Information for Parents

1. Autumn 2013 Year 4 – Maple Class Information for Parents

2. General Information Every day your child needs to bring; • School book bag with reading record book and current reading book • Money (termly/weekly) or lunchbox • named coat and jumper/cardigan • a named water bottle (please take home daily) • a painting apron or large, old shirt Please make sure your child has their named PE kit for PE on Wednesdays and Thursdays.

3. How we challenge pupils • We treat every child as an individual and their learning is planned for differentiated groups, with group and individual targets. • Children have many opportunities to choose challenge activities in the classroom to encourage learning

4. Numeracy Children will have Maths. Mrs. Avery or Mrs. Hodgkinson will work with different guided groups during their core lessons every morning, as well as whole class teaching. Maths work objectives will be based on the National Curriculum and Primary Framework, covering Blocks and Units A – E, 1-3. Wherever possible activities are practical.

5. Literacy Literacy includes speaking, listening, reading and writing. We aim to change your child's book each week – if you would like this to be more frequent please ask you child to speak to us and they are welcome to change the book when they have finished it. We aim to listen to all the children read in a guided reading group each week.

6. Reading Reading with your child at home is really important, please let us know that you have done this by signing their reading record. Please do add any comments about how your child has read. Please read your child's reading book with them each day – you can also note down other books you may be sharing with your child. If you can, read a range of fiction and non-fiction and newspaper articles, then children will be aware of the differences and similarities which is an area we cover at school too. Children will have a range of tasks to choose from, such as writing book reviews, during guided reading time.

7. Reading at home • Reading with your child should be enjoyable for you both. Sharing their book allows your child to practise the skills they are learning in school. • Please encourage your child to talk about what they have read to help develop their skills of inference and deduction. • Choose your reading time carefully (reading should be relaxing not frustrating for either of you!) If it becomes a chore, stop and try again another time. • Talking about the book and what has happened in the story is as important as reading the words themselves.

8. HOMEWORK • Your child will be given one piece of maths/numeracy homework and one piece of literacy/topic homework per week and some spelling words to learn. • Numeracy homework will be given out on a Tuesday and will usually be due in the following Thursday. • Spelling tasks will be given out on Friday and be due in on the Monday. • The length of time given for project homework’s will vary depending on the length of the topic normally 20 minutes a week.

9. Early Work • Children should come in quickly and quietly at 8:40am, after saying goodbye to parents/adults in the playground and choose an activity from the options. • Guided reading is planned to run from 10.00 – 10.20. If you would like to volunteer to be a parent helper in the class and stay to listen to readers during guided reading time please let us know and we can arrange for a DBS check (used to be CRB)to be carried out if you do not already hold one. Your help will be very much appreciated.

10. Assemblies • On Mondays we have a whole school assembly after lunch. • On Tuesdays we have a singing assembly and PSHE/circle time. • On Wednesdays we have an assembly with the vicar. • On Thursdays we have class assemblies. • On Friday we have a “caring and sharing” or celebration assembly which celebrates children's work and achievements in and out of school and classes take turns to show their work to others.

11. PPA in Year 4 Class teachers are legally entitled to non-contact time each week. This is time in which teachers will be planning, preparing, assessing and marking some of the children’s work. During this time the children will be taught by another member of staff. Mrs. Hodgkinson will teach the children all day Tuesday when Mrs. Avery has PPA and NQT time.

12. Do you need to speak to us? • We are happy to discuss your child's progress or any concerns you may have – please make an appointment so we can have relevant information available. • If your child is given an individual education plan with personalised targets to aid their learning further, we will discuss this with you and send a letter of explanation. • All children will have targets that they are working towards (stuck into their exercise books).

13. Questions! Do you have any questions? If you would like to volunteer some of your time to hear readers, help with art activities or come to talk to the children about your job please let us know. Your help will be gratefully received.