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The school blog is our on-line portal which features the latest news about the school and an events diary for the school.

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http://www.parsloesprimary.co.uk

Half Term Letter


23rd October 2014

          Dear Parents,                                                                                                                             

 
Our half term break is nearly upon us, it has been a busy half term and I am sure the children and staff are looking forward to the week off, to recharge their batteries!

As I mentioned before a New National Curriculum has come into place since September 2014. Children in years 2 & 6 will continue to follow the programmes of study from the previous curriculum as they are in the final year of their key stage.

Why the big curriculum change?

The main aim is to raise standards. Although the new curriculum is intended to be more challenging, the content is actually slimmer than the current curriculum, focusing on essential core subject knowledge and skills such as essay writing and computer programming.

The main changes.

The table below summarises the main changes in the core subjects.

Subject
What’s new?
English
  • Stronger emphasis on vocabulary development, grammar, punctuation and spelling (for example, the use of commas and apostrophes will be taught in KS1)
  • Handwriting is expected to be fluent, legible and speedy
  • Spoken English has a greater emphasis, with children to be taught debating and presenting skills.
Maths
  • Five-year-olds will be expected to learn to count up to 100 (compared to 20 under the previous curriculum) and learn number bonds to 20 (previously up to 10)
  • Simple fractions (1/4 and 1/2) will be taught from KS1, and by the end of primary school, children should be able to convert decimal fractions to simple fractions (e.g. 0.375 = 3/8)
  • By the age of nine, children will be expected to know times tables up to 12×12 (previously 10×10 by the end of primary school)
  • Calculators will not be introduced until near the end of KS2, to encourage mental arithmetic.
Science
  • Strong focus on scientific knowledge and language, rather than understanding the nature and methods of science in abstract terms
  • Evolution will be taught in primary schools for the first time
  • Non-core subjects like caring for animals will be replaced by topics like the human circulatory system

 In order to prepare pupils for the more ambitious end of year expectations in English, Mathematics and Science, as set out in the new curriculum, we have adapted our Curriculum Plans. Details of which can be found on our website under information.


UNIVERSAL FREE SCHOOL MEALS

Since September 2014 all pupils in reception, year 1 & 2 are entitled to a free hot dinner. The uptake has been high at our school. Our kitchen staff are serving about 350 hot dinners each lunchtime for the whole school compared to about 160 in previous years. In order to accommodate this significant increase and get all these pupils through our only dining hall we have had to alter our lunchtime arrangements.

All reception pupils (90) start their lunchtime at 11.45 and go into the dining hall at 12.15 for lunch.

Year 1 pupils (90) start their lunchtime at 12.40 and go straight into the dining hall for their lunch

Year 2 pupils start their lunchtime at 12.45 and all are called into the dining hall by 1pm for their lunch

Years 3-6 lunch time still starts at 12.45 and over the hour year groups are called in, following a daily rota. We are managing to have all pupils called in for lunch by 1.25.

SOME OF THE DATES FOR THE REST OF THE TERM


Date
Event
 
Friday 24th October
Last day of half term
Monday 3rd November
Back to school as normal
Tuesday 4th November
Year 1 trip to Tropical Wings
Tuesday 11th November
Remembrance day. More details of events nearer the time
Thursday 13th November
Individual photographs ( more information to follow)
Thursday 27th November
Reporting to parents evening 3.30 to 7pm
Monday 15th December
Infants concerts to parents ( more information to follow)
Tuesday 16th  December
Infants concerts to parents ( more information to follow)
Thursday 18th December
Class parties in the afternoon
Friday 19th December
Last day of term
Monday 5th January 2015
School closed to pupils: Staff training
Tuesday 6th January 2015
Start of the Spring term. School open to pupils at normal times


Thank you again for your continued support this term and we look forward to seeing you all again on Monday 3rd November.

Yours sincerely

Mrs. A. Lipski
            Head Teacher
Posted by A. Lipski at 9:47 am
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