Welcome to Upper Key Stage Two!

    Respect   Relationships   Resilient   Reflective   Responsible

Click here to see our achievements page! 

Meet our team!

A very warm welcome to Upper School from us all. 

The following page will  hopefully provide you with as much information as possible. However, if you ever have any problems, concerns or questions, please see a member of the team at the beginning or end of the school day; or by phoning the school office.

Here at Broomhill, we have an open door policy and welcome parents into school. 

We are all looking forward to a brilliant year with the children!

Welcome!

Children are now in upper KS2 and as well as getting ready for new challenges, they will now become role models for our younger children. Throughout the year, the children will be exploring a variety of exciting and engaging cross-curricular topics including: Scream Machine, Pharaohs, Stargazers, Sow, Grow and Farm and Firedamp and Davy Lamps. 

Our Current Topic: Sow, Grow and Farm

In the Sow, Grow and Farm project, your child will learn about allotments in the United Kingdom and how the government encouraged people to have them to support food rationing during the Second World War. They will learn about food webs and animal life cycles, including how living things are dependent on one another within a habitat. They will investigate the different ways that plants reproduce and will dissect flowering plants to identify the different structures. They will have the opportunity to learn about farming in the United Kingdom and the techniques used in modern farming, including the challenges that farmers face. They will learn about the benefits of eating seasonally and about the pros and cons of importing food. They will also learn about world farming and how the different climate zones affect where different foods can be grown.

Our Focus Text

Throughout the topic, we be reading Cosmic, by Frank Cottrell-Boyce.  

Comic and cosmic, this is a roller coaster adventure that takes Liam Digby up into space with a handful of other children and their parents. It’s an hilarious journey of discovery as Liam hurtles around the world finding out exactly what makes children and adults different.

Themes to look out for:

·  Growing Up & Maturity – Liam, the protagonist, is mistaken for an adult, leading to questions about what it truly means to be grown up.

·  Parent-Child Relationships – The novel examines the role of parents, responsibility, and the challenges of both childhood and parenthood.

·  Adventure & Discovery – A central theme is curiosity and the excitement (and dangers) of exploring the unknown.

·  Identity & Belonging – Liam struggles with being treated differently because of his height and questions where he fits in.

·  Friendship & Teamwork – The relationships between the children and how they work together in space are important.

·  Technology & Space Exploration – The novel raises discussions about space travel, science, and human ambition.

Sow, Grow and Farm Information

Homework

All of the topics in UKS2 have a Creative Homework Project linked to them, which will give your child the opportunity to showcase their talents, strengths and interests. This will be shared on ClassDojo every Friday to be completed by the following Friday. The Creative Homework directly links to what is being taught the following week after it has been handed in.  

Homework expectations:

-We expect children to read as much as possible. Children in UKS2 should be reading daily at home. 

-Children are given a spelling test weekly (every Thursday or Friday), so we expect children to practise their spellings at home. We have two practice sessions in school to support children with learning their spellings. Spelling lists are posted below (half-termly), as well as on their class page on ClassDojo. 

-In UKS2, children should already know all of their times tables. We do recommend that children practise these as much as possible. Your child will have a Times Table Rockstar login to practise these at home. This website has proved to be very popular and practise makes perfect when it comes to times tables!

-In addition to this, we will set an optional piece of English and Maths homework each week using an online platform called Learning by Questions. The link to this website will be set every Monday and Tuesday evening and will be shared on ClassDojo. 

These are the upcoming spellings for the children. Please check ClassDojo for the dates, as they change depending on our curriculum for that week. 

At Broomhill, we follow the the Spelling Shed's approach to spelling. This can be accessed at home, using the following link: Spelling Shed. 

Your child will have a Spelling Shed log in and password to access the programme. 

Here are the latest and upcoming spelling lists. 

Class Dojo

Please support your child and the school with their behaviour and news by signing up to ClassDojo. 

You can do this here at https://www.classdojo.com. 

We use ClassDojo daily to communicate with you. By using the app, we can provide your child with positive points for a variety of reasons. It also allows us to instantly share messages, updates, photographs and your child's success within the classroom. 

If you have not signed up already, please request a code from your child's class teacher to see all the benefits. 

Attendance

Your child will know Mr BY's famous phrase 'The more children are in school, the more they are learning'. Our aim is for children's attendance to be at least 97%.

Within school, we regularly celebrate attendance with the children. 

Here is the current attendance, for the academic year of 2024-2025, as of 23/04/2025 

Class 6: 95%

Class 7: 93%

Class 8: 96%

Class 9: 94%

Class 10: 94%

We appreciate your continued support. 

Project Evolve in Schools: What is it and Why It Matters

What is Project EVOLVE?
Project EVOLVE is an educational framework designed to help children develop essential digital literacy and online safety skills. It aligns with the UK’s Education for a Connected World framework, providing age-appropriate lessons, activities, and resources that cover a wide range of online topics. The program focuses on helping children navigate the digital world responsibly, safely, and confidently.

In schools, Project EVOLVE lessons address areas such as:

• Online relationships and communication
• Privacy and security
• Digital footprints and online reputation
• Cyberbullying and online harm
• Managing information and recognizing misinformation
• Well-being and the impact of technology

Why Do We Use Project EVOLVE?

1. Promotes Digital Safety:
   With children spending more time online, Project EVOLVE equips them with the knowledge and skills to stay safe, avoid risks, and make informed decisions.
2. Builds Resilience:
   It helps children understand how to respond to challenges like online bullying, misinformation, or peer pressure.
3. Encourages Positive Digital Habits:
   Lessons foster responsible use of technology, emphasizing the importance of balance and well-being in a digital age.
4. Prepares for the Future:
   As digital skills become increasingly critical in education and careers, Project EVOLVE lays the foundation for lifelong learning and digital citizenship.
5. Supports the Curriculum:
   The program integrates seamlessly with SEAL and computing curricula, ensuring that children receive a well-rounded education.
6. Empowers Educators and Families:
   The platform provides resources for teachers and guidance for parents to support children’s online development both in school and at home.

By incorporating Project EVOLVE into our teaching, we aim to empower children to make safe, positive, and informed choices in the ever-evolving digital world.

Please see below an overview of our computing curriculum, which is supported by Project EVOLVE. 

Furthermore, we will be having an extra focus on one of our 5R's. Our focused 5R throughout this topic is RESILIENT. We will reflect on our Broomhill journey, attitudes and behaviour. 

If you would like anymore information regarding SEAL, please see the following link https://www.theschoolrun.com/what-primary-seal

Physical Education

A high-quality physical education curriculum inspires all pupils to succeed and excel in competitive sport and other physically-demanding activities.  It should provide opportunities for pupils to become physically confident in a way which supports their health and fitness.  Opportunities to compete in sport and other activities build character and help to embed values such as fairness and respect.

Every child at Broomhill Junior School participates in at least 2 hours of physical education (P.E) a week. Furthermore, we also encourage the children to participate in completing 'The Daily Mile' and/or similar physical activities. Because of this, we please ask that you ensure P.E kits are kept in school all week (including a change of outdoor trainers). 

Please see the link below to access the document relating to children wearing the correct physical education uniform.

Our current topics and days are: 

Dance and Netball

Class 6: Tuesday and Wednesday

Class 7: Monday and Friday

Class 8: Monday and Wednesday 

Class 9: Monday and Wednesday 

Class 10: Monday and Thursday 

Year 5 will also be swimming throughout the whole year, with half of the year group going for a term and a half, and the other half of the year group for the other term and a half. 

Group 1:  Starts on Thursday the 12th of September and ends on Thursday the 13th of February.

Group 2:  Starts on Thursday the 6th of March and ends on Thursday the 24th of July. 

There will be no swimming on Thursday the 12th of December, Thursday the 19th of December 2024 and on Thursday the 27th of February 2025, due to staff training for the coaches and a swimming gala event. 

SEAL and our 5R's

Every week, children participate in a SEAL lesson. 

Social and emotional aspects of learning (SEAL) is a comprehensive, whole-school approach to promoting the social and emotional skills that underpin effective learning, positive behaviour, regular attendance, staff effectiveness and the emotional health and well-being of all who learn and work in schools.

During this half term, the whole school will be focusing on 'Relationships'

SEAL Topic: Relationships

This half-term, our SEAL (Social and Emotional Aspects of Learning) focus is on Relationships. In UKS2, children begin to form more complex friendships and peer groups, and it’s important they learn to navigate these positively and respectfully.

Key Learning Areas for Children:

• Recognising Different Relationships – Understanding the different types of relationships we have (family, friends, classmates, online friends) and what makes them healthy.

• Dealing with Change and Loss – Managing feelings around changes in friendships, moving schools, or losing a pet or loved one.

• Managing Emotions in Relationships – Recognising feelings such as jealousy, loneliness, or frustration, and developing positive ways to respond.

• Valuing Differences – Appreciating that we may not always agree with others, but can still show respect and kindness.

• Offering Support and Asking for Help – Knowing when and how to support a friend, and when it’s okay to ask for help.

How Parents Can Support at Home:

• Talk About Relationships – Share your own experiences of friendships and family relationships when you were their age.

• Model Respectful Behaviour – Show children how to listen, disagree kindly, and support others during tricky moments.

• Discuss Managing Big Feelings – Help children recognise when they’re feeling upset or left out, and suggest positive ways to cope.

• Encourage Inclusivity – Talk about how it feels to be left out and how small actions can make a big difference to others.

• Practice Conversations – Role-play situations like standing up for a friend, apologising, or explaining feelings calmly.

Discussion Starters for Home:

• “What makes someone a good friend or classmate?”

• “Have you ever had to make up with a friend? How did it feel?”

• “What would you do if you saw someone being left out?”

• “Who makes you feel supported at school and why?”

• “How do you show you care about your friends?”

By working together, we can help our children build positive, caring, and lasting relationships — and equip them with the tools they need to manage emotions and challenges along the way.

Learning From Home

We have put together some links to online resources that can support children learning at home.

Parents- We would ask that Parents consider how to keep children safe when they are online. NSPCC has some fantastic guidance available here: https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/online-safety/.  We would recommend setting parental controls on any devices and keep an eye on your child's history. 

Children- just a reminder if you ever see anything that makes you uncomfortable please speak to an adult. This website is brilliant for learning about how to keep yourself safe https://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/ - there are even games!

Every child has been given a login for LBQ. They will have work set every Monday and Tuesday, sent via Class Dojo.

Reading for Pleasure

We have produced some suggested reading lists for each year group which might be helpful to provide high quality texts at home for your child.

Audible stories Audible are now offering children free audio books whilst schools are closed.

www.getepic.com (hundreds of free books to read on line)

Maths Games

• TT Rock stars - you will need your school login

• White Rose Maths Select your year group to view videos and activities to complete

• Maths games- all age maths zone

• Year 1 and 2 Maths games Top marks

• Maths games KS2 top marks
• Numberblocks episodes
• https://nrich.maths.org/ - Welcome to the home of rich Mathematics
• www.edshed.com/en-gb
• https://numbots.com/
• https://www.transum.org/

English Games

• Phonics play- Infant 1 and 2 phonics games Username: march20 password: home

• Phonics and Letter formation - Infant 1 Miss Emma

• English games top marks

• Alphablocks- episodes

• Phonics games- Woodlands literacy zone

• English junior games top marks

• Junior writing prompts Literacy shed
• Pobble365 – writing challenges

• World e-books Wide range of e-books all available free
• https://www.teachwire.net/news/5-of-the-best-online-grammar-games-for-ks2-english
• www.oxfordowl.co.uk/for-home
• www.storylineonline.net/
• www.onceuponapicture.co.uk (images and questions to inspire writing)

Topic Games/ Useful Websites

• https://www.bbc.co.uk/teach - Free curriculum-mapped videos for your classroom, arranged by subject and age-group; Live Lessons presented by top BBC talent; educational campaigns including Super Movers and Bring the Noise.
• www.dkfindout.com/uk
• www.natgeokids.com/uk/ (geography activities)
• Scholastic classroom - infant 1 A different book, video and activity ideas for every day

• Scholastic classroom- infant 2 A different book, video and activity ideas for every day

• Scholastic classroom Junior 1 A different book, video and activity ideas for every day

• Scholastic classroom Junior 2 A different book, video and activity ideas for every day

• Researchify To research any topic!

• Homework help for kids Geography, History, Art and RE useful information

• BBC bitesize - Infants Fun activities and games for every part of the curriculum

• BBC bitesize- Juniors Information and games about all the different subjects we cover at school

• Home learning padlet A padlet with ever growing list of further links

• Rock Steady Music resources
• https://www.robinhoodmat.co.uk/learning-projects/ (lots of projects for all key stages)
• http://www.lcfclubs.com/ (French games, English games and grammar activities. Use the password LCF2020sch to create a single user account)
• https://www.tts-group.co.uk/home+learning+activities.html

Staying active is really important, but harder if you’re having to try and stay away from others. Here are some websites that might help.

• Joe Wicks Home workouts for kids

• Change 4 life10 minute shake up activities

• Cosmic yoga Home yoga exercises

• Fit kids club Exercise videos currently free (normally on demand)

Our Wonderful Classrooms

Our Values

At Broomhill, we all follow the 5Rs; Resect, Relationships, Responsible, Reflective and Resilient. Here are some examples of our work based on these 5Rs.

Anti-Bullying

Anti-bullying at Broomhill; All classrooms have this Anti-bullying poster displayed, which has been designed by some of our children. Every year, Anti-bullying is marked by having themed lessons as part of our SEAL work and where appropriate, English work. 

National Curriculum Spellings

Curriculum Yearly Overview

Please see below our curriculum overview for the year. 

Curriculum Fliers for the Year

Here are the curriculum fliers for this academic year. Please note, these are subject to change, as we get closer to the topics. This is due to us constantly changing and adapting our curriculum to meet the children's needs. 

Useful Links