Dear Ash Class Parents,

Welcome back to the Autumn Term at Woodcote Primary School.  I hope you enjoyed your Summer Holidays.  This letter will detail our curriculum for the next term as well as providing other general information.

English

Children will be learning about non-chronological reports, which will be linked to our science topic of Animals, including humans.  Children will also be learning about stories in familiar settings, which will involve using descriptive language to describe familiar settings.  After half term, children will be learning about myths and legends and writing instructions.  It is beneficial for children to read a range of these types of texts at home to support the work they do in class. 

We will continue ‘Big Writing’ where the children write independently after discussing ideas for a piece of writing.  It is a fun session where we fill the room with fairy lights and listen to classical music.

Children will have regular spelling sessions to support their word level and phonic work.  They will take part in daily reading activities such as shared reading, guided reading and independent reading tasks.  As children’s reading progresses, the independent reading tasks will increasingly take the form of comprehension activities to develop their ability to understand what they have read.

Maths

Children will be learning about a range of topics including counting, partitioning, calculating, handling data and measures, securing number facts and understanding shape.  They will also be developing skills in solving mathematical problems.

Science

Before half term, our topic is Animals, including humans.  Children will learn about healthy eating, the diets of different animals and the skeleton.  After half term, our topic will be Forcesand Magnets.

PSHE

In PSHE this term, children will be following the whole school theme of New Beginnings.  They will be involved in the creation of a set of classroom rules that they will follow.  Children will also have the opportunity to appreciate and celebrate the similarities and differences between them, and to value their own gifts and talents.

History

Our history topic for this term is ‘Ancient Egyptians’.  A trip to the Ashmolean museum has been booked for early November.  You will receive more information about the details at the end of October.

PE

In PE this half term children will be learning tennis skills, to include basic forehand, backhand, volley and serve.  After half term they will be moving on to dance.  PE will usually take place on Mondays and Wednesdays.  It is very important that children have a PE kit in school all week in case the day is changed for any reason.  Please provide white t-shirt, jogging bottoms and trainers for outdoor PE, and white t-shirt, shorts and plimsolls/trainers for indoor PE.  Please make sure that it is clearly labelled.

ICT

ICT will be taught this term on a cross-curricular basis and incorporated into other subjects whenever possible.

RE

In RE this term children will be looking at Harvest, stories from the Old Testament i.e. Joseph and The Hebrews Flight from Egypt and Creation Stories.

Music

In Music children will be working from the Music Express scheme of work.

Art

This first part of the long term, children will be concentrating on drawing and then moving on to sculpting for the second part.

Reading

The borrowing system from the library next door to Ash Class and Beech Class will continue this year.  A separate letter will be sent out to you providing more information about this.

Homework

Homework will be given out on Fridays and is due in the following Wednesday unless otherwise stated.  This will begin on Friday, 6^th September.  It will consist of 8 spellings and some number facts to learn, and an investigation or activity.  Children will be provided with a plastic folder to take their homework home in.  If there are any questions regarding this, please feel free to come and discuss them with me.

Class Timetable

Finally, as you will already know, Miss Allen has taken on the role of SENCO (Special Educational Needs Coordinator).  This role entails time out of the classroom.  The Ash Class timetable has been arranged to make sure that there is as little impact on the children as possible.  Miss Allen will be teaching every morning and on Tuesday afternoons.  She will be teaching English, maths, science and PSHE.  Mrs Bodeker (our PE coordinator) will be teaching the class for four afternoons each week, one of which is Miss Allen’s usual Planning, Preparation and Assessment time.  Mrs Bodeker will be teaching PE, humanities, art, DT, RE and music.

A typical week would look like this:

Additional information

Please provide children with a labelled water bottle for them to keep on their desks.  Also, pencil cases will not be required as all necessary equipment will be provided.

There will be a Parents’ Evening soon where you will be able to find out more about Ash Class and how your child is doing (more details will be in the Newsletter closer to the time).

Thank you for your support.

Yours sincerely,

The Ash Class Team