Birch Class 2025 - 2026

WELCOME TO BIRCH

Mrs Savage is the class teacher

Mrs Feast is our teaching assistant

Mrs Turner teaches on a Monday afternoon and a Thursday

Mr Parrish teaches PE on a Thursday morning

In Birch class, the children begin to develop their independence as they grow academically, socially and personally. The children grow in wisdom by building on their previous knowledge through our exciting topics and areas of learning. There will be many opportunities for them to shine through assemblies, worships, practical learning opportunities, trips and experiences over the course of the year. Our current topic is...

Our key question, ‘Why do we remember? will see us find out about the local history of the school, church and Vale Royal Abbey. We will be exploring how historians find out about the past and become history detectives ourselves. The children will be learning about significant people, places and events including Remembrance, Guy Fawkes and the Great Fire of London.

In art, the children will be exploring sketching and drawing skills and looking into the official war artist, Sir Muirhead Bone, who is buried at St Mary’s church. Our Design and Technology project will also link to Remembrance as the children will be making poppies. These will both link to our ‘One Unselfish Act’ for the term.

In music, we will be exploring instruments through listening and music appreciation. Most of the term will however will be focusing on our singing and performance skills as part of the Christmas production!

Our Religious Education focus will be on special books and the Bible. The children will find out about the books the Bible is made up of and take part in retelling, drama and art to learn more about the stories. Special books from other religions will also be explored.  In the second half term the children will be learning about the Christmas story.

In PSHE we will be exploring new beginnings, caring relationships and how to get help. The British Values of mutual respect and tolerance will be investigated in various ways and our No Outsiders theme will be about sharing our world.   

Computing will focus on internet safety and safe use of the IPads and interactive white board. We will also be developing our use of the IPads to taking videos for specific tasks, capturing images and sound.   

English and Maths

In English lessons we are focusing on writing with a growing independence, adding noun phrases and interesting vocabulary. We will be writing character and setting descriptions, poetry and short narratives. The children will be applying their phonics skills to support spelling and begin to use cursive writing to develop their writing style and flow. 
   
Maths will focus on securing knowledge and understanding of place value and number, moving onto addition and subtraction. There will be a focus on the children applying their understanding to a range of problem solving activities. The children will also complete a unit of work on shapes. 

Reading continues plays a fundamental part in all areas of the curriculum. We have our reading display already jam packed with the many, high quality texts we have already read. We will be reading a wide range of fiction and non-fiction books including poetry, within our English, guided reading and topic sessions, as well as our end of the day class read. We have a spotlight author who has been chosen for their high-quality texts. We will have to opportunity to listen to, read and learn more about these fantastic authors.

Our Spotlight author is Rob Biddulph. Having this literacy-rich environment will encourage a positive culture of reading within our class and promote the children's enjoyment. Our reading corner will have a place for children to recommend books to others’, request new books from the Education Library service and a display to magpie words from their reading to use later in their writing. 

Homework

Homework will be set each Friday and will be due in the following Thursday. Homework will consist of reading, a personalised spelling list and a maths task. This could be a link to an online game or a sheet. Maths homework will also include regular access to Numbots and later on, TT Rockstars. These programmes really help to support their basic skills and provide a solid base for future work in maths. Homework will be given out in a homework book. Please ensure the children's homework books are returned on a Thursday so they can be marked and new homework added.

Please ensure your child reads at home at least 4 times per week. In Birch, we expect the children to be reading aloud to someone at home and for this to be recorded in their Home – School contact books.  

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to get in touch. 

Mrs Savage 

Below is an example timetable. Please note this is subject to change. Please note during Autumn 1, PE will be on a Thursday and Friday.