Welcome to The Brilliant Masterminds!

1. Welcome to The Brilliant Masterminds! Parent Curriculum Meeting Autumn 2016

2. Agenda • Routines • Subjects • Important info [Homework, Spellings, etc.] • Your questions

3. Routines

4. Reading Book Checks • In our classroom, we have started a Reading Raffle to encourage home reading. • If children read five times a week (or more) they can be entered into a reading raffle, which at the end of the term will be rewarded by a prize for the winning ticket. • In order to be entered into this, there needs to be a record of reading at home – a signature from a parent/grandparent/guardian. A comment is fantastic but we recognise there is not always time. • These books will be checked daily, and if there is a signature, a tick will be given for that day – if each day of the week has a tick, your child will receive a ticket for the raffle. • Please encourage them to read at home with this in mind – it doesn’t always have to be a school reading book!

5. Spellings • Please note, with two year groups in here, children should be receiving the spellings appropriate for their age. • It is expected that on Friday’s test, children are scoring 7 + each time. If they score less than 7, they will be required to stay in the following break-time to practice further. A 10/10 results in a sticker! • If any concerns or worries about spelling practice, or spelling difficulties – please ensure we are told, and we can endeavour to adapt them.

6. Swimming (from 14th November) • Monday afternoons • 10 weeks! • Coach to Thrapston Swimming Pool • Swimming trunks, not baggy shorts • Swimming costumes, not bikinis/tankinis • Swimming hats will be provided • Goggles on medical advice only

7. Groups Children are no longer grouped for Maths or Literacy, but work is differentiated in class to cater for all abilities. RWI (for those who need this) will now be as an intervention, in addition to a daily Literacy hour, for a few children who require this. Spellings/mental maths taught and tested in class

8. Connector Unit: • Globe-trotters – an elephant tour of India!

9. English We are now following a new scheme across the school, whereby we teach in building block stages, a sentence or two at a time, teaching technique, style and structure as we go. This allows children to stretch and challenge their vocabulary as well as their understanding and usage of literary techniques. We look forward to showing you how successful this is, in future parents evenings! Reading books and reading records in every day please!

10. Maths Maths is now taught in classrooms, with a view to developing mastery in various objectives. Children will work through different mathematical requirements, developing understanding in a range of applications, in order to develop ‘mastery’ and greater depth of knowledge. Effort is made to ensure Year 3 and 4 objectives are covered and so your child is working to the level that is correct for them. Maths now takes place after Collective Worship each morning at 9.20.

11. Science • All living things, including humans, and their habitats • States of Matter • Electricity • Sound • Light • Evolution and inheritance

12. ICT • eSafety – SuperSMART • Key skills integrated throughout the curriculum. • Connecting and Communicating. • New skills: control and programming.

13. PE What is real PE? The real PE programme provides fun and simple to follow Schemes of Work and support for Early Years Foundation Stage, Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 practitioners that give them the confidence and skills to deliver outstanding PE. It is fully aligned to the National Curriculum and Ofsted requirements and focuses on the development of agility, balance and coordination, healthy competition and cooperative learning through a unique and market leading approach to teaching and learning in PE. • Skills based which enable pupils to apply skills in a range of games activities. • VERY active! • Inclusive – pupils work at their own pace and set their own targets. • https://www.createdevelopment.co.uk/real-pe/

14. Music • Music Express • Playground Games • Composition and Performace

15. Art and DT • Throughout the connector lessons, linking to RE, History, Geography, etc. • Mango inspired printing to create a Sari. • Cushions using the Sari, which will be embellished and quilted.

16. PSHE • SEAL – Social and Emotional Aspects of Learning • Thinking skills and learning styles • Sex and Relationships • Circle time

17. Behaviour • Whole school golden rules • High expectations! • Good to Be Green! • Stickers and praise certificates • Weekly behaviour awards • All positive, but obviously there are sanctions!

18. Homework • Six quality pieces (dates on Curriculum newsletters) each year covering a range of curriculum areas. (1st due Wednesday 19th October) As well as… • Rehearsing mental maths skills • Rehearsing times tables (2 – 10 x and related division facts) • Spellings • Reading • An odd optional daily challenge thrown in now and again!

19. Marking • Children will learn to be familiar with our marking policy, which aims to enhance children’s learning by allowing children the opportunity to reflect, improve and challenge their learning further. It is also important that grammar and spellings are correct so this is also a focus of our marking in addition to presentation. • Feedback is a common feature of marking, which requires your child to complete a further task, to consolidate, extend or apply learning.

20. School Council Information Assembly Elections If your child wants to stand for election, then they need to produce: A poster A short speech

21. Other information Class Blog brilliantmastermindsstmaryscebl.wordpress.com Class newsletter, curriculum overview (jigsaw) Weekly newsletters School web page stmaryscebl.northants.dbprimary.com/northants/primary/stmaryscebl Parents evenings Any medical conditions we need to be aware of? Home-time arrangements – please can you keep us updated with new or different arrangements. Toys – not brought into school – risk of damage or loss https://brilliantmastermindsstmaryscebl.wordpress.com/

22. Your questions… • You can ask these in private if you’d rather!