Stationery List
All children will be required to have the following items at school with them each day. Form teachers will run spot checks to ensure that pencil cases are fully equipped.
- A pencil case
- Several HB lead pencils
- Blue fountain pen and eraser
- Blue handwriting pens
- Coloured pencils including non-blendable ones in blue, red, yellow, green, purple and brown
- Highlighter pen and green biro
- An eraser, a ruler (30 cm), scissors and a pencil sharpener
- Glue stick (Pritt Stick or similar)
- A protractor (from Year 5)
- A simple solar-powered calculator (from Year 4, however this may be a scientific calculator in preparation for Year 6 (Casio FX – 85GTX)
- A homework folder
- A named water bottle
- Pair of headphones
- School issue rucksack
- Pocket dictionary
Learning
From Year 3 onwards, children are taught in form groups for all subjects. English and maths are set from Year 4, with both sets covering the same curriculum. Teachers will make adaptations to pace, resources and support to best match childrens’ needs. Our approach to English and maths sets is flexible and responsive, with placements regularly reviewed throughout the year to ensure that each child is in the most suitable group for their current needs. We closely monitor the progress of each child, offering tailored support and opportunities to ensure their continued growth. Children actively participate in setting their own targets, regularly reviewing their achievements and setting new challenges.
Presentation of Work
All Barrow Hills children are expected to take pride in their work and present it to the best of their ability. In Year 3, children will work towards their pen licence, and once achieved will be expected to write in fountain pen or blue handwriting pen. Years 4, 5 and 6 are also expected to write in a blue fountain pen or blue handwriting pen, as instructed by their teacher. Maths is completed in pencil. Diagrams should be drawn in pencil, as should label lines, and dates and headings should be underlined with a ruler. Children are expected to keep their books, folders and Chromebook cases free from graffiti and stickers.
Use of IT Devices
Each child in Years 3 and 4 is provided with a Chromebook which remains in School and will be used as and when the teacher requires them. Children should remember that the School regularly monitors the user history of each device and tablets will be withdrawn if it is felt they are being used inappropriately. All children and parents will be required to sign a pupil and parent agreement which will clearly state the acceptable use of the Chromebook. Emails to and from children are restricted and can only be sent and received from the Barrow Hills domain.
Each child in Years 5 to 8 is provided with a Chromebook during term time to support their learning and to help them with their organisation. They will be required to look after their Chromebook and take them home each day with them. They must come to school each day with a full charge on their Chromebook and their charging cable. They are able to access their timetables, calendars and team sheets. Teachers may share learning resources electronically with children via Google Classroom.
Children should remember that the chromebooks are registered on our Google admin console and that the School regularly monitors the user history of each device and chromebooks will be withdrawn if it is felt they are being used inappropriately. Parents need to control wifi access at home.
Homework
Children are expected to complete their homework as a priority each evening. Each subject is set according to the Prep Timetable and children are encouraged to spend no longer than 20 minutes on each subject. Homework may take different forms: children may be asked to finish classwork or to complete an activity that tests their understanding of a particular topic; they may be asked to prepare for a future lesson by conducting research or watching a short film clip; they may be asked to edit and improve an existing piece of work. Homework diaries are provided to all children in Years 3 to 6 and are essential tools for staying organised. Children are responsible for bringing their diaries to school every day. These diaries will be pivotal in helping pupils manage their assignments, track important events, and jot down reminders for upcoming activities, fostering independence and effective study habits.
For Years 3 and 4, homework will be communicated solely via their homework diary and issued on Tuesday and Friday evenings to align with the 3:50 pm study period. From Year 5 upwards, a more detailed description of homework assignments, along with resources, will additionally be placed on Google Classroom.
We encourage children to read aloud to a parent or adult at home at least three times a week and for this reading to be recorded in their reading record book. We also encourage children to practise their spelling lists each evening in preparation for their weekly spelling assessment.
Testing and Assessment
Teachers will use a variety of informal assessment methods to ensure that their teaching is focused on children’s learning needs. These may include observation, questioning and the marking of written work. More formal assessment takes place at the end of the year, with tests in English and maths in Year 3 and 4. By Year 5, children are formally assessed in all academic subjects. These tests not only give us information on children’s learning but also provide them with the opportunities to begin developing important revision and examination skills. In addition to this, the children will sit Cognitive Ability Tests (CAT4). These are in the Autumn Term for Years 4, 5 and 6 and in the Spring Term for Year 3.
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