you only book tickets for your child's class!

Grasshopper: Respect – Thursday 30^th January

Butterfly: Service – Thursday 6^th February

Ladybird: Perseverance – Thursday 13^th February

Ant: Kindness – Thursday 13^th March

Bee: Thankfulness – Thursday 20^th March

MDSA vacancy

We currently have a Midday Supervising Assistant (MDSA) vacancy. We are looking to appoint a responsible and enthusiastic individual who will ensure the safety, welfare and good conduct of the children during the lunchtime period. You will be part of a friendly and supportive team working with happy and friendly children. 

The full job description and details of how to apply can be found on the school website here.