Welcome to Year 1!
In Year One, we build on the progress already made in Early Years. We develop key learning skills that help us to be independent learners with a 'can-do' attitude. Throughout the academic year, we develop our learning through creative and stimulating themes incorporating outdoor learning, drama and exciting experiences.
In Year 1, there are two classes and they are:
- Hedgehog Class : Mrs Armeni
- Foxes Class: Mrs Daubney and Mrs Rhodes
The KS1 Phase Lead is Mrs Daubney (Foxes Class).
As the academic year progresses, we will add more information about the children's learning so please check back regularly to stay up to date!
If you would like to discuss anything in respect of your child, please contact your child's class teacher.
Thank you!
Year 1 Team
Each term, there is a Curriculum Overview explaining the different areas your child will be exploring throughout the term. There are also Knowledge Organisers which can be used to support your child's learning.
Phonics Information
In our Phonics, we use Unlocking Letters and Sounds to deliver high quality Phonics lessons. Each lesson follows a key process to ensure children are successful in their learning. The lesson begins with a revision session (to revise pervious learning) and then new learning is introduced. The children are then given opportunities to read and write words linked to the new learning and then read a sentence where this learning is applied. Throughout the day, they are then provided with opportunities in all areas to 'bump' into their learning. This includes opportunities in Guided Reading, Provision and Adult Led Activities.
During Year 1, we focus a great deal of our learning on being able to read and use phonics sounds. By the end of Year 1, we are aiming for children to be secure in using all the sounds from Level 2- Level 5 in their reading. One of the best ways of becoming secure in these sounds is using flashcards daily.
This tab has a range of different games and websites you could use at home to support your child's learning.
- White Rose Home Learning - The White Rose Website is full of daily lessons for each year group which you can use with your child.
- Daily 10 - This is a fantastic activity which allows children to practise different areas of maths and allow children to develop their skills.
- BBC Bitesize KS1 - BBC Bitesize has lots of different activities you can complete at home.
- Underwater Counting - This activity will support children with their counting.
This year, Year 1 children throughout the country will be taking the Phonics Screening Check in June. The phonics screening check is a quick and easy check of your child’s phonics knowledge. It helps us confirm whether your child has made the expected progress.
What happens during the screening?
The test is conducted in a 1:1 basis and there is no time limit for this. Your child will sit with a teacher he or she knows and be asked to read 40 words aloud. Your child may have read some of the words before, while others will be completely new. The check is expected to take just a few minutes to complete and there is no time limit. If your child is struggling, the teacher will stop the check. The screen will include no more than 40 ‘words’. The words are split into real words and alien words. Your child will be able to identify an alien word from the alien next to each words. The alien words provide an element of fun to the test as well as testing your children application of Phonics for decoding.
When is the Year 1 Phonics Screening?
The Phonics Test takes place in the second week of June. It is during Term 6 (the second half of the Summer Term) towards the end of Year 1.
How will the test be conducted?
As educators, we do not have access to the Phonics Screening Check word until the morning of the first day of the screening week in June. The test itself will be carried out by your child’s class teacher. Each child will take their test individually.
What is the pass mark?
In order to meet the expected standard, your child must be able to read 32 or more of the 40 words on the screening test.
What happens if my child does not reach the pass mark?
If your child does not reach the expected standard in this test, please do not panic! The check is used as a way to assess possible learning needs. This will allow them to identify any support your child will need and implement this throughout Year 2. They will then be given another opportunity to take the test at the end of Year 2.
How can I support my child’s Phonics at home?
There are lots of different ways you can support your child at home. Here are some different ideas and activities you could use at home.
- Play lots of sound and listening games with your child.
- Read as much as possible to and with your child.
- Encourage and praise - get them to have a ‘good guess’.
- If your child is struggling to decode a word, help them by encouraging them to say each sound in the word from left to right.
- Blend the sounds by pointing to each letter, e.g. /c/ in cat, or the letter group, e.g. /ng/ in sing. Next move your finger under the whole word as you say it.
- Discuss the meaning of words if your child does not know what they have read.
Another way you can support your child at home, is to practise the sound they are unsure of. Your child’s teacher has sent home a letter with specific sounds identified for your child. Your child has previously been given flashcards which you can use at home to support this. If you require any of the resources again, please speak to your child’s teacher and they can provide you with more.