PIRBRIGHT VILLAGE PRIMARY SCHOOL
SCHOOL LANE
PIRBRIGHT
SURREY GU24 0JN
Telephone: 01483 473884
Fax: 01483 799632
e-mail: info@pirbright.surrey.sch.uk
www.pirbrightvillageprimaryschool.com
Headteacher: Mr. Gavin Dutton
Deputy: Miss Jo Redman
September 2015
Dear Parents,
What an exciting start it has been to Year 1 with new adults, new groups, some new faces and our wonderful
classrooms! The children returned to school brimming with stories of their summer holidays and they have
embraced the changes, settling into Year 1 with ease – the outside area with our large green ‘pasture’ has certainly
helped and the children have loved exploring and utilising all of our space.
At the end of the summer term, you hopefully received our ‘Moving on from the EYFS to KS1’ booklet in your child’s
book bag, which detailed the transition that takes place during the move into Year 1 which we hope you found
helpful. With the ‘Meet the Teacher’ session and this letter, we hope you feel fully informed about the year ahead
but please do come and see us if you have any questions.
The First Half Term
For the first half term, our focus is ensuring your child moves smoothly from the Early Years Foundation Stage into
Key Stage 1. Children will continue to experience lessons and activities led by the teachers and LSAs, as well as
child initiated indoor and outdoor learning time each day, through a carousel of activities. This will progress to
whole class teaching and learning where the children will encounter ‘subjects’ although they will continue to learn
through a topic based approach.
Curriculum Changes
As you may be aware, since September 2014 we have been following a new National Curriculum. At Pirbright, we
have spent a great deal of time as a staff ensuring we are fully informed of the changes the government have given
us and we are fully prepared as we start the new academic year. We will keep you fully informed of any important
information regarding the curriculum and how it will affect your child’s learning. However, if you have any questions,
please ask a member of staff.
Topic Web
Attached you will find our topic web. You will receive one of these each term to keep you up-to-date with what we
will be teaching and what your child will be learning.
Arrival – ‘Challenge Time’
Arrival routines are designed to make the beginning of the day as happy and smooth as possible. The children have
already become accustomed to being responsible for putting their belongings away in the cloakroom and settling at a
table in the classroom so the children will continue to say goodbye at the door. When the children enter the
classroom they will carry out a ‘Challenge Activity’ set out on their table or around the classroom.
Friday Family Fun Reading
Each Friday between 8.45am and 9am, we would like to invite you into your child’s classroom for reading time.
During this time you can hear your child read, share a book from our book corners or read to a group of children
that will inevitably gather round to hear a story! Younger siblings are welcome and we hope to see many of you join
us when we begin this Friday (11th September).
Home Time Arrangements
If there is a change to the normal arrangements for your child’s collection, please come into the cloakroom and
write who will be collecting your child on the information board. If you need to change the arrangements during the
day, please call the school office who will let us know. We won’t allow your child to go home with anyone if you have
not given consent.
Reading
Reading daily is so important in developing your child’s reading skills and ability and they will read to adults, to each
other, as a group and as a class in school. Hearing your child read daily at home will benefit them enormously and
your comments are very helpful. Please make sure that you sign the reading record every time you read with your
child. In Year 1, books will be changed on a Monday and Thursday and children will receive two books each time.
They will be assessed regularly and moved through the scheme when they are ready and equipped for the next level.
Spellings
This Friday your child will bring home a spelling challenge to complete this half term (you will receive further
information about this with the challenge). After half term, your child will receive weekly spellings which will
contain words that are related to our phonics teaching, words that follow a spelling rule as well as high frequency
words. You will be informed which day your child will be tested when they are set. Please help your child to learn
their spellings using the guidance found in their books.
Homework
Daily reading and learning spellings should take place throughout the week. On Fridays your child will bring home a
folder with a homework diary. The homework set will be linked to the work carried out in class and will alternate
between English, Mathematics and topic work. Children should spend 20 minutes on their homework and this should
be returned to school on Monday as this work will be used during lessons that week.
Show and Tell
Speaking and listening skills are actively encouraged and children have lots of opportunity to contribute in all
lessons. Children can bring in topic related items and we will make time for your child to talk about them during the
week. If your child has done something of particular significance for them, and you feel that it is worthy to be
shown to the whole class, please send it in, as both classes have a ‘showing display table’. If a certificate, trophy or
medal has been achieved, your child can bring them into the class and we will make sure they are handed to Mr
Dutton so they can be shared in our Friday Celebration Assembly. It is important that all items brought into school
are clearly named and may we remind you that, just as in Reception, toys are not to be brought in to school.
Reward System
As a progression from Reception, ‘Headteacher Certificates’ are now awarded to children if they receive three
stickers in one term, not over the whole year as before. This is in line with the rest of the school and children
adapt very quickly. Classroom rewards continue as before, with ‘Marble in the Jar’ and other special rewards unique
to each class!
PE
It is very important that full school PE kit (blue T- shirt, blue shorts, socks and trainers) are brought into school
every Monday AND LEFT IN SCHOOL ALL WEEK. This is because although we have one time-tabled session in the
hall we also do games outdoors according to the weather! We would also strongly advise that you provide dark
coloured jogging bottoms or tracksuit for the colder months. As earrings must be removed by the child for PE
lessons it would be very helpful if they were not worn in school and if your child has hair longer than shoulder
length, please ensure they have their hair tied back or have spare hair bands in their bags.
Walks to the Village
The village is a fantastic resource for lots of our topic work and we will be walking there several times this year.
You should have signed a permission slip on admission but if not please ask for a form at the school office.
Clubs
Please make sure that we have a permission slip for all clubs. If your child is not going to attend a club on a
particular day we must be informed in writing.
Helping in the Classroom
If you are able to give any time to help in Year 1 we would be very pleased to hear from you. Parents/grandparents
may help in their own child’s class as long as we all agree it does not have a detrimental effect on your child. You
will need to be ‘DBS’ checked and further information can be obtained from Mrs Barnard. Please speak to us if you
are interested.
We are looking forward to working with your child throughout the year. Thank you for your support and please
come to see us if you have any questions.
Miss Brown
Mrs Dodd
Year 1 Class Teachers