Welcome Back!

We are so thrilled to have our children back in school with us after a very challenging time. We would love to reassure you that we take great care of all of our children and despite, at the moment, not being able to have our normal contact with you all, we are available via email and phone calls. We are ready for a very busy and exciting school year ahead in our class. I am really looking forward to teaching Year 1 & 2 again this year and will be joined in the classroom by Miss Shelbourne.

Curriculum

Our initial focus will be on wellbeing and on assessments to determine the next steps required for each child to support them in their learning. We will be adopting our full curriculum in due course. With this in mind, for part of this term, we will be focusing on geography and learning all about the geographical features of coastline and seaside resorts. We will also be exploring 3D Art, where we will be using materials to create 3D objects. In English, we will be reading books and writing about poetry, setting descriptions and fantasy stories. In Maths, we will focus on place value and numbers up to 100 and we will start to begin work on addition and subtraction. In Science, our learning will be focusing on ‘Living Things and their Habitats’. Our work in RE will focus on understanding Islam and how Muslims show their faith on a daily basis. We will be recapping and learning new sounds in phonics and spelling.

Reading

We have sent home a coloured labelled reading book within the first week back at school along with a year 1 or 2 reading record. Please leave a comment in the record for each night your child reads. For every night they read at home, they will receive one signature (house point). Do let us know if the book we send home is too easy or challenging so we can adjust the level if necessary. We also encourage children to read their own books at home alongside the school reading books- the more reading the better! We will also be developing our reading skills during our everyday learning within guided reading, sometimes this will be with an adult, and other times independently.

With the current guidance we will be only changing reading books at the beginning of the week on Tuesdays and then, when returned the following week, will be quarantining them and sending out new books every Tuesday. We will be sending more than one book home so there is plenty to keep you busy with your child despite only changing the books once a week.

Enclosed with this newsletter are year 1 and year2 common exception words for your information. These words are words in which English spelling works in an uncommon or an unusual way. At the end of year 2, children are expected to be able to read and spell most of these words.

Spellings

We will send home a list of spellings each week to practise, with a spelling test carried out each Friday. Children who can spell well are often more confident writers. They are more likely to write their ideas quickly and fluently as they don't need to worry about whether or not their spelling is correct.

PE

PE will take place every Friday with our synergy sports coach. Please ensure children have suitable kit for indoor and outdoor activities, including trainers and a warm jumper and trousers for when it gets cooler.

Times Table Rockstars

By the end of Year 2, children are expected to know their 2, 5 and 10 times table. If your child has access to the app via an iPad or Android phone, or the website, please encourage them to log in and get practising! Their login details have been put on a label on the inside back cover of their reading records under the 100 square. Children in Year 1 & 2 will be focusing on numbers bonds to 10 and then later on will be completing daily times table practise in class.

Microsoft Teams

As a school we have thought about how to continue the children’s learning effectively if a child cannot come into school or if our bubble closes. We have created a Microsoft Teams account for our class and each child has access to this by their email which has been created, you will be given these within the next two weeks. By doing this, it allows any children that might be at home a chance to continue their learning remotely whilst still being in contact with myself to offer support. More information will follow shortly on Microsoft Teams and how to use it to access the class team.

Working together

Thank you in advance for your support this year whilst we work together to secure the best possible outcomes for your child in Year 1 & 2. If you have any questions or queries, please contact Miss Booker through the school office.

The Year 1 & 2 Team.