Month: January 2026
Welcome to Boost Group!
Children who attend our ‘Boost group’ have been identified as needing an extra ‘boost’ with their learning.
Each morning, each child will work to develop their speaking and listening, reading, writing and maths skills.
Here you will find further information about what your child in Boost Group will be learning in other areas of the curriculum, along with other useful information.
Topic: Let’s Go To China
Our topic this term is Let’s go to China. We will be learning about human and physical features of China, along with Chinese culture traditions and celebrations.
Science: Habitats
Children will learn that most living things live in habitats to which they are suited and describe how different habitats provide for the basic needs of different kinds of animals and plants, and how they depend on each other. Identify and name a variety of plants and animals in their habitats, including microhabitats
PHSE: JIGSAW Dreams and Goals
Our school follows a scheme called Jigsaw and this term Boost group children will complete a unit called ‘Dreams and Goals’ which the children will choose a realistic goal and consider the steps needed to achieve the goal. The children will recognise who they work well with and who it is more difficult for them to work with They will also consider ways they work well in a group
RE:
In RE the children will be looking: What makes some places sacred?
Art:
The children will be look at various forms of Chinese art.
PE: Fitness (also swimming for year 4 children)
The children will have the sports coach working with them on a Tuesday afternoon. This half term, the children will be developing their fitness.
Please ensure that their correct and full PE kit is in school all week as PE days may change to accommodate other activities taking place in school.
Year 4 children, will join their peers and attend swimming lessons on a Monday afternoon. Please make sure the children have appropriate swimming kits and towels in a bag.
Music:
The children will continue using Charanga scheme to progress their music skills.
Computing: Data and Information
This term the children will begin by using labels to put objects into groups, and labelling these groups. Children will demonstrate that they can count a small number of objects, before and after the objects are grouped. They will then begin to demonstrate their ability to sort objects into different groups, based on the properties they choose. Finally, pupils will use their ability to sort objects into different groups to answer questions about data.
Forest School
Children in Boost Group will continue to take part in Forest Schooling each Friday. We venture out in all sorts of weather conditions and therefore children should have waterproof and warm clothing and sturdy footwear.
Other Support
To help support each child’s individual needs, children may take part in other activities to support their needs. These may include Zones of Regulation, speech and language, motor skills, lego therapy, social skills, memory skills or support with specific life skills.
Home Reading:
We ask that you read with your child as often as possible and sign their reading record a minimum of twice weekly in line with school policy. We will check reading records and change reading books every Friday. We monitor reading, homework and PE kits as part of our Assertive Mentoring Scheme.
Homework
Homework will be issued each Thursday and should be completed each week and handed in by each Tuesday to achieve GREEN for Homework in Assertive Mentoring. If it is handed it in on Wednesday or Thursday you will achieve YELLOW. If you don’t hand your homework in you will be RED for that week.
Other important information:
Please ensure your child’s name is clearly written in all your school uniform.
Children have a login for Active Learn, Readingeggs, Spellingshed and Times Table Rockstars.. Each of these will help support your child’s learning and can be used at home. Please ask an adult if you lose or forget your login.
KEEP IN TOUCH!
Parents & Carers are always very welcome to call in to discuss any aspect of their child’s learning, any other area of their school life or just to say ‘hello’.
If there is anything you need, or any help we can give you with anything, please let me know by either messaging on Google Classroom or speaking to us..
We are available after school, except on Wednesdays because that’s when we have our Staff Meeting. If a matter is urgent, you can always speak to an adult in the morning.
Thank you for your continued support.
Boost Group Team
Mrs Appleton-Jones, Mrs Chambers, Miss Inocencion, Miss Newton, Miss Turner and Mrs Farrington
RSPB Schools Birdwatch
Children have taken part in the annual RSPB birdwatch again this year. The children spotted crow, blue tit, parakeet, robin amongst others.
Spring Term
Welcome back Year 4! We hope you had a lovely Christmas break and are excited for our new term.
English
We’ve got lots of exciting activities planned in English. This half-term, our writing is focused on a picture booked called ‘Flotsam’. The story is about a young boy who finds a camera washed up on the beach, which then leads to him discovering a secret world under the sea. We will be creating our own narrative using this as inspiration.
After half-term, we will then focus on ‘The Great Kapok Tree’ by Lynne Cherry, a narrative with an environmental theme. We will be using this to produce a letter featuring persuasive writing techniques.
We will develop our SPAG knowledge through continuing to learn about the various word classes and different spelling patterns, including the Y3/4 word list. We will be focussing on how to apply all our SPAG work into our own writing.
In Guided Reading, our class novel will be ‘Wonder’ by RJ Palacio, which is a social narrative.
Maths
We will continue to develop our multiplication and division skills, before moving on to perimeter, fractions and decimals. Our times tables will be a key focus for this term ahead of the national multiplication check. Please remember to carry on practising your times tables up to 12×12.
Science
Our topics this term are Sound and Human Nutrition. We will be finding out how sounds are made and exploring areas such as pitch, volume and how sound travels through different materials.
Topic
Our topic for the whole of Spring term is South America. We will be learning all about the different countries in South America, the Amazon Rainforest and identifying key human and physical features.
Jigsaw
Our first Puzzle is called Dream and Goals. We will be discussing what we would like to achieve in the future. Our second puzzle is called Healthy Me and we will be discussing all aspects of a healthy lifestyle.
Computing
We will be finding out about Photo editing and Repetition in Shapes.
PE
PE will be every Friday. Just a reminder that school P.E. kit comprises of a white t-shirt, black shorts and trainers or pumps. If P.E. is taking place outside and the weather is cold, the children are allowed to wear dark jogging bottoms and trainers. All jewellery must be removed for P.E.
Swimming
Swimming will be every Monday. For swimming lessons, please bring a towel and one-piece swimming costume or swimming shorts. All children with long hair will need to bring a swimming cap. Earrings cannot be worn for swimming. Goggles cannot be worn unless medically prescribed.
HOMEWORK
We will continue to have a creative approach to our homework this term. You will be given Maths and Spelling homework each week as well as being able to choose from a range of creative activities in Topic.
Homework is given out on Friday and is due in the following Wednesday.
We read in class every day, so make sure you always have your Reading Log in school.
Please make sure you also read twice each week at home and ask an adult to sign your Reading Log for you. We will sign your Reading Log every WEDNESDAY to check you have read at home, so please don’t forget!!
Miss Bruce, Mrs McDade and Mrs Shaw
Welcome back 6M!
Happy New Year! We hope that you had a lovely Christmas break and that you are ready for an action-packed term ahead. We have lots of exciting things planned, which include our WW2 workshop on 21st January and Bike-ability 9th and 10th February. All of the children have also been invited to attend SATs boosters starting w/b 19th January and should have a letter to inform you of the booster and day.
English
We will kick the term off by looking at the classic book Goodnight Mr Tom set during WW2. We will use this to inspire two pieces of writing: a non-chronological report and a formal letter. After half term, we will then be looking at the short film ‘Francis’ which tells the story of a girl’s mysterious disappearance in a National Park in America. The children will be focusing on applying all the Year 6 grammar objectives into their writing.
Reading
Our novel this term is Letters from the Lighthouse by Emma Carrol. Letters from the Lighthouse is set during World War II. It’s a story that is wrapped in mystery, secrecy and suspense. When Sukie goes missing, her brother and sister embark on a remarkable journey to find her. The children are evacuated from London to the countryside and it’s there where young Olive and her brother Cliff will plunge into a mysterious, rollercoaster of an adventure to be reunited with their sister. Twists, turns, coded messages and conflicts prevail in this beautifully pitched story that provides a fine balance between sensitivity and adventure.
Maths
We will continue to use Power Maths in our lessons. We will start the year by looking at algebra before moving onto decimal and percentages. We will then move onto perimeter, area and volume. We will continue to develop our arithmetic skills through Fluent in 5 and weekly arithmetic practice tests.
Topic
Our topic this term is WW2. We will learn about the outbreak of the war and what life was like for civilians during WW2. We will develop our historical enquiry skills by looking a range of sources to learn more about the impact of WW2 on Britain.
RSE
We will continue working on our RSE scheme ‘Jigsaw’ and discussing issues which are important to us and help us work together as a team. Our topic is Dreams & Goals.
Computing
Our new computing unit explores the concept of variables in programming through games in Scratch. First, learners find out what variables are and relate them to real-world examples of values that can be set and changed. Then they use variables to create a simulation of a scoreboard
PE
PE will be on Mondays and every other Thursday.
PLEASE REMEMBER TO BRING YOUR PE KIT.
HOMEWORK
We will continue to have a creative approach to our homework this term. You will be given Maths and Spelling homework each week as well as being able to choose from a range of creative activities in Topic.
Homework is given out on Friday and is due in the following Wednesday.
Reading records are checked every Wednesday and children should be reading a minimum of twice per week.
If you have any questions or concerns or wish to discuss any aspect of your child’s learning, please come and see us before or after school.
We are really looking forward to a great half term with you all!
Thank you for your continued support.
Mrs Millard, Mrs McDade, Mrs Alderson