​Linking with their reading focus for story time, Team AF have been using The Gruffalo as a text driver to generate their own setting descriptions of the woods where the Gruffalo lived. As a SPAG focus the class looked at adjectives and feelings linked to the setting as well as different senses to gain a deeper understanding of the experiences they would be exposed to should they find themselves in the woods. 

​During Autumn Term, Team CT have been focussing on lots of different styles of writing. One included instructional writing where the class wrote instructions for how to turn someone into something magical. This was a very exciting unit, which began with the children completing active literacy games in the hall to understand importance of instructions and the need to follow them in order. As a class, they studied imperative verbs and adverbs before writing their sequenced instructions and then reading to aloud to one another. 

During the Autumn Term, Team JF linked their literacy to their geography topic and researched a variety of things in Brazil. From this, they decided to write their own non fiction posters to inform others of life in this part of the world. The children were able to choose 3 key areas they wanted to know more about and present them to one another. They then centered their learning around the Amazon and started exploring the impact of deforestation. As they learned more,  the class made the decision to write a letter to the Brazilian government to persuade them to change their behaviour and suggest a move to sustainable deforestation.

During the Autumn term, the children in Team GG have been enjoyed listening to the class story text Gangsta Granny.  Through this, the children explored the language used by the author, where the story was set and how the author engaged the reader.  From identifying the features used, the children developed the required skills to write their version of a Gangsta story based on a familiar setting.  As part of their Geography topic, the children began to develop their knowledge and understanding of non fiction information texts.  Through exploring the features, the children began to understand how the layout is different to a fictional story.  From this, they could begin to use appropriate facts under their chosen subheadings.

During continuous provision the children have been encouraged to demonstrate their growing phonic skills by writing about characters, making speech bubbles and writing about their favourite stories and characters. In the preparations for Christmas, the class will write gift lists, plan parties and wrote letters to Santa. Some of the class' books inspired work on making patterns, investigating light and dark, talking about opposites and what jobs the children would like to do in the future.

To link with the class Whitby topic, Team LG created a scrapbook from their day trip to Whitby and used this as a plan for recount writing. They also wrote a piece of atmospheric writing, using the ‘Dracula’s Whitby’ video as a stimulus. The video takes a virtual tour of the abbey and leads the viewer into the depths of the abbey’s underground, allowing the children to explore the hidden crypt. The video is a fantastic way of creating ideas for writing and encourages the children to think about their use of senses to create that atmosphere for the reader. 

Today has been an incredibly exciting day throughout Key Stage 1 and 2 as we have been lucky enough to participate in The Punctuation Show. The company ran two separate events, one for Key Stage 1 and another for Key Stage 2, with the aim of helping children to understand some of the Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar concepts they need throughout their learning. All classes showed such a great attitude towards learning and were thoroughly involved from the off. The songs they learned, the concepts covered were all highly engaging for the children and I have no doubt, will be incredibly useful for classes going forward. The host of the show Barrie, was very complementary of our children, saying; "Thanks so much for having me in, the pupils were exemplary in both their behaviour and enthusiasm.  Both KS1 and KS2 groups were a credit to themselves, the school and their parents.  Please could you also pass on my thanks to all concerned."
We are so very proud of all our learners! Go TEAM Park Street!

As part of their writing focus in the Autumn term, Team CB have been exploring Europe which is directly linked to their Geography topic which they have been studying. As part of their writing, the class created their own travel guide for a Spanish holiday. To support the children in the writing process, the class tried different Spanish foods, engaged in Flamenco dancing and researched famous festivals before beginning to structure their writing appropriately to form a travel guide. These were then shared with Year 2 as part of the present part of the writing process.