Explorers Information Sheet
Summer Term 2016
Welcome back. We hope you all had fun enjoying family time, eating Easter eggs and recharging your
batteries ready for the summer term! Our whole school topic this term is the ‘Under the Sea’. Do you
know how sea creatures get their food? Do you know how they move and why some creatures can
breathe under water whilst others can’t? We intend to find out the answer to that plus more and
share our learning with you during our Friday Celebration Assemblies.
 English
We continue to follow a phonics, reading and writing scheme in the
school called Read, Write Inc. Children practice their phonic skills daily
and apply their skills within their reading and writing each day. We will
also focus upon longer pieces of writing, such as leaflets, stories,
instructions and persuasive writing through cross-curricular and big book
work at least three times a week. Children will be expected to bring
their reading books to and from school daily as the day on which readers are heard can vary. It is
very important that your child reads regularly, not just books from our reading scheme but their own
books from home and we welcome your feedback to ensure that good progress is made.
 Mathematics
The children will follow objectives from the Early Years and National Curriculum relating to their age
and ability. There will be a strong focus on number and the use of mental and written methods
(where necessary) to solve problems. We will also be covering place value, calculation, shape,
measuring and handling data.
Alongside usual daily calculation practice we also continue to ask children to learn their SMIRFs
(Space Mission Instant Recall Facts) with an adult at home. Even 5
minutes every evening will improve mental recall speed. If you feel that
your child is ready for their next SMIRF target, please share this in your
child’s planner. We will then check the SMIRFs target with your child and
send home the next target sheet if they can recall their facts in under 5
seconds.
 Foundation Subjects – Art and Design, Design and Technology, Computing, Music, Religious
Education and Science.
Our main topic, Under the Sea, will drive our afternoon
learning in most of the foundation subjects. We will look
at materials and their properties in science, building
houses in art design and technology and understanding
algorithms in computing. Music focuses upon playing
tuned and untuned instruments and our PHSCE topic is
Relationships.
R.E. will remain a stand-alone subject and we continue to follow the North Yorkshire agreed syllabus.
Our topic for this term is Story, Myself, Belonging, Celebrations, a multi faith topic.
Mrs Smith will continue with her cooking, alongside a little French. This term she will work
predominantly with the EYFS children, so a named (not too large) tub in school for this purpose
would be much appreciated if you haven’t already done so.
 P.E.
P.E. sessions this term will be on a Thursday and Friday.
Thursday is a whole class P.E. session and Friday is a class
athletics and games lesson. We plan to keep kits in class until
half term, unless they are in real need of a wash. If they do
need to go home, please ensure that they are returned to
school as quickly as possible. Please can you ensure that your
child has a pair of trainers and appropriate P.E. kit in their bag as we aim to have P.E. outside as
often as we can. Please ensure that all P.E. kit is named, as well as all school uniform, as it is
becoming increasingly difficult to locate the owners of some items!
 Extra Information
Mrs Lane and Mrs MacDonald will teach in Class one this term. Mrs Lane will teach in Class 1 Monday
to Thursday and Mrs MacDonald will teach each Friday. The teaching assistants working within Class
1 are Mrs Hall, Mrs Lovewell and Mrs Turner. We are also fortunate to have a number of voluntary
helpers who further support your child in their learning. If you, or somebody you know, would be
interested in coming in to help with reading or has another area of expertise just come in and
mention it to us.
Finally a reminder that we do have an open door policy so if there is anything you
need to discuss with us, we are available before or after school on most days.
From the teaching staff in Class 1