KEY STAGE 2

To contact staff please phone 01228 675 283 or email contact@fir-ends.cumbria.sch.uk

Autumn 2026 News

Mr G

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Class 2

Welcome back! I hope you've all had a lovely summer and enjoyed the sunshine.

We've had an unusually slow start to the term this year, so we've been able to get really settled into our classroom routines and become familair with anything new. Fortunately, we have lots of simialr staff in KS2 too this year, so this has really helped to start the year runnning.

Our first exciting thing to look forward to is swimming which is starting tomorrow, Thursday 10th September. ALL of year 3 and 4 are swimming to begin with. Please ensure children have got everything they need inluding goggles, if they find it hard to swim under water. These should not cover their nose but children are allowed to wear a nose clip.

Class 2 also have a couple of trips to Catherine's Learning Forest nearer the end of September. More details will follow on this.

Homework and logins for all of our online learning will be going home over the next couple of weeks. For year 4 parents, this is the same as last year however, no White Rose books. Year 3 parents, all infromation on how to complete the homework will be included, but if you have any questions about any of it, please just get in touch.

Miss Fisher :)

Autumn Term - Dates for the Diary

September

Thursday 10th-Swimming and sports starts @The Sands Centre

Wednesday 23rd and 30th-Learning Forest Day @ Broomhills Farm

Two brilliant tools to support fast maths and number fluency skills at home. Can be downloaded from the usual place where you get your apps. Some children have said they won't be able to as they have no screen time during the week - that is totally fine. 5 minutes before bed specifically working on these would be acceptable or just weekend use if you have those sort of controls in place.

For White rose infinity - children will need our school code (FLW-XGW) and an activity code for each activity. Rather than me release these weekly. I will bulk release for you to give to your child when you see fit. Please see below for some to get into this term.

All concepts below HAVE been taught this school year.

Year 3 and 4

Year 5

Year 6

Our Classroom Staff

Class 2 is taught by Miss Fisher Monday - Friday. Mrs Britton Wednesday afternoon.

Class 3 is taught by Mr Greenslade Monday - Friday. Mr Spencer Tuesday afternoon.

Other adults regularly involved with our classes include:

Mrs Thompson - pupil support and interventions
Miss Potts - pupil support and interventions
Mrs Powley- interventions
Mr Draper - singing & recorders
Madame Leighton - French
Evie - Tuesday PE

Uniform

Black trousers or skirt (not leggings or PE shorts unless it's a PE day, please)
Green polo shirt
Green jumper
Black shoes suitable for daily running activities
School book bag NOT rucksacks, please

https://www.fir-ends.cumbria.sch.uk/uniform/our-uniform-policy-and-specification

We do ask that long hair is tied up and no jewellery apart from stud earrings to be worn. Earrings must be removed for PE and swimming sessions.

PE

Class 2 and 3 PE will be on TUESDAY and THURSDAY this term.

Outdoor Ed - dates TBC

Homework

Weekly homework will be set and it is important that children complete the majority of it independently; although some adult support to organise the time to complete it and to ensure the task is understood is sensible:

Class 3 - Once we are actively teaching each maths unit in class, they will go live for completion at home. This will be highlighted inside the front cover of the maths book. They should be completed and handed in by the date set.
For those handed in after completion of the first unit, I have added a corresponding End of unit test report inside each front cover. This should show progress from before the unit was taught to after all the lessons in class were complete.
Actions to take depending on 'Post test scores' should be something like that outlined below:

Score of 0-5 Review all taught concepts ensuring your child understands the most basic of concepts (outlined in the homework but additional lessons can be used here https://www.thenational.academy/teachers/key-stages/ks2/subjects )

6-12 Review the more challenging elements, referring to the more challenging aspects in the homework - again, the lessons above could plug gaps

13 - 17 As above, with less review. Begin to push on to deeper understanding by accessing the website below

18-20 Push on learning using the following website https://nrich.maths.org/number-and-place-value-0

Maths Part A : Weekly exercises in the White Rose Maths practice Journal (see here)
Maths Part B: Children should practice times tables at least three times a week (see 'supporting mathematics at home')
Spellings and spelling sentences will be set on a Tuesday and are due on the following Monday. The children will be tested on these spelling words on a Monday.
Regular reading is also required (a minimum of 4 entries in their reading record per week). Your child is able to complete the reading record independently.
Children should practice recorder pieces for at least 15 minutes a week (3 x 5 minutes)

Failure to complete the homework will result in children being asked to do it during break times.

Times tables

Please keep practising those times tables in front of the mirror at home. It has been noticeable who has been practising and it's been great to see some surprise children leading the way when reciting times tables aloud to the class, under time pressure.

wESupporting mathematics at home:

The best way to support maths is by helping children to secure basic number facts - bonds to ten, fifty and a hundred; times tables and division facts; ten more, ten less. All of these facts are used in calculations and the more fluent we are the easier maths becomes!

The White Rose maths scheme includes some useful tools for parents.

1-Minute Maths - does what the title suggests , and covers all the mathematical facts that children should know to become fluent mathematicians Browse to https://whiteroseeducation.com/digital-tools and use our unique 3-word code: bib-teg-beg
Online lessons - these replicate what is covered in the classroom using the same presentation slides; allowing you to repeat anything your child found difficult - or missed due to absence. We use the V3 scheme. CLICK HERE

TIMES TABLE ROCKSTARS MODES

https://ttrockstars.com/

GARAGE - build up your child's heatmap of known facts - and earn coins. Automatically chooses the ones they need to practice.

STUDIO - get a 'Rock Status' based on the average of the last 10 studio sessions - and contribute to our school's chart position

GIG - 100 questions in 5-minutes to check what you really know!

JAMMING - choose the ones you want to practice

SOUNDCHECK - simulates the Year 4 tables check

Note: we appreciate that it may be tempting to play the games yourself as they're quite a lot of fun - but this plays mischief with the algorithms that award certificates and select the right things for your child to learn. Please don't. :-)

Class 2

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