Welcome to Year 1

This year marks the beginning of Key Stage One.  The children continue to develop their independence and positive learning behaviours they have worked on during the Early Years.  We work hard to ensure all our children reach their full potential.

During the Summer Term in Year One, all children will take part in the statutory Phonics Screening Check. This is a 40 word reading test which is adminstered at school on a one to one basis with Mrs O'Keeffe and Mrs Elmore. All children will practise the test throughout the year in readiness for this and your child's class teacher will report on your child's progress during the second parent's meeting in the spring term. Please see the links below for more information on the Read Write Inc Phonics Programme and the Phonics Screening Check:

https://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/yBpXpyEs/x4BRdaQS  - What is Read Write Inc Phonics?

https://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/zbsDUBf3/m9CYdLNM - Understanding Phonics

https://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/yorKU5rS/TxX5mRPP  - How to say the sounds

https://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/cJzviynq/WDMf4bKg - The Phonics Screening Check

Year 1 is having a ‘Royal’ start in the spring term. Our theme is ‘Bright Lights, Big City’ and will focus upon our key driver topic Geography, along with much more! We will explore the countries that make up the United Kingdom, including their location, capital cities and some of their physical and human features.

Literacy will involve exploring texts including ‘Paddington at the Palace’, ‘Katie in London’ and The Town Mouse and the ‘Country Mouse.’ These texts will support us in building knowledge and skills in reading, writing, comprehension and grammar. We encourage you to share these stories with your children at home along with any others you may have that link to the topic.

In Maths Mastery we will be developing our mathematical skills and look at in-depth Time and calculation strategies within numbers to 20. We will then begin working on learning numbers to 50 towards the end of the half term. Greater depth learning will include explaining our answers in full sentences; solving word problems and investigating properties of numbers.

This half term your child will explore Islam in R.E, learning about the celebration of Milad un Nabi which commemorates the birth of the Prophet Muhammad. Our Charanga Music topic is ‘Exploring Sounds’, we will learn how music is made up of high and low sounds, long and short sounds, and loud and quiet sounds. We will also be thinking about how music makes the world a better place.

A typical day in Year 1 …..

8.35-9.00 Registration/ Fine Motor Skills/ Handwriting

9.00-10.00 RWI Phonics

10.00-10.30 Year 1 Literacy

10.30-11.00 Playtime/ Snack time

11.00-11.55 Maths Mastery

11.55-12.55 Lunch time

12.55-1.00 Register

1.00-1.15 Assembly

1.15-.2.00 Cornerstones Topic

2.00-2.15 Playtime

2.15-3.00 Cornerstones Topic

3.00-3.10 Story/Afternoon Phonics/ Hometime

Home Learning

Children are encouraged to read at home at least five times per week. Each week your child will be sent home with their current phonics group reading book. Along with this we encourage your children to learn the Y1 Common Exception Words, these are extremely important in supporting your child read fluently (see link below for Y1 Common Exception Words and/or stickers in your child's diary). 

Each week your child will be given a Maths Activity to complete at home, this will be sent out on a Thursday and should be completed and returned by the following Monday.

Year 1 Diary

Tuesday & Friday – Year 1 P.E kits needed. Please ensure all girls’ hair is tied back and earrings removed or covered. Thank you.

Meet the team…

Mrs Elmore -Class Teacher, Music Co-ordinator and RWI Phonics Lead

Mrs Millar- Class Teacher, Design and Technology Co-ordinator and KS1 Lead

Mrs Burke- Learning Support Assisstant