Elm Hall Primary School

Welcome to Rowling Class where our quest is to create a magical learning environment for children to thrive, like our namesake J.K. Rowling. If there’s a fun way to do something, we’ll do it!

I am looking forward to an exciting year. You are more than welcome to come and see me if you have any concerns. Please make an appointment through the office.Here is some information that I hope you will find useful in supporting your child this year. I really appreciate and value your help that will make a big difference to your child’s progress. I am looking forward to working with you this year.

Our door opens at 8.40am, and children need to be in class by 8.45am for the register. Learning begins immediately so please help your child to be punctual. A reading book will go home every night. Please ensure that this comes back into school every day as we have a daily reading session in school. It is important that your child reads every night for at least 30 minutes. Your child’s reading journey is important - even in Year 5, most children will benefit from reading aloud to an adult and your child will have some of our reading viper questions in their reading journals to help with their comprehension.

Rowling Class will have PE lessons on various days throughout the year, so please make sure your child has a full named indoor and outdoor PE kit in school. Earrings must be removed for PE, and long hair must be tied back. Staff are not permitted to remove earrings for a child, or put them in. A spare hair band kept in school for PE would be useful. Your child will need to bring a drink to school daily. Please make sure that their drink bottle is named, as well as all their clothing and any snack pot or lunch box. Children have a chance to have a healthy snack at 10.15am. Please make sure any grapes and tomatoes are sliced in half lengthways.

Like all classes, we have a Recognition Board where your name is written if you have shown the particular skill looked for that week. We have our Elm Hall Attitudes displayed in each classroom and the children are given recognition for achieving any of these attitudes. As a class, this is something we consciously strive towards as we understand this is what creates an effective learning environment built on trust and respect.

Children will be given various homework tasks to complete. Please remind your child to complete their homework, which they should be able to do independently. Homework will usually be set on a Friday, to be handed in the following Wednesday. It should take around 30 minutes. Daily reading also forms an important part of your child's homework. Homework may also be set using the MyMaths computer programme, however if children are unable to access the programme at home they will be given time in school to do so.

At home time, staff will only allow you or an agreed adult to collect your child. If someone else is picking up your child, please inform an adult or the school office. If your child is allowed to walk home on their own, please send in a letter explaining this.

If necessary, children in Year 5 may bring a mobile phone into school. Please note that they will not be permitted to use the phone, especially the camera, on school premises. Phones must be handed in to an adult in the classroom on arrival and will not be returned to the child until they leave school.