Welcome to Halton Castle
Class.
Who’s who?
• Mrs Boyde - full time teacher.
• Mrs Falconer is with us every morning after play
time - Level 3 Teaching Assistant.
• Mrs Archer is with us all morning Monday to
Friday – level 2 Teaching Assistant.
• Mrs Shakespeare takes us for singing and
percussion on Wednesdays
• Mrs LeLouet takes us for dance on Tuesday.
• Mrs Wolstenholme takes the class on
Wednesday afternoons when Mrs Boyde is
having planning and assessment time.
Timings
• The school doors open at 8.40 for children to
come in.
• Children need to be sat down and ready for
register at 8.45
• Playtime is from 10.40 – 11.00. Toast is eaten in
the classroom. Milk is on the playground.
• Lunch is from 12.15 – 1.10.
• The day ends at 3.00 and the children are
brought to the doors with older siblings.
• Clubs finish at 3.45.
• Please be prompt for pick up as teachers may
need to be in a meeting, running a club etc.
The way we behave
• Children earn stamps on their cards for good manners,
behaviour and work.
• They get certificates every time they complete a card
and this works up to other rewards – badges 250, books
300, vouchers 350.
• Children who display antisocial behaviour or refuse to
co-operate will have points taken off them. This will
mean that they will not earn a reward on Friday – such
as extra play or other treat.
• If a child loses points very regularly they will need to be
placed on report card and report to Mr Worthinon at the
end of every day.
• Severe behaviour will mean that a child will be sent to
the resources room during a dinner time. In here they sit
quietly and reflect on what they have done.
Uniform
• The correct uniform helps to set the tone
for the day and help children to work
together.
• They need to have no jewellery at all
times, except stud earrings. (Although not
on PE days)
• Full PE kit is needed on Tuesdays and
Fridays. It can be left on the pegs from
Monday to Friday.
• Plain black shoes and no trainers please.
What to bring
• Good listening ears, good manners and
lots of smiles.
• Children have all been given a school
water bottle. These can be brought in daily
and the children can take drinks from them
on request. Please water only, no juice.
• Money for toast and milk.
• Book bags.
• Please no toys.
Topics
• We are currently studying The Fire of
London as a topic. We are trying to use
this as a base for our History, Technology,
Art and Science work, and where we can
link this to Literacy.
• Next half term we are moving on to
Celebrations and focusing on different
cultures too – Diwali, Chinese New Year,
as well as the history of Bonfire Night and
of course Christmas.
How we learn
• All children learn through experience.
• We aim to enhance children’s learning through a variety
of practical tasks giving them real life experience.
• For example exploring floating and sinking or magnetic
and non-magnetic.
• Learning about character in Literacy often takes the form
of drama and role play.
• At this stage recording is not the main learning style.
• Handwriting and number formation are practiced at other
times.
• The children will take part in guided reading sessions
once a week and change their books on Tuesday and
Thursday.
Help at home
• Reading is a vital life skill and crucial to all other
areas of the curriculum as the children progress.
Please set aside a quiet and relaxed 15 minutes
a day to read a range of stories with your child.
Both you to them and them to you.
• Homework is given as a time to talk through a
task together with you child. Let them be the
teacher and tell you what they are doing. If they
are struggling try to ask them questions that will
lead them to the answer so as they feel a sense
of achievement rather than having to be told,
which can lower their self esteem.
• Spellings are given on Monday to be tested on
the Friday.
• Remember LOTS OF PRAISE.
Over to you
• Any questions about the general
classroom set up.
• If you have any personal questions then
please feel free to come and see me at
any point between now and 6.30.
• I have an open door policy to try to make
myself available at the start or end of the
day.