Personal Development Week 

This week, we have been exploring Personal Development, and as such, learning has focused on protected characteristics. As part of our curriculum, we’ve been learning specifically about: race, religion or beliefs, pregnancy or maternity. We’ve also been exploring different types of relationships that exist and how we can build healthy ones. We’ve discussed how relationships can be with family, friends, classmates, teachers, and even ourselves.  

Children have also learnt: 

• about different types of relationships (friends, family, relatives). 

• to understand civil partnerships and marriages. 

• to understand what cyber bullying is and how to keep safe online. 

In the coming weeks, we will focus on guiding children through key strategies for building healthy relationships throughout the school day. Learning to develop meaningful and positive connections early in life sets the foundation for children to have strong interpersonal skills that can benefit them throughout their lives. 

Maths 

This week in Maths, we have been learning all about statistics, with a special focus on pictograms. The children have been busy interpreting data, making thoughtful statements, and answering questions based on the information presented. They have shown great enthusiasm as they explored how pictograms can help us represent data in a clear and visual way. It’s been fantastic to see everyone developing their reasoning skills and using mathematical language to explain their ideas.

Next week, the children will be moving on to exploring bar charts in their Maths lessons. They’ll be learning how to read, interpret, and create bar charts to represent different sets of data.

English 

In English this week, we’ve started reading 'The Iron Man'  by Ted Hughes—a fascinating and imaginative story about a mysterious, giant metal man who suddenly appears in a small rural town. We’ve already been hooked by the adventure, but the real focus of our lessons has been on developing our writing skills through character descriptions. 

As we’ve read through the first chapter of the book, we’ve been asked to imagine what the Iron Man might look like. Using descriptive language, we’ve written character descriptions that bring him to life in our minds. Writing these descriptions helps us practise using expanded noun phrases and similes to paint a picture with words. It’s been really fun to experiment with how different descriptive techniques can change how we imagine a character, and we can’t wait to continue reading to see what happens next in the story! 

Next week, children will be writing a setting description based on the first Chapter 1.

 Book Banter

Every Friday, the children take part in our ‘Book Banter’ sessions. The aim of these sessions is to instil a love and passion for reading, encouraging children to enjoy books, talk about what they’re reading, and share recommendations with their friends. During our Book Banter sessions, the children engage in a range of activities designed to promote reading for pleasure and celebrate the joy that books can bring.

This week was extra special, as Year 4 joined us for a shared Book Banter session! The children paired up with their Year 4 buddies to read together and talk about their favourite stories. It was wonderful to see the enthusiasm, teamwork, and love of reading shining through.

 

Home Learning 

Attached below, is the overarching Thematic Curriculum homework ideas. Please refer to the homework menu which gives a variety of creative tasks for the children to choose from. Children only need to complete one task as a minimum, but can choose to complete more if they wish. Children have been given a Home Learning book to complete their Home Learning tasks in- children will be bringing their Home Learning books home on Monday.   

Home Learning is due in on Thursday 18^th December 2025

Reading Records  

With AR Assessments complete, children will be given a new ZPD, which you will find in their Reading Record: ‘Term 2’ ZPD sticker. If children have not yet brought in their reading record to school, they need to make sure they bring it in on Monday 3^rd November, so that we can issue children with a new reading book. Please ensure children are reading every night and are likewise taking quizzes. Your child can access the quizzes here: Renaissance Learning Login

Spellings 

Children will have a spelling sheet attached in their home learning book. Each week, they will need to practise the core spellings listed using the ‘Look, Say, Cover, Write, Check’ strategy. Within your child’s home learning book, there are prompts and tips to support children in learning their spellings, along with a spelling list and an example of a table, which children can draw themselves, each time they learn a new set of spellings. Children should choose five spellings to practise at home each week. Please do speak to your child’s teacher if you have any questions.

Times Tables Rock Stars   

• Tasks to be completed online.  

• Children’s logins are stuck in their Reading journal.    

Mathletics   

• Mathletics tasks will be set from Friday to Friday.   

• Tasks will always follow the learning that week.   

• Children’s logins are stuck into their Reading journal.   

Key messages:

Weather

As the weather turns wetter and muddier, we’re excited for the children to continue exploring our wonderful environmental area and playing on the field at lunchtimes. To help them make the most of these outdoor spaces, we ask that each child brings a pair of Wellington boots to keep in school. Having wellies at school means children can enjoy the outdoors, without worrying about getting their shoes muddy or wet.

We’d also like to remind everyone that children should bring their coats to school every day. The weather can be unpredictable, and we want to ensure all children stay warm and dry while they play and learn outside.

Thank you for your support in helping our pupils enjoy the great outdoors safely and comfortably!

Swimming

This week, 3Y and 3R had their very first swimming sessions, and what an amazing start it was! The children were incredible, showing great enthusiasm and determination as they stepped out of their comfort zones to begin developing their swimming skills. It was wonderful to see so many confident smiles and brave attempts in the water!

To help our sessions run smoothly, we’d like to remind everyone that children need to bring a swimming hat every week. This helps keep hair out of their faces and ensures they can focus on their swimming. Please also remember that earrings must be removed before swimming, for safety reasons.

We’re so proud of how well everyone has started their swimming journey and can’t wait to see their confidence and skills grow over the coming weeks!

 Reminders:

• Year 3 have PE on Tuesdays and should come to school dressed in the correct school PE kit.   

• 3R and 3Y will swim on Mondays this term- children will need to come dressed in their PE kit to school on this day, and bring with them their swimming costumes to change into.    

• Swimming kit reminder: full swimming costume/swim shorts and swimming hat.   

• Children to bring in healthy snacks for breaktimes.