Otter (Year 3)

Class Teacher
Miss Smith - bs@newclose.wilts.sch.uk

Cover Teacher / Forest School Lead - Tuesday
Miss Dixon

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask any member of staff and we will do our very best to make sure they are answered quickly.

Behaviour

We have high expectations of behaviour at New Close. Everything we do is centred around our six values:

Aspire, Positivity, Pride, Resilience, Respect and Responsibility. 

When children follow these expectations they will receive verbal praise and may also receive stickers and dojo points. Those who do not follow these expectations will receive consequences. These consequences are outlined in our Good Behaviour Policy. 

Reading Expectations
Children will either come home with a progress school book or (as a free reader) have a book for pleasure.

Children will need to have their reading book in school every day along with their Reading Record book.

The expectation is that they read at home six times per week and note the pages they have read in their reading record. This will be checked regularly throughout the week and every Friday. We expect at least one comment about their book per week.

Reading Races
We are continuing with reading races, encouraging children to read at home for pleasure. Your child will bring home their reading race booklet when they get their new book. Every time your child reads at home they can colour and date a spot. Completed reading races should be returned to school and children will receive a reward.

Uniform
We encourage our children to take pride in their appearance and feel that this, in turn, shows pride in their school. Children should wear: 

• A red jumper or cardigan with or without the school logo (No other jumpers or hoodies) 
• A white polo shirt
• Black/grey trousers or a black/grey skirt
• A summer dress 
• Black school shoes or boots (trainers are only to be worn on a PE day)

Extreme hairstyles are not acceptable. 

Your child will need:

• A named lunch box and water bottle and healthy snacks for breaktime
• An appropriate warm/waterproof coat when needed
• Reading books can be brought in a reading folder (Purchase this from reception)  

PE

Otter Class will be swimming on a Wednesday afternoon in Term 1.

On a Wednesday (Term 2 Onwards) Otter class will have PE. Children will need to come to school on these days in their PE kits: 

• School jumper, School hoodie or cardigan 
• Red t-shirt
• Black shorts or jogging bottoms
• Trainers or daps

Forest School 

On a Tuesday, Otter class will have Forest School in the afternoon. They must bring their forest school kit into school with them to change into. For forest school they must have: 

• A waterproof all in one. 
• Wellies 

You will not need any other practical or learning equipment as this will be provided for you. We are really trying to reduce the amount of items brought into school. We ask that you do not bring anything that is not on the list in.

Homework
Homework includes: reading, learning tables and either a literacy or numeracy task. Homework is designed to support your child’s learning and help them to revisit skills taught in class. We aim to keep these tasks as simple as possible but children will benefit from some support at home to complete these tasks. All homework will be set on a Friday and should be handed in the following Wednesday. Children will receive house points for working hard on all aspects of their homework. For those who do not return their homework, they will be required to attend a homework catch up session on Wednesday lunchtime.

Spellings
At New Close we use the scheme called spelling shed. Instead of spellings coming home and tested each week the children will practice their spellings in school and there will be online test style games for them to practise using their spellings. There will often be a spelling related homework activity to support their learning.

Times Tables
Your child may be asked to practice their times tables by playing TTRS – Times Table Rock Stars – online regularly. Let’s see who can become a TTRS Rock Legend!

Our topic this term is: London

Please Click Here to download our Termly Overview  

Key dates, celebrations and activities this term include: 

Forest School is on a Tuesday

Swimming is on a Wednesday this term.

Times Table Rocktars 

Little Wandle Information for Parents