Welcome to Year 1
Staff: Miss Brimelow, Mrs Smillie and Miss Cooper
In Year 1, we strive to be the best we can be! We have an inclusive, respectful classroom environment which is both engaging and stimulating; allowing every child to achieve their full potential. Our school values of “Respect, Ambition and Pride” permeate the classroom environment.
We have a broad and balanced curriculum, rich in creativity. The children learn through a subject based curriculum, based on the National Curriculum. All lessons are engaging and adaptable to the interest of the children, fostering their natural curiosity. We aim to further develop existing skills and apply them in a practical way, whilst learning lots of new skills needed for their year group.
To support children with the transition from Reception to Year 1, we continue to implement continuous provision in the Autumn term. After this time, we use challenge based continuous provision opportunities alongside our lessons. We understand that learning is a personal journey and unique for each individual child. Children are provided with support to develop the skills needed to meet learning objectives. We scaffold learning to meet the needs of the child through the use of creative and interactive lessons. We ensure that we promote a love of learning, all lessons taught are engaging and challenging.
In Year 1, the children will take their phonics screening test which tests the children’s abilities to segment and blend words. The children will be given 20 real words and 20 nonsense words to read and the test will be monitored by their class teacher. Throughout Year 1, children will have daily phonics lessons to best prepare them for the Phonics screening and to support with reading and writing. This can be supported at home by regular reading and encouraging the children to recognise the sounds needed to read and write words.
We have a reading rich curriculum and develop a passion for reading through regular reading opportunities. The children have access to the classroom library at all times and also visit the school library weekly. As teachers, we enjoy sharing enthralling texts that capture the imaginations of all children and adults alike and we recommend books for children to read in our reading area.
We ensure that verbal and written feedback is provided and is meaningful to the child. We use “live marking” to ensure that children are aware of the feedback and that it is purposeful to them. Children are given “Fix It” time to amend any mistakes and respond to feedback. Children are also provided with regular “Gold Star” challenges to give them the opportunity to apply their learning in a variety of different contexts.
Children are provided with Enrichment Experiences throughout the year which allows opportunities for children to explore the wider world around them. These experiences aim to show progressive skills from Nursery to Year 6. We utilise our Beach School status to ensure that the children have ample opportunities to visit the beach throughout the year, across all seasons.
How can I support my child’s learning at home?
Children are expected to read daily and are sent home with a reading journal and school reading book. The children also have an opportunity to visit the library once a week where they can choose their own books to read at home.
Children should also be regularly practising their phonics sounds at home to support children with confidently recognising and recalling their sounds. To encourage and engage the children in cross curricular challenge, subject specific half termly homework is also set; the children can choose the challenges that they wish to complete. The homework challenges are sent home the first week of each half term.
We will post frequent updates throughout our learning journey on our school’s Facebook page too!
Thank you for your support!
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Year 1 Curriculum Overview |
Links to Learning:
- Phonics play - PhonicsPlay - Resources
- Phonics bloom - Phonics Games for the Classroom and Home - Phonics Bloom