Class 1 is a Reception group this year. The class teacher is Tom Taylor, who is supported by teaching assistants Hilary Walker (Tuesday-Friday) and Sharron Wilde (Monday). Mr Taylor can be contacted directly at drop off and pick up time or by email: TomTaylor@harrowbarrow.cornwall.sch.uk

We were lucky enough to learn some Breton dancing last term.

 Information from the teacher 

Thank you for looking at our webpage and for your support in your child’s first year at Harrowbarrow School.

Anyone for a mud ball?

Our topic for the Summer term is Bugs, to coincide with this our storytelling will be a somewhat shortened version of Superworm by Julia Donaldson. We will be using an illustrated story map to help us tell the story this term. However you can read the shortened story here. I’m sure some of your children will be sharing this with you in no time! A rough outline of what this term will consist of is available here. Please note that all plans are subject to change depending on the children’s interests, weather, etc. I have made a change to our show and tell arrangements this term. There will no longer be a timetable of allocated days for show and tell. Children are welcome to bring in books, artifacts, etc. related to our bug topic as they wish but please not toys, games, etc. Children should not be bringing in anything that is unrelated to our topic. Thank you for your cooperation in this, I am sure that you can appreciate how busy this coming term is going to be with so much to fit in to best prepare your child for September.

We’ve started painting legs for our giant spider this week.

It would be great if parents could fill in WOW bricks to celebrate their children’s achievements at home. You would have received these sheets in your child’s book bag during your home visit. Additional sheets can be downloaded here, if you are unable to print any out just ask me and I can provide some. You are more than welcome to email me photos, etc. linking to your child’s wow brick at tomtaylor@harrowbarrow.cornwall.sch.uk. Thank you to those who have already sent in WOW Bricks, photos, etc. of outstanding moments from home. These are wonderful contributions to your child’s learning journey, which you will be able to take home at the end of the year.

It’s been a very messy half term!

I will be providing Oliver Owl for children to take turns in looking after over the period of a week. With Oliver, I have attached a scrapbook so children can write/draw about their week at home with Oliver, and attach photos, etc. if they would like. I have put up a blank timetable for you to fill in on the right side of the cloakroom wall; this is for the whole year in the hope that Oliver Owl will be able to join you on any exciting excursions/events/holidays you already have planned. This is not compulsory but as mentioned during our learning together meeting; this is a great opportunity for your children to share Oliver’s adventures with the rest of the class.

Thank you to all those who donated bedding plants towards our outside area. We really enjoyed planting them.

Your child will now be receiving work to be completed at home. This will be in the form of short, simple activities related to the week’s phonics learning. These will be stuck into your child’s phonics book (which will go into your child’s book bag) every Friday to be completed by the following Thursday. Your child will also have high frequency word flashcards attached to their book bag.  I hope that you will find the opportunity to share these with your child throughout your daily routines. These words must be learned by sight, Mrs Walker will informally check how your child is getting on with these cards every Thursday/Friday, remove words that your child is confidently recognising and replace with new words. A rough overview of our phonics learning throughout the year can be viewed here. We are now at the end of Phase 3 and we are learning the last few vowel digraphs before we move onto Phase 4 in the next few weeks.

Please note that it is the expectation that children are to read EVERY day when they start having books sent home. This will give your child the chance to apply their phonics knowledge that they are working on in school. A recent letter regarding home reading expectations can be viewed here.

Even pirates must practise their letters and sounds.

For those new to the school, here is a quick reminder of the morning routine. The classroom will be open at 8.40am (please do not arrive before this) for children and parents to leave belongings. Book bags and liaison books can be placed in their labelled boxes. Children are to find their name card and attach it to the rocket. Any other belongings can be placed on or under pegs. P.E kits should be left on pegs throughout the week (P.E is  on Wednesdays) and wet weather gear for forest schools should be placed in the labelled box in the toilet.  All children are to then make their way into the covered playground. A copy of our weekly class timetable for the next term can be viewed here, please note that this is often changed based on the children’s interests and unfortunate weather conditions!

Please can I also remind parents that all children must be bringing a name labelled water bottle into school. These should be filled with water only, and not fruit juice or squash.  Children are provided with a fruit snack for break time by the school, however parents are welcome to provide an alternative if they wish, providing it is fruit or vegetables (not cereal bars, biscuits, crisps, etc.). As we are now moving into the summer hopefully we will get some lovely weather. If this is the case please can you ensure your child brings in a sunhat daily. Sunglasses are not appropriate for children in Class 1 as they very often get damaged. If the weather forecast is sunny please ensure that your child has high factor sun cream on before coming to school as we are unable to apply it during the school day. Please note that children in Class 1 have access to our outside area for the majority of the day so sunhats and sun cream are essential.

Thank you for your continued support. If you ever wish to speak to me about any questions or concerns you may have please do not hesitate to approach me before or after school. You are also welcome to write any messages to me in your child’s liaison book. Alternatively, I can be contacted at tomtaylor@harrowbarrow.cornwall.sch.uk if necessary.

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