Sainfoin
Welcome to a New School Year
Sainfoin Class
Autumn 1 2024
Dear Parents/Carers,
Welcome back! I hope you all had a wonderful summer break and are ready and rested for a new school year. The Year 5/6 team and I are excited to get started, get to know your children and support the next stage in their learning journey.
Curriculum
This academic year, we are implementing our new CUSP curriculum which focuses on using evidence-led approaches to inform teaching practices. The CUSP curriculum supports children to build strong schemas of knowledge and make cross-curricular connections in their learning, progressing through topics in a structured and innovative way.
An outline of what we will be covering in each subject area this half term is displayed in the table below:
Subject | Areas of Learning |
English | Strong Start Writing - Sentence Structures Autobiographies Discursive writing and speeches Poems that create images and explore vocabulary |
Maths | Place value Addition & Subtraction Multiplication Tables Please see the attached knowledge organisers for further information. |
Science | Strong Start Science - Recognising and controlling variables in a fair test Electricity |
History | Strong Start History – Chronology World War 2 - How did conflict change our local area in World War 2? |
Geography | Physical Processes - Earthquakes, mountains and volcanoes |
Music | Singing |
Computing | Everyone Can Create – Special Effects iMovie |
Art/DT | Drawing – Portraits Food and Nutrition – Street Foods |
French | Where I Live |
RE | How and why does religion bring peace and conflict? |
RSHE/PSHE | Drugs and Alcohol Education |
PE | OAA (Outdoor and Adventurous Activities) & Forest Schools |
PE and Forest Schools
Sainfoin will alternate each Thursday between Forest Schools and PE. The dates for both are detailed below:
Forest Schools – 5th & 19th September, 3rd & 17th October
PE – 12th & 26th September, 10th & 24th October
Forest Schools education is lead by Mrs Shreeve. On Forest School days, children should come to school in their uniform and have a complete change of weather appropriate clothes, including footwear, for Forest Schools – muckiness is part of the joy of the session as the children fully immerse themselves in the experience.
In addition to alternate Thursdays, PE will also take place for all of Sainfoin every Monday afternoon. On PE days, children should come into school in their PE kits. It is extremely important that children have the correct school PE kit as well as a pair of trainers so that they can participate in these lessons fully and safely. Also, please allow me to remind everyone that long hair should be tied back and earrings should be removed or covered for these lessons.
Reading
Our library in school offers a host of texts to enjoy. The children are able to select a reading book from our school collection as well as being provided with 2 reading comprehension sheets each week too. Their reading books are chosen by them but guided to ensure they are suitable for nurturing and developing their reading skills. Research shows regularly reading aloud to someone, even if your child is a competent decoder, helps to develop vital reading comprehension skills, nurture a love of reading and become a successful all-round reader, which supports all subjects and interests. Sharing stories, discussing character motives, talking about what you've just read and trying to predict what will happen next, will all support your child's reading comprehension development.
Homework
Your child has been issued with a new Homework and Reading Diary. They must bring this to school every day. Your child is expected to read at home every night and record what they read in their diary. One night a week should be heard by an adult and then signed off in their diary. At Pulham, we are so passionate about reading and how important this is, that should we feel they are not reading enough at home, they will be expected to read in their own time to support their development.
Spelling homework will be issued every Friday and there will be a test to check these have been learned the following Friday. Your child’s spellings will be stuck into their Spelling book which they must bring to school every Friday, and their score will be recorded in for you to see.
As we get further into the school year, the children will also be set further homework to support their learning and prepare them for the next stage on their learning journey. Details of this will be issued when these tasks will be assigned.
What your child needs in school
The children must have a named water bottle with them in school, at all times, which will be placed in a box in the classroom each morning. No other items need to be brought into school; this includes fidget tools, pencil cases, toys and stationery, unless adults in school request it.
Uniform
Please consult the school website or recent letter to see what is expected to be worn to school in terms of uniform and PE kit. Smart trainers may be worn, as long as they are completely black.
Bags and Wellies
The children may bring in one bag, which must be a suitable size for hanging on their pegs, and a separate, named bag for their wellies (both of which must be named) to be kept at school. In addition to wellies, your child should have a set of alternative clothing for playing on the field during break times when the weather becomes ore inclement (waterproof trouser/all-in-one/old joggers).
If you have any questions at all about these or any other matters, please email me using the following: jlincoln@pulham.norfolk.sch.uk. If you would prefer to speak in person, please let me know and we can arrange a mutually convenient appointment.
Kind regards,
Mrs J Lincoln
Sainfoin Class Teachers