Headteacher: Anna Moss

Hello Red Class,

Another busy week in Red Class filled with wonderful writing. Our class easel was covered with super sentences. The children tried hard to use their robot arms to sound out words and write them independently. To use robot arms at home, just say the word you want to write e.g. ‘cat’, then say each sound (c-a-t) and move one arm each time (Peter Crouch robot style). To write ‘rain’, you would segment the word to r-ai-n. I felt very proud to see the children using sound mats in the classroom to support their writing. I think we must be getting closer to Year 1.

In Phonics, we revisited ‘ure’ (sure), ‘ear’ (hear) and ‘air’ (fair) and played games to read ‘have’. We read our keywords every day at school. We need to read our keywords by sight to become fluent readers. When reading at home, look for keywords in the text and read them together. Here are the words we read every day at school:

Handwriting sessions focused on the curly caterpillar family: c, o, a, d, g and q. You will find 4 new letters in your handwriting book. Please leave handwriting books in your book bag. They will be collected every Thursday and new letters added. When writing, please check your child is using their tripod grip. Please also encourage your child to use cursive letters to write their name as I’ve noticed some children have reverted to print.

In Maths, we concentrated on doubles and halves. We looked at representations of doubles and halves in different ways (fingers, Numicon, dice, spots) and solved practical and word problems. We even started to find some tricky doubles beyond 5+5 using our class fabacus. We’re also working hard to count in 10s using the fabacus and hundred-square. We chant in 10s forward and back and solve problems using this knowledge. For example, we count in 10s to find our daily dinner number.

At Forest School, we listened to ‘Jack and the Beanstalk’ and planted some beans. Over the next few weeks, we will look after our little beanstalks. Hopefully, they’ll be ready to go home in time for the half term holiday.

A BIG thank you to our families who have contributed to our African Promise appeal. Donations will support rural primary schools in Kenya helping to provide meals and clean water for children, funding teacher’s salaries and rebuilding schools. Next week, we’re using our music skills to raise money for the charity by busking for other classes in the school.

Finally, we’ve noticed quite a few toys in book bags. Please keep toys and teddies safe at home. Some of the children are struggling to collect their book bags from the crates because their friends have quite bulky bags with teddies and toys. If you’re missing a school water bottle, we have one bottle in school without a name. Just email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you think it might belong to your child.

Hopefully, the sun will shine for us this weekend. I am always optimistic!

Mrs Webb and Team Red Class xxx

30.04.21

Hello Red Class Families,

This week, Red Class walked for an hour around Blackwell village. This is the same amount of time it takes Okeyo to walk to school. Although we didn’t spot any elephants, we did spot Elephant Alley and St Catherine’s Church and all the little ones from our Forest Friends group waved us off on our adventure. When we arrived back at school, the children were pleased to find out it was time for lunch.

By walking for an hour, we’re hoping to raise money for African Promise who support rural primary schools in Kenya. If you would like to make a donation to our chosen charity, please pop your donation in an envelope marked ‘Red Class – African Promise’. Thank you for the donations we’ve received so far.

You will find a new handwriting book in your child’s book bag tonight. I’m starting slowly with two letters (c and o from the curly caterpillar family) so the children can take their time and produce their best work. Some children might prefer to work in a different way, for example, using shaving foam or marker pens on old rolls of wallpaper. If this is the case, just write a brief comment in the handwriting book. Remember, when writing curly caterpillar letters, you need to start from the line and move your pencil round and back. I’ve left a page between each letter sheet so you can revisit your learning during the week. Each letter sheet has a step by step guide and a You Tube link to support your work at home. Handwriting books will be collected every Thursday and returned on Friday. I will award two homework certificates, each week. Try your best and work hard.

New reading books will be sent home on Tuesday due to the Bank Holiday.

Wishing you all a wonderful Bank Holiday weekend.

Mrs Webb and Team Red Class xxx

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23.04.21

Hello Red Class,

Well done for making a great start to the new term. This week, we met Okeyo who lives in Kenya. We will spend the next four weeks finding out about Okeyo and his life in Kenya.

We used Google Earth to find the continent of Africa before looking for Kenya and Okeyo’s school. We had enough time to find some of the main features of Blackwell including our school, park and St Catherine’s Church. We looked at photos of a bustling Kenyan market, mountains and a beautiful savanna.

The children asked some fantastic questions about Kenya.

• Are there volcanoes in Kenya?
• Why is their flag different to our flag?
• What is their money like?
• Can Okeyo see animals from his garden?

When Okeyo travels to school, he sees tigers and elephants. We see houses, shops and lots of cars. Okeyo has a lot of friends and they all enjoy learning together. However, we discovered that Okeyo’s school is different to Blackwell. He doesn’t have any toys to play with and they have one meal a day. We decided to help Okeyo by raising money for African Promise. This is a charity helping to improve primary schools in rural Kenya.

It takes Okeyo an hour to walk to school every day. Next week, we would like to take the children for an hour long walk around the village to help them to appreciate Okeyo’s experience. If you would like to help raise money for African Promise, by sponsoring our walk, please send an envelope into school labelled ‘African Promise’.

At the end of the topic, we need to present our learning to Mrs Moss during a Zoom assembly. Mrs Moss will then decide if each class deserves a donation for their chosen charity.

What a busy week! Now, it’s time to enjoy the sunshine with plenty of time to read, rest and play.

Mrs Webb and Red Class Team xxx

26.03.21

Hello Red Class,

Today was the last day of our ‘Native Americans’ topic. We celebrated with an online Zoom showcase of dance, singing and storytelling. We recorded our rain dance for all our friends to see. Next week, we start our final topic of the spring term, ‘Easter’. We’re looking forward to a virtual trip to Worcester Cathedral.

In Phonics, this week, we learned to read and write words using ‘oi’ (boil), ‘ur’ (turn), ‘ow’ (cow) and ‘er’ (flower) and talked about the keyword ‘are’. Handwriting sessions focused on ‘v’, ‘w’ and ‘z’. We’ll learn about ‘x’ next week. You can find videos to help below:

V and W: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2blzGPk2Eg

X and Z: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=St5RHwFCkWM

In Maths, we compared and measured the weight of objects using bucket scales and explored weighing in everyday life e.g. baking. Can you find any scales at home? How do they work? We also had time for some pattern work and we explored patterns in different ways e.g. drawing, using natural objects and finding patterns in the classroom. Can you find and make patterns at home? Try making repeating patterns.

At Forest School, Mrs Flynn showed us how to use a saw and we started to make tree cookies. She was proud of your listening and behaviour. You used the tools and equipment sensibly and safely. We also had a lot of fun playing Forest School tig.

We’re looking forward to seeing Red Class families at our virtual Easter event on Thursday, 1^st April at 10am.

Here’s a link to ‘I’m A Spring Chicken’: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEey4LZLeGw

Listen to the song over the weekend and you’ll be ready for our performance.

Hopefully, the sun will shine for you this weekend.

Mrs Webb and Team Red Class xxx

19.03.21

I’m really proud of you, Red Class. I know many of you were under the weather this week. However, you still tried hard to listen and learn. Dr Webb suggests lots of rest, play and cuddles over the weekend.

We revisited ‘oo’ (moon), ‘oo’ (look), ‘ar’ (farm) and ‘or’ (cork) and introduced a new keyword ‘all’. Every lesson, we read words, phrases and sentences with our target sounds and keywords. You will find a new phonics book in your book bag.

Handwriting sessions focused on ‘p’, ‘j’ and ‘s’. You can practise your letter formation at home using the following video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ad5hDpIkmM We start every day with a fine motor or handwriting activity. We draw Write Dance pictures, practise name writing and letter formation. All before 8.45am! We write throughout the day during Phonics, handwriting sessions, focus groups and during play and explore time. Try to write at home too. Maybe you could write a shopping list for your family or you could write cards for your friends.

In Maths, we used songs and storytelling to find out about subtraction. We used the word ‘difference’ to name the answer in a subtraction. For example, Redmond Bear had 8 biscuits in his biscuit tin. He munched one biscuit and the difference was 7. Sometimes, in subtraction, we reduce the number by removing objects and sometimes we compare objects to find the difference. We can also use the part-whole model. However, we’ll learn about that another day.

During our History lessons, we found out about a little girl called Awena. You asked some wonderful questions about her life as a Native American. Throughout the week, you discovered a lot of things about Awena including where she lived and the toys she liked to play with. Well done for being good historians by looking carefully at artefacts, asking questions and thinking about the past.

Every day, we dance to Mrs Hampton’s wake and shake with a little bit of help from our wake and shake leaders. We enjoy a movement break in the afternoon too and this week we joined Jack Hartmann for his ‘Animal Dance and Freeze’. Click the link if you want to dance at home: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HpOe8lngp_o

Rest, play and enjoy your weekend.

Mrs Webb and Team Red Class xxx

13.03.21

Hello Red Class,

Put your finger on your nose if you feel tired. I’m touching my nose too. Well done for completing your first week back at school.

Play and Explore was a hive of activity and talk for the first few days. It was obvious you’d missed each other. We added a Red Class verse to our Blackwell Sea Shanty. It celebrated our ability to play and learn together again. It was wonderful to see this in action at Forest School. From imaginative play (using the old log as a rocket and creating houses under low-lying branches), to making natural discoveries (spring flowers and worms) and teamwork (making a rope swing and tipi). You were happy, settled and fully engaged in your play with your friends.

We played games in Phonics to recap sounds and actions for ‘ai’, ‘ee’, ‘oa’ and ‘igh’ and discovered a new keyword ‘they’. To learn new keywords, we think about the part we know (th) and the part we might find tricky (ey). We also find ways to remember the word. So, we decided that ‘they’ was ‘the’ with ‘y’ at the end. Over the next week, we will update your little blue phonics books. You can take your time to draw pictures during the half term and Easter holiday. If needed, we will also send home a second reading book to recap some tricky letter sounds.

In Maths, we revisited 2D shapes and described and counted sides and vertices (corners). Handwriting lessons focused on ‘b’, ‘h’ and ‘k’. If you would like to recap these letters at home, you can find the You Tube clip here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMEIvn3B1nk

The milk routine is in full swing again. Children aged 4 are entitled to free school milk and you can purchase milk for your child once they turn 5. Just contact Cool Milk or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you would like further information.

Hopefully, in your bookbags, you will find a little surprise for Mothering Sunday. Give it to your mummy on Sunday and say a big ‘THANK YOU’.

Play, rest and relax this weekend and we’ll see you ready for learning on Monday.

Mrs Webb and Team Red Class xxx

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18.12.20

Dear Red Class Families,

Can you believe the children have finished their first term at school? We’ve achieved so much already. From learning letter sounds, to playing with numbers, writing letters in our name and making new friends. It’s certainly time for a rest.

We’ve popped a new book into your child’s book bag tonight and if there’s time for name writing that would be even better. We’ve spent the last two weeks learning number rhymes to support formation too.

0 – Around and round and round we go. When we get home we have a zero.

1 – Start at the top and down we run. That’s the way to make one.

2 –Around and back on a railway track. Two, two, two!

3 - Around the tree and around the tree. That’s the way to make three.

4 – Down and across and down some more. That’s the way to make four.

5 – Down and around then a flag on high. That’s the way to make five.

6 – Down we go and make a loop. Number six has a hoop.

7 – Across the sky and down from heaven. That’s the way to make seven.

8 – Make an ‘s’ and do not wait. That’s the way to make eight.

9 – Make a loop and then a line. That’s the way to make nine.  

During the holidays, please check name labels, especially in jumpers. If your child has picked one up by accident, just return it to school in January. We’ve sent wellies home just in case you need them for any muddy walks.

At the end of the day, the children treated me to a wonderful surprise. They’d planned a song, dance and card along with cheeky Elf Hampton. There were tears. Happy tears! It was a wonderful surprise.

Wishing everyone in Red Class a wonderful Christmas and a fantastic 2021.

Lots of love,

Mrs Webb, Mrs Hampton, Mrs Dyson, Mrs Flynn, Miss Barber, Mr Moran and Miss Edwards xxx