Upper Key Stage 2

WELCOME TO OUR UPPER KEY STAGE 2 PAGE...

This is where you will be able to find lots of useful information about our UKS2 classes at Spurcroft Primary School. 

Our Upper Key Stage Two Classes:

Routines

We are still following many of the same routines like applying hand sanitiser every time we enter and exit the classroom and at all different points throughout the day. We are cleaning down the tables and bathrooms at several points also.

Our mornings in Year 5 and 6 are long as lunch starts at 12.30pm, therefore can we ask you to send a snack or piece of fruit in for morning break, to ensure the children’s stomachs aren’t rumbling by lunchtime? Thank you.

Year 5 and 6 have PE lessons each Tuesday and Friday therefore need to arrive in school in the correct kit on these days, thank you. 

PE Kit Uniform

• Boys - white PE t-shirt, shorts (blue or black), tracksuit (blue or black) and trainers.
• Girls - white PE t-shirt, shorts (blue or black), tracksuit (blue or black) if wanted leggings (blue or black) and trainers.
• School Jumper to be worn on day of PE.

REMEMBER – No Jewellery to be worn and hair tied back please.

Curriculum - Autumn 1 2021

We have started our new topic of ‘Survival’ which links Geography, Science and D.T together very well.

Birthdays

Previously, throughout the year children often bought in sweets to celebrate their birthdays with peers. As we are unable to encourage this can we suggest that children celebrate their birthday in a slightly different way? Instead of sending in a sweet treat it would not only be cheaper but easier to purchase a book to send in and share with the class. This would be donated to the school and we will add a book template outlining the donation and take a photo to add to our school Twitter page. This book would be added to the class library and promotes reading in a really positive way. There is no obligation to do this but we would like you to think about it as an alternative instead of sweets and if you are able to support the class library with this gesture – we would very much appreciate it!

Home Learning

Homework was distributed on Friday 3^rd September and is due on Tuesday 12^th October – please encourage your child to start as soon as possible. Home Learning in UKS2 consists of:

• A letter has be sent home outlining weekly homework expectations in Year 5 and 6 as well as our termly project details; it is stuck inside their homework books.
• There are two termly projects linked to the topic of ‘Survival’. The children are given a choice of projects.
• A weekly Maths task, set and completed online through the ‘MyMaths’ website. This is set on a Monday and checked the following Monday. Logins are stuck in the back of their homework books.
• Children are expected to read daily at home. Confident readers may choose to read to themselves and we are encouraging a ‘love of reading’ and ‘reading for pleasure’ and in order to achieve this we want the children enjoying what they read. In Year 5 and 6 they will not be needing a reading record as we are keeping a record in school of the books they read.
• They will need support in learning the words on the Year 5/6 spelling list and practise these weekly using ‘Spelling Shed’ and the ‘Look, Say, Cover, Write, Check’ method.  
• Further details on all of these tasks can be found in your child’s Home Learning book.

If you have any particular concerns or would like to further support your child in a particular area of their learning, please speak to their class teacher who will be happy to offer further suggestions and advice.

Top Tip #1- Be realistic about what you can do.

Top Tip #2- Keep to some kind of timetable wherever possible but be flexible.

Top Tip #3- Make time for exercise and breaks throughout the day.

Top Tip #4- Have fun together as a family!

Messages

If your child is away from school due to displaying any COVID-19 symptoms or for self-isolation reasons please find all the learning your child will need to access on the Distance Learning Page here. https://www.spurcroft.w-berks.sch.uk/learning-resources/

Communication

If you need to communicate with your child’s class teacher whether it be to ask a question or to provide permission for your child to walk home independently, then please use either of these email addresses:

Year 5              year5@spurcroft.w-berks.sch.uk

Year 6              year6@spurcroft.w-berks.sch.uk

We aim to respond within 48-72 hours of receiving them.

Trips & Dates

• Parent Reading Forum – Tuesday 5^th October 10am on Zoom.

• Parents Evening – Tuesday 12^th October (face to face)
• Parents Evening – Thursday 21^st October (Zoom)
• Last day of term for children – Thursday 21^st October.
• Inset Day – Friday 22^nd October.
• First day of term – Monday 1^st November. 
• Wednesday 24^th November - all four classes to go to Bletchley Park linked to our World War II topic. More information will follow later this term and the cost including workshops, coach and insurance and will be approx £22 per child.
• Thursday 16^th December at 10am will be the KS2 Carol Service at St. Mary’s Church in Thatcham.
• Last day of term 2 – Friday 17^th December.
• Public holiday – Monday 3^rd January 2022.
• Inset day – Tuesday 4^th January 2022.
• First day of term 3 – Wednesday 5^th January 2022.
• Friday 10^th January 2022 - Young Voices (Choir – selected pupils).
• Wednesday 22^nd to Friday 24^th June 2022 – Year 6 – Pioneer Centre Residential.