Welcome to Year 1
We hope you find this information useful and enjoy having a look at some of the exciting activities and opportunities that take place in Year One!
Moving into Year 1 can be a big step for children, to ensure your child transitions happily and confidently into year 1 we:
- have a large outdoor area with sandpit, mud kitchen, performance area and ‘assault course’
- provide opportunities for children to access provision independently
- move gradually to a more formal approach
English
On entry into year one, the children are assessed on their current phonics level and are grouped accordingly. Phonics is taught daily following the ‘Read, Write Inc’ programme. Reading books that follow the sounds taught in school will be given to your child to read at home. We will listen to your child read these books in school and they are changed weekly or when your child can read them confidently and fluently. Bookmarks with common exception words will also be sent home and checked regularly.
Oracy
We started the year focusing on oracy skills, the children were encouraged to use different tones of voices and gestures to enhance the delivery of their description of their favourite toy.
Maths
In Maths we follow the ‘Maths Mastery’ approach. Your child will have the opportunity to learn using concrete, pictorial and abstract representations. We encourage the children to think critically and to work independently. During the Autumn Term we will cover:
Place value (within 10) – sorting and counting objects, recognising numbers as words, finding 1 more and 1 less, counting forwards and backwards to and from 10, using the language of comparison (greater than, less than and equal to) and the number line.
Addition and subtraction – part whole model, fact families and number bonds to 10 and simple addition and subtraction.
Shape – recognising and naming 2d and 3d shapes and finding patterns
Science
In Science our first unit of work is ‘Everyday Materials’ in which we identify, group and compare different materials using a variety of properties. We then find out more about seasonal change in Autumn in plants, animals and weather.
History
Our History unit of work answers the key question, ‘Can I identify and discuss a significant building in my locality?’ Our significant building is the Bowes Museum and we will be discovering when it was built and how it has changed over time. In our outdoor area we now have our very own museum! We will be using the museum to help us to understand the passage of time and to help us to construct a picture of the past.
Geography
In Geography we answer the key question, ‘What is my school and its surroundings like?’ As part of this we will: go on a hunt to find different buildings in the school grounds; label maps and aerial photographs of the school and the Bowes Museum and we will look for similarities and differences between aerial photographs.
R.E
Our RE focus in Autumn is on Christianity, we begin by finding out more about Harvest festival and then we consider the different gifts that are given by Christians at Christmas and why these gifts are given.
Outdoor Ed
Our first unit of work is ‘Den building’ we will be making mini lean to dens in the first half of the term and then we will be using the fire pit!
Outdoor Ed takes place weekly on a Tuesday afternoon. We will go outside in all weathers so please ensure your child has appropriate clothing on that day.
P.E
This term we focus on invasion skills and dance.
Children come to School in their P.E kits – school t-shirt with blue shorts/leggings/jogging bottoms and school jumper. If your child has long hair it should be tied out of the way and earrings should be removed or taped over. P.E takes place on a Thursday afternoon.
Music
We follow the Sing Up scheme of work. Our first unit of work is ‘The King is in the Castle’ followed by preparation for Christmas!
Computing
In our first unit of work the children will become more familiar with the different components of a computer by developing their keyboard and mouse skills, and also start to consider how to use technology responsibly. We will then explore the world of digital art and its exciting range of creative tools; creating their own paintings, while getting inspiration from a range of other artists.
Art
Art takes place in Autumn 2. We begin with a focus on drawing skills and finish with a whole school art project – drawing their own shoe. We then get into the festive spirit by designing new Christmas outfits for a party!
D.T
Art takes place in Autumn 2. Details to follow.
