"Believe in the light while you have the light, so that you may become

children of light.”

 

Ready;Respectful;Resilient

 

               Welcome to Class 2

              We are the Barn Owls, Years 2, 3 and 4

 

 

 

Our staff

  Mrs Heald is our class teacher with Mr Jones, Mrs Sherlock and Miss Helm supporting our learning. 

 

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The following information tells you a little more about the coming term in Barn Owls and your child's learning. However, if you have any queries or questions please don't hesitate to contact me.

heald@kingsleystjohns.co.uk 

We love to keep you up to date with all that we've been up to on our school Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/Kingsleystjohns, why not follow us, looking out for our hashtag #BarnOwls

General information

This year we have decided to move to a two week timetable, this is available at the bottom of the page and will mean that some subjects will not be taught every week, but for a longer session every other week.

• Please tie up long hair (shoulder length or longer).
• Please have a bottle of water at school every day. This can be refilled as necessary.
• Please bring a small school bag, we have limited hanging space and large bags can cause difficulties.
• Reading diaries and books should be in school every day.
• Please return your homework book on or before Wednesday for marking. Homework will be sent out on a Friday.
• All school uniform needs to be named but particularly jumpers and cardigans as these are frequently mislaid. 
• Jewellery is limited to one pair of stud earrings and a wrist watch, jewellery should be removed for PE.

PE is timetabled for Thursday afternoons and will be outside whenever possible. Children may come to school in their PE kit on these days.

In cold weather, please add a jumper, trousers and gloves as we will still go outside. Should it be sunny, please add sun hats and suncream if needed. Children must be able to apply their own sun screen.

When we have Forest School children should have wellies or suitable footwear for getting wet/muddy, old clothes with long trousers and a top that covers their arms (this can be a jumper or such that can be removed) They should also have a waterproof coat and layers suitable for the temperature/weather conditions.

 

Autumn Term 2026

 

Welcome!

Welcome back  to a new school year and new learning. Barn Owls staff are looking forward to sharing a range of new books and topics which we hope will engage and inspire.

 

Our Christian Values

During the autumn term, our Christian values are friendship and koinonia, followed by hope and reverence in the second half of the term.

Friendship means having someone you like to play with, share your toys with, and talk to. It is choosing to love and care for someone else.

Koinonia is a special Greek word from the Bible (pronounced koy-no-nee-ah). It means "sharing a life together" as God’s family. Day to day friendship might be sharing a game; koinonia is sharing your whole heart and faith.

"Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up." - Ecclesiastes 4:9–10

Our roles and responsibilities

 As we start the new year, we will be taking part in a democratic class vote to decide who will be our new school councillors, sports councillors, eco councillors and Beacons who will work with staff and other years groups to bring about change and promote positivity in our school life and beyond. Our Beacon group support our school in developing Christian distinctiveness and promote our school Christian Values.

In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. - Matthew 5:16

Class Novel

After the popularity of The Magician's Nephew, e will be setting off on a new literary adventure this half term as we travel to Narnia in C.S. Lewis's The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.

 

English

In our first half term we will be developing our vocabulary and narrative writing skills reading 'Manfred the Baddie' by John Fardell and 'Stone Age Boy' by Satoshi Kiamura'. In the second half term, we will be entering the magical, mysterious world of 'Leon and the Place Between' by Angela McAllister and Grahame Baker-Smith.

   

   

Our routine will include spelling and grammar, handwriting and guided reading sessions. Daily reading at home continues to be essential and we would ask that you read regularly at home with your child to develop a love of reading, to develop new vocabulary and strengthen writing skills.  Whilst listening to your child, ask questions about what has happened so far, characters thoughts and motives and make accurate predictions based on the text. As well as our guided reading and class reading sessions, we will endeavour to hear all our Barn Owls read at least once a week. Our Barn Owls can use our class padlet to share what they are reading, make recommendations and develop our love of reading.

 

 https://padlet.com/chesterdiocesanacademiestrust/barn-owls-readers-5np3ec4du44oosgq

Spelling

We will continue to practice common exception words and spelling patterns as part of our English lessons to develop spelling strategies and learn spelling rules.

Maths

As mathematicians, the children will learn through concrete experiences moving onto pictorial and abstract methods as their confidence builds.They will also be expected to use their learning to reason about maths and solve problems. 

During the autumn term we will be working on Place Value and addition and subtraction befor moving on to multiplication.

Science

As scientists, we aim to develop our knowledge and understanding, scientific skills and measuring and recording abilities. During the the autumn term we will be exploring rocks and electricity in year 3 and 4 as well as materials and animals in year 2. 

 

 

    

 

History and Geography

As historians, this autumn, years 3 and  will be exploring the changes in Britain from the Stone Age through to the Iron Age whilst Y2 will be examining the Great Fire of London, what caused it, the people at the time and how it changed the way London was rebuilt?

 

 

  

RE

In our RE lessons, we will continue to use the Questful RE planning. In the first half term years 3 and 4 will be deepening our understanding and importance of values, both human and faith. Year 2 will be exploring Harvest festival and how we can help those who so not have a good harvest. As we move into the second half term, all year groups will be focussing on Christmas.

Our whole school and class roundabout worships, alongside our class reflection areas and partnerships with our local churches allow the children opportunities to explore our Christian values and develop their own thoughts, reflections and spirituality.

 

PE

PE will take place on a Thursday afternoon and in a change to previous years, Barn Owls may come to school in their PE kit on a Thursday.

In addition, Year 4 only will be taking part in swimming lessons each Tuesday afternoon up until Christmas.

 

Art and Design

As artists, we will be exploring colour and artists materials, exploring art from the Stone Age onward.

 

PHSE

We will start tthe term by thinking looking after ourselves and staying safe and healthy before moving on to our local community and managing finances.

Music

As musicians, we will be using Charanga to explore musical styles and different sounds.

MFL

As linguists ,we will continue to have Madame Carter on a Tuesday morning to deliver our French lessons.

Computing

As digital citizens, we will begin by thinking about I.T. in general with further focus on the internet.

Forest School

The rota for Forest School has yet to be finalised but we will let you know as soon as possible.

Please make sure your child has appropriate clothing for the weather and a change of footwear. 

Homework

Homework will be sent out on Friday to be returned on or before the following Wednesday.  We expect each piece to take about 20 minutes.  Please come and see us if there are any difficulties or write a note on the piece of work.

 

English – Focusing on basic skills and new techniques used within our writing

Maths - Focusing on skills and methods learnt in our maths lessons.

Comprehension tasks

Reading – 5-10 minutes each night, please add your recommendations and books you have enjoyed to our class padlet.

Times tables practise- see website list in files below

The Top Marks website has a spelling and grammar section as well as the familiar Hit the Button which will provide useful pratice and consolidation of our classroom learning.

https://www.topmarks.co.uk/english-games/7-11-years/spelling-and-grammar

 

Possible trips & visitors

Following the success of last year's combined KS2 residential we are in the planning stages of this year's trip.

In Spring we hope to travel to Chester to explore it's Roman history through interactive workshops with the Grovenor Museum.

We will also be looking into further visits throughout the year linking to our curriculum.