Moving Up – for KS1 and KS2

Academic Year

2020-21

! Please see the following slides for some useful information about the new academic year at Woodthorpe J.I School.

! In light of the current situation that Covid-19 has imposed on our school, some of the following will be reviewed, altered or postponed under the Government’s revised guidance for schools and education settings. *Your new Parent/Carer guide will be available later this week which will explain in detail how school will open fully to ALL pupils in September.

! Please ensure that you check our website, Schoolzine messages and newsletters for any important information and updates.

Thank you.

Information for the term ahead

Curriculum overviews will be sent home at the beginning of each term (and

available on the website) to inform you more about what your child will be

learning.

The termly Calendar of Events will remind parents/carers of any upcoming

class and whole school events.

Class blog sites offer a means of finding out what is specific to your child’s class

and keeping up-to-date with any school or class activities.

Emotional Wellbeing – a whole school approach

! Woodland Adventurers is a friendship/social group using a Forest School approach, aimed at raising children’s self-esteem and confidence. This is a well-being initiative for children who need additional support.

! Lego therapy and social games

! Forest School - a nature area with a variety of trees and plants, a pond and an insect area. Children can access forest school in Year 3 and will be part of a 10 week programme to develop confidence, self-esteem and problem solving skills through active outdoor learning. They might make potions, grow plants, make pizzas and hot chocolate, build shelters etc. Other classes access forest school outdoor learning environment to support and enrich learning across the curriculum.

Rights Respecting School

! We are proud to be recognised as a Silver Rights Respecting School.

! Our global partnership is with Motherwell School in Uganda – children have written pen pal letters, sent cards and pictures. School visits have been organised for the near future.

! Throughout the year we follow a Right of the Month and charters in the classroom and for the whole school guides and shapes how we behave and treat each other. Rights are an important part of our daily curriculum.

! Rights Respecting Ambassadors help and support us in school – we are aiming for gold.

Homework

! Home Challenges will be sent home at the beginning of each half term. There will be specific homework linked to the topic, English and Maths. Other tasks may be set in addition to these.

! Spelling rules and strategies are taught in lessons and spelling tests are conducted weekly. A homework timetable will be sent out with the curriculum overviews.

! Homework is not necessarily marked but will be checked and acknowledged by the class teacher.

! Children are expected to be reading every day for at least 20 minutes. Reading records are sent home to record reading at home. Children enjoy and benefit greatly from being read to (even in Year 6).

Pupil Leadership Groups - We encourage our children to take an active part in their learning and the activities we plan for the school.

! House Captains, Lunchtime door monitors and Peer Mediators, Assembly Monitors (Year 6)

! Librarians

! Digital Leaders

! School Council

! Eco-team

! Rights Respecting Ambassadors (Year 2 - 6)

! Young Researchers and Play Leaders (Year 5)

! Bronze Ambassadors

! Junior PCSOs (Year 5/6)

Break, lunchtimes and snacks

! Infants have 3 breaks during the day, including Year 3 for their transition into the Juniors for the autumn term

! Juniors have a morning break and lunchtime. ! Infants receive healthy snacks of fruit and/or vegetables in the

morning. ! Toast, milkshakes and juice are on sale each morning for both

Infants and Juniors. ! All Infant children receive a Universal Free School Meal and KS2

children eligible/ registered as Free School Meals. ! Please see our Food and Lunchbox policy for more guidance

on providing a healthy snack and lunch for your child. We are a No Nuts School.

Clubs – before and after school

! A wide range of clubs are available for your child to access: street- dance, choir, Lego, ukulele, NFL, netball, football, gymnastics, multi-skills, cricket, dodgeball, tennis. Class teachers will each run a club for 6 weeks during the year. Please note these will not be available during the autumn term due to Covid-19 restrictions.

! Clubs start straight after school and finish at 4.15. When you sign up your child to attend a club, you are also agreeing to ensure your child is collected promptly at 4.15 when the club has finished. The school office should be contacted before hand if there are any unexpected delays.

! Dainty Little Hands offer wrap around care at Woodthorpe. There is a pre-booking system which can be accessed via our website or directly through DLH at www.daintylittlehands.co.uk

! Please see the office for more information or a booking form.

Educational Visits and Visitors

! During the year your child will be involved in an educational visit to a place of significance which relates directly to the class topic being studied. All trips are charged for, which includes the cost of transport and entry (where applicable). Each year group will also visit a place of worship linked to the RE syllabus for that year group.

! Residentials are available for KS2 pupils only: Years 3 and 4 visit Blackwell Court and Years 5 and 6 visit Red Ridge.

Please note that due to Covid-19 these opportunities are under review will resume when it is safe to do so.

Music Tuition

! Brass and Guitar tuition is offered to KS2 pupils from Year 3. Mr Fisher and Mr Firth are from the Music Service and teach these lessons weekly on a Friday.

! This is a charged service and not subsidised by the school. More information will follow about how to access this.

Thank You!

We look forward to seeing you in September.

Keep well and stay safe.