Coral Class (Year 1) welcomes pupils aged from 5 – 6 years. The Teacher is Mrs Carine Bennett, the Head of our Infant Department, assisted by Mrs Mandy Hutchinson, Teaching Assistant.

The students enjoy a large and airy classroom with stunning views over the park. Mrs Bennett, who is half French, is bi-lingual English/French and is therefore able to incorporate French counting, vocabulary and songs as part of her daily teaching routine. Spanish is also taught to the pupils and anyone who has visited the school during these lessons will verify how lively and exciting these sessions are!

Learning through play is still very important at this age and children enjoy many practical activities such as cooking as well as trips into central Cambridge and many forays into the surrounding parkland. Swimming takes place once a week at a local indoor pool and a range of sporting activities such as football and hockey and dance are also included in the weekly timetable.

Mrs Bennett and Mrs Hutchinson get to know their pupils extremely well and this enables them to monitor each child’s educational development, ensuring they feel challenged and that their efforts are being reward with success and accomplishment.

Close communication is maintained with parents via email, reading record diary, written reports and regular parental consultation. Mrs Bennett is friendly and accessible and will always try and spare time to chat or make an appointment to meet with parents if a longer discussion is necessary.

Dear Parents,

A busy term is already underway in Coral Class and the children are happy and settled back into their daily classroom routines.

Over the next few weeks, Coral class will be following a unit of work on a theme, which focuses on ‘Food’. This unit of work is part of the International Primary Curriculum. This curriculum sets out very clearly what children will learn in different areas.

In Science children will:

• be able to find out information from simple texts

• know that some foods are healthier than others and that we need a balance of different kinds of food to stay strong and healthy

In Art children will:

• know that artists use different forms in their work including drawing, painting and printing

• be able to use materials and processes to represent food in different ways

In Technology children will:

• be able to plan a smoothie

• be able to describe their plan using words and pictures

• be able to use kitchen utensils safely and with attention to hygiene

• be able to comment on the smoothie made

In Geography children will:

• know that the foods that are grown and eaten in different localities vary for reasons that include climate and culture

• be able to consider the food that is grown/eaten in the host country and compare it to other countries

In ‘Society and International’ children will:

• know that food is an important part of many festivals

• know that children in the class and school have different home countries and about food in these countries

• be able to respect one another’s individuality and independence

In the week beginning 8^th Feb, we will be focussing on food from different countries and cultures. If any parents were able to make some traditional food from their home countries, to bring in for us to taste, that would be wonderful!

Our topic for the second half of term is called ‘Flowers and insects’. The children will be learning about the bugs they find, making gardens in shoeboxes and going out on several walks to find out about where insects and other living things prefer to live and grow. The children will become little scientists in a bid to find out how seeds grow and what they need to do this well. We will set up a variety of tests to help us.

The children will also be learning about the life cycles of insects and plants.

In literacy this term we will be continuing our work on writing in sentences, using basic punctuation and reading/writing traditional stories, stories with patterned language and traditional tales. In non-fiction we will be learning how to use and write lists, recipes and instructions. In poetry we will be listening to and writing poems about food. We will regularly practise handwriting and letter formation skills as well as regular phonics sessions and spelling rules.

In Mathematics, we will again be covering the topics of counting, partitioning and calculating, securing number facts and understanding shape and handling data and measures including money and time. We will also continue to practise number formation and securing mental maths strategies.

A few reminders:

Morning routine:

1. If you need to make use of our early start facility, please book this in advance with Aggie. Drop off for this facility is only between 8.10 and 8.30am.

2. If you arrive after 8.30am, you are reminded to please wait outside in the playground with your child until 8.45am. During this time, your child is your responsibility and we would ask that you do not let them play on or with any school equipment. Please do not leave children unattended in a classroom.

3. At 8.45am, you are welcome to bring your child into school.

4. The school day begins at 9.00am promptly with registration and we would respectfully like to ask you to be on time dropping your child off.

Reading:

Mrs Hutchinson or myself will hear your child read/change their reading book daily. It is important that you continue to hear your child read at home every night, as they need lots of practise to become fluent readers. It is also helpful if you can write a comment in their reading log when you have done so.

PE:

PE continues as last term, with swimming on Tuesdays and PE (dance) on Thursdays.

Please remember to send your child to school in full kit on Thursdays, including a pair of plimsolls.

Please find attached a copy of this term’s timetable. If you have any questions, queries or concerns then please do not hesitate to come and see me. I look forward to a great term ahead, with lots of hard work!

Kind regards

Carine Bennett

Michaelmas Term 2009

Dear Parents,

Welcome back to what has been a very busy start to the new year! The children have settled in to the new class very well and are beginning to get used to the general classroom routines. Thank you for reminding your child to put their healthy snack, and book bag into the relevant places in the morning.

The children are very much enjoying our French lessons and I hope they will soon be singing you the songs they have learnt and practising the new vocabulary and phrases at home!

Our topic this term is ‘The world of Our Senses’. The children will be learning about their five senses and what they all do. We will be looking in detail at a different sense each week. The children will have lots of hands-on experiences to investigate the five senses of touch, sight, hearing, taste and smell. We will discuss how animals can use their senses to help us or to show their feelings and how some people deal with losing one of their senses. If you have anything at home that would help with our topic, then please do send it in with your child.

As autumn approaches, we will be doing some work on the changing seasons, going for autumn walks and looking for signs of autumn.

In the second half of the term our topic will be ‘Houses and Homes’.

In Literacy this term we are focussing on writing sentences, using basic punctuation and writing stories with familiar settings. In non-fiction we will be learning how to use and write labels, lists, captions and instructions, as well as using ICT to find out information. In poetry we will be using the senses to explore and write poems. We will regularly practise handwriting and letter formation skills. We will also be doing a daily phonics session.

Mrs Hutchinson or myself will hear your child read/change their reading book daily. It is important that you hear your child read at home every night, as they need lots of practise to become fluent readers. It is also helpful if you can write a comment in their reading log when you have done so.

In Mathematics we will be covering counting, partitioning and calculating, coin recognition; securing number facts and understanding shape and handling data and measures, including telling the time. We will also be practising number formation and securing mental maths strategies, for e.g. learning number bonds to 10 by heart (1+9, 2+8, 3+7, 4+6 etc).

Show and Tell:

We have a ‘red box’ for show and tell! When your child brings this home, please help them to choose something suitable and interesting to put in the box! The box is to be brought into school on Wednesdays. Please do not let your child bring ‘show and tell’ items unless it is their turn.

A few children are bringing toys to school; please can you discourage your child from doing so as the toys cause unnecessary problems!

Winter weather

As we draw nearer to winter and the wet weather, could I ask that the children bring a pair of named Wellington boots in a plastic bag, to leave at school, and always bring a coat or waterproof, so we can still make use of the fantastic surroundings whatever the weather!

PE:

Outdoor sport is on Thursdays and swimming on Tuesdays.

Please remember to send your child to school in full kit on Thursdays. This is important as the children have sport straight after morning play and there is no time to get them changed.

Beginning and end of the day

The children are welcome to come into the classroom from 8.45am onwards. If you arrive before this time, please wait in the playground with your child. If you need to drop your child off early, we have a ‘before school’ club from 8.10am. There is a small charge for this facility.

At the end of the day, the children will be brought out to the playground and asked to line up. The children must be dismissed before they come to you. The day ends at 3.15pm. If you need your child to stay later, we have an ‘after-school’ club. Please book your child into this at the office. There is also a charge for this facility.

If you have any questions, queries or concerns then please do not hesitate to come and see me, after school is the best time. I look forward to a great term ahead, with lots of hard work!

Kind regards

Mrs Bennett

Coral Class Teacher