During our first week back at school we explored our guiding question – How does what I do impact others? As part of our learning the children have designed a leaflet and each made a pledge to say what they can do to help our Earth. We also made a video to spread our message and impacts others.

To view our song please click on the link below:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1CdBljEXYhoR-m1KDkee3klyrPr8VO_ew/view?usp=share_link

Today your child will bring home their log-in details for Numbots. Numbots is an app that will help your child to develop their mathematical skills. NumBots is all about every child achieving the “triple win” of understanding, recall and fluency in mental addition and subtraction, so that they move from counting to calculating.

Last year we saw some amazing progress from the children who regularly played on the Numbots app. Children play games to move through levels and collect parts for their robots. Each time your child completes a stage they will be rewarded with a Numbots certificate. This will usually be on a Wednesday.

We thoroughly recommend this app to all children regardless of their current skill level. Although the first few levels appear to be easy for some children the levels will get increasingly harder. We would recommend using this app little and often. We would suggest around 5-10 minutes as many days as possible throughout the week.

Teachers will be able to track your child’s progress as they access the app. Although your child may need you close by to explain the activity, please do not be temped to tell your child the answer. The levels are designed to build your child’s knowledge and quick recall skills and if they do not do this themselves they will find their learning difficult later. Please do not allow siblings to log in and play as your child. If your child shares a device then please ensure they are logged out when they have finished playing.

If you have any questions or concerns please contact your child’s class teacher.

Thank you,

Miss Schon and Miss Rodgers

In Year 1 the children take part in our KS1 reading challenge. You will notice that your child has a 100 square in the front of their reading diary. Every time your child reads at home please place a comment in their reading diary. The staff in school will then mark off the number of reads your child has completed on the 100 square. Your child will receive rewards in assembly when they complete 30, 70 and 100 reads!

We understand that reading at home can be a challenge and some children may find it hard to engage. We will help to encourage children in school to feel confident in their own abilities and to be motivated towards reaching their next reward. Every classroom will have a reading challenge display that the children will move along to show their progress.

We encourage children to find the joy in reading. If your child finds it difficult to engage at home then please keep reading sessions little and often until they build up their stamina and enjoyment. Your child does not have to read the whole book in one go to be rewarded – even just a few pages will do!

Your child will also receive a phonics homework sheet each week. Reading the words on their phonics homework sheet will also count as one read so please write this in your child’s reading diary each time they practises reading the words. Your child can practise the same sheet several times over the week to build up their number of reads.

Please ensure your child brings their reading books back to school on a weekly basis so that we can help to keep children motivated and engaged. Reading books will be changed on Tuesdays and Fridays only. If your child’s books are handed in on any other day they will be changed on the next changing day. Your child will need to place their books in the changing box in order for the books to be changed. The class teacher will always remind children to place their books in the box on book changing days.

If you have any questions or concerns about your child’s reading please contact your child’s teacher asap. This way we can work together to help your child to reach their goals.

Thank you,

Miss Schon and Miss Rodgers