Newsletter for week ending 12 September 2014

National Curriculum Update
Further to last week’s newsletter we are able to share with parents the key changes to the National Curriculum from this term – see Appendix 1 at the end of this newsletter.

Home/School Agreements
If you have recently been sent home a Home/School Agreement form to sign, we would be grateful if it could be completed and returned to school by Monday 15th September. Thank you.

Topics/Areas of Study
Termly Outline Plans giving parents and carers an overview of the key areas of teaching and learning in each class have been uploaded onto the school website. If anyone would like a paper copy please ask in the school office for one.

After School Clubs this term
Places are still available as follows:
Archery – 1 space (aged 8 or over)
Multisports – 7 spaces (Year 1 – Year 6)
Animation/Cinematography 5 spaces (Years 3-6)
Please let Mrs Hopkins know if you would like to participate in any of these after school clubs. Details of dates, times and cost are on the school website.

Swimming at Berinsfield
Thank you to the many families who have already paid their swimming contributions towards the transport costs for this term. It is very much appreciated. We are very grateful for contributions towards the cost of the swimming transport either on a termly (£14) or weekly (£2) basis. Thank you.

Guitar Tuition
Thank you to Mr Payne and Mr Evans for demonstrating the guitar at our school assembly on Tuesday. Guitar tuition forms are available from the school office for pupils in Class 2 or 3 who may be interested in learning to play and would like to know details of costs, etc.

School Photographs
A reminder that The School Photography Company will be in school on Thursday 25 September and all pupils will have their photographs taken during the morning wearing their school uniform. Each child will be photographed individually and also with any siblings in school. Families are welcome to come into the Hall before school at 8.30am to have family groups photographed together if they so wish.
Year 2 pupils who have a Forest School session that morning should come to school in school uniform please and then change into their Forest School clothes once they have had their photograph taken. Thank you.

Food Hygiene Visit
Many congratulations to Mrs Sheridan, our school cook on coping with the extra uptake of Universal Free School Meals for pupils in the Foundation Stage, Year 1 and Year 2 AND for scoring 5 (Very Good) on the Food Standards Agency Hygiene Rating Scheme, when an Environmental Health Officer from South Office District Council, paid us an unexpected visit yesterday.

PTA NEWS:
Thank you to all those who came to the coffee morning on Wednesday. It was great to welcome along parents new to the school, as well as catch up with some who have been around a bit longer!

If you were unable to make the coffee morning and / or would like any more information about what the PTA involves, then please feel free to speak to any member of the PTA. A list of members is on the noticeboard outside Class 1. If you prefer, please e-mail stadhamptonpta@gmail.com and we will get back to you.

Our first meeting is on Tuesday 16th September at 8pm in The Crown, Stadhampton. Please do come along if you would like to get involved or find out more. Everyone welcome.

Friday Cake Club
There was no Cake Club last week, so no winner. A reminder to Mrs Claire Walker that she is on the rota for the cake on 19th September.

DIARY DATES:
Thursday 18 September Open Evening at Icknield Community College 6pm to 8pm with Headteacher’s Address at 7.30pm
Monday 22nd September Governing Body meeting at 7pm
Thursday 25th September School Photographs
3 October 2014 Harvest Festival in school at 9.05am
8 October2014 Mobile Library
20 October 2014 Book Fair arrives in school
12 November 2014 Mobile Library
17 November 2014 & 19 November Parents’ Consultation Evening from 4-7pm on 17 November and 4-6pm on 19 November (more details to follow nearer the time, but advance warning of the dates available for meeting with teachers)
Tuesday 9 December KS2 Christmas Play performances at 1.45pm & 6.30pm (times to be confirmed)
Wednesday 10 December KS1 & FS Christmas Play performance at 2.15pm (times to be confirmed)
Mobile Library
Monday 22 December & Tuesday 23 December Two day Christmas Sports Course at Stadhampton School led by Michael Hopkins and supported by Jordan Piper. Please see attached flyer for details.



Two-Day Christmas Sports Course at Stadhampton School
Following on from the successful Sports Courses held here at Easter and in August, we are pleased to announce that Michael Hopkins will lead a two-day sports course here on Monday 22nd & Tuesday 23rd December. Bookings may be made directly with Mr Hopkins or via the school office.

LITTLE BEARS NEWS:
Continuing with our all about me topic we will be looking at "How I've grown". We will be making our own baby clinic in the home corner and making a height chart showing the difference in heights. We will also be talking about the healthy foods we need to eat in order to grow and will be making a healthy eating collage.

Community News:
Village Show
Saturday 13th September 2014
Village Hall at St John’s
Exhibits to be set up between 10.00 -11.30 a.m.
OPEN FOR PUBLIC VIEWING
2.00 p.m. – 4.30 p.m.
Entry 50p Exhibitors free
DELICIOUS TEAS
RAFFLE
EVERYONE WELCOME!

• Flyers from Chalgrove Children’s Centre (3) attached
• Flyer from Icknield Community College about their Open Evening


Appendix 1 - Changes to the National Curriculum

You will probably be aware that the National Curriculum has been updated for September 2014.

The curriculum for pupils at Stadhampton School comprises of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum for pupils in our Reception class and the National Curriculum for pupils in Years 1 to 6. The EYFS curriculum remains largely unchanged for this year. The situation for pupils in KS1 and KS2 is a little complicated; pupils in Year 2 and Year 6 will still need to be taught the appropriate objectives of the previous curriculum in English, Maths and Science as this year their end of year assessments and national tests will be based on the ‘old’ curriculum. Consequently, 2014-15 will be a year of transition from the former curriculum to the new curriculum. In September 2015 all pupils in Years 1 to 6 will be taught the objectives of the new curriculum and end of year assessments for pupils in Years 2 and 6 will be aligned with the new curriculum.

The most significant changes to the curriculum are outlined below – the most notable are the changes in expectations in maths with knowledge included earlier than in the previous curriculum. For example, Year 2 pupils learning 2, 5 and 10 times tables and Year 6 pupils learning simple algebra.

Literacy: The key change is less of a focus on genre and more focus on quality writing. New content or emphasis relates to year-by-year objectives for Y1 and Y2; required spelling & grammar objectives
& wordlists; priority for phonics in both key stages; focus on reading for pleasure; reciting poetry;
clearer expectations regarding transcription.

Mathematics: There are some significant changes in expectation in the maths curriculum, with knowledge included earlier than currently. New content or emphasis relates to data handling not included in Y1; there is no use of calculators except near the end of KS2; yearly objectives set with larger numbers earlier; tables to 12x12 by end of Y4; earlier introduction of formal written methods; earlier introduction of standard units of measurement; focus on fractions; Roman numerals; Binary in Y6.

Detailed examples are:
Multiplication tables: Y2: 2, 5 & 10 times tables; Y3: 3, 4 & 8 times tables; Y4: all tables up to 12x12
Standard written methods: Y3: Column addition and subtraction; Y4: Standard column multiplication ; Y5: Short division; Y6: Long division.
Fractions: Y1: Half and quarter; Y2: ¾ and 1/3. Find ½ of a number; Y3: Add and order simple fractions Y4: Add + Subtract fractions; Y5: Use mixed numbers; Y6: Add & Multiply fractions
Algebra Y6: Simple formulae, finding missing numbers, etc.

Science: The key change is that there is less content at KS1: Medicines, light, sound, electricity, and magnetism all shift to KS2 programmes of study. New content or emphasis relates to yearly objectives with continued emphasis on working scientifically at each key stage; Evolution in Y6.

ICT: The key change is the subject changes to “Computing” and computer science and is largely based around the old ‘Control’ elements, e.g. understand what algorithms are, how they are implemented as programs on digital devices, and that programs execute by following precise and unambiguous instructions”; E-safety mentioned at every Key Stage.

There are some lesser changes to the content of our foundation subjects; although some of the learning objectives for each year-group have changed most of our topic titles remain unchanged. Full details of all the changes can be found on the internet at https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/national-curriculum

At Stadhampton School we will continue to provide an integrated curriculum, making links between subjects where appropriate. The implementation of the new curriculum has provided us with an opportunity to revise, refresh and reinvigorate our own curriculum.

We are currently working on developing an easily digestible visual representation of our curriculum and expect to be able to present this to you later in the school year.