Dear Parents/ Guardians,

Welcome back to the new school year!

My name is Stephanie Williams and I am the ks2 Resource Base teacher. I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know the new members of our class this week, as well as hearing all the news about the holidays from our existing members. This year, Mrs. McQueen and I will be joined by Miss Dennis, we will all strive to encourage and support the children to the best of our ability while ensuring the nurturing ethos of our Resource Base family. We will continue with our split mornings, where all pupils will attend the Resource Base for the morning session and return to their home school class in the afternoon.

In the Autumn term, as well as developing individual needs, we will be reading Oliver’s Vegetables.  In keeping with the theme of the story, we will be exploring the local area through nature walks to further develop understanding and encourage knowledge of the natural world. We will also be trying some of the vegetables that are grown in the story, please let us know if your child has any food allergies.

This year we will be challenging the children to learn a ‘Life skill of the week’, please encourage your child to practice this skill with you.

Mathematics

We will be developing our number skills daily. We will be learning about the calendar, the seasons and telling the time. We will develop our money handling skills to order and compare items, record money spent and saved and also furthering our measuring skills through practical activities. These are life skills that you may like to encourage while at home or out shopping, this will further develop your child’s understanding, as well as boost their confidence. We will also be revising our times tables and using them in problem solving activities. We will be continuing to use RM Easimaths and TT Rock Stars daily and would like you to encourage your child to use this at home, I will send the log in information home.

English

We will develop our spelling and handwriting skills through small group activities and using the Penpal scheme. We will continue to use the Read Write Inc. programme, which proved a great success in developing reading skills. The children are encouraged to read individually and as part of a group to encourage their confidence. We will use the When, Who, Where, What happened and The End to extend narrative understanding, and encourage you to use this concept at home. We will also be using our lovely class book to create our own character descriptions, a dialogue, leaflet, letter and other creative writing pieces.

Wellbeing

Having a happy, warm ethos is an important part of our class. We encourage kindness through our interactions with each other and help establish a nurturing approach with praise, tone of voice and a sense of calm. We use ‘The Colour Monster’ story as a way of sharing and explaining our feelings and teach the children that it is ok to feel each of the emotions. We will also be referring to the storybook ‘Have You Filled A Bucket Today?’ to help the children understand how their actions and interactions with others can have an effect. We will look at and motivate the children to ‘fill’ the buckets of those around them through kind words and gestures, however we will also discuss the impact of ‘dipping into’ the bucket.

In order to encourage good behaviour in class and throughout the school, children are encouraged to stay on the ‘Right Track’ which is a gentle reminder for the children to make the correct choice and change unacceptable behavior. Praise and rewards are generously given for examples of good effort and behaviour.

Thank you for your continued support. If you have any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to contact me at the school or through email: Williamss1897@hwbcymru.net

Yours Faithfully,

Miss Stephanie Williams

Junior Resource Base teacher

Miss Williams                     Mrs. McQueen                      Miss Dennis