Year 1
Welcome to year 1
The year 1 team for 2025/2026 consists of Miss Clarke/Mrs Johnson and Mrs Witts (1C) and Mrs Finch (1D), along with our teaching assistants Mrs Simpson, Mrs Randall, Mrs Goddard, Mrs Short, Ms Fazackerley, Mrs Billa-Patel, and Mrs Kelly.
PE lessons take place on Thursday and Friday (1C) and Wednesday and Friday (1D).
Curriculum summary
Knowledge organiser
Geography- what is it like to live here?
This half term, our young geographers are exploring the world starting right at their doorstep. Through answering the question “What is it like to live here?”, pupils are developing a deeper understanding of their place in the world—zooming out from their local town to the country, continent, and beyond.
Children are learning to identify and label key physical features of their local area, from rivers and hills to parks and buildings. They’re using maps, fieldwork, and creative thinking to connect geography with everyday life. As a highlight, pupils will channel their knowledge into designing a brand-new school playground—applying spatial awareness, environmental understanding, and a splash of imagination to reimagine a space that reflects their community.
This topic encourages curiosity, pride in place, and a sense of global connection—all while having fun and thinking like real-world planners and explorers.
Learning showcase
Year 1 have been having a fantastic time settling in to their new classrooms. They have been learning new routines, exploring the new learning areas and attended their first singing assembly!
Reading
Regular reading at home has a huge impact on children's overall academic and personal growth. This is because reading supports many areas of the curriculum and gives children opportunities to see different perspectives, settings and character experiences.
Because of the power that reading has, we encourage regular weekly reading. When you listen to your child read, it is truly beneficial if you ask questions to support their ability to retrieve and comprehend the information that they are reading. Ensuring that children understand what they are reading helps them not only in school, but in their own lives. Reading can have a long-lasting personal, social and emotional positive impact.
All children have a Bug Club account which they can access at home. It has a vast library of texts for the children to choose from and read. Additionally, it provides comprehension questions for them to answer as they go through the book. You can access Bug Club using the following link: https://www.activelearnprimary.co.uk/login?c=0
Please use the video guides below to help you understand the various elements involved in supporting their phonics development and knowing how to use the resources found on Bug Club:
all you need to know about phonics - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44mZZQfgkjY
how to use the website - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1R8xRz43PU
Phonics Screening Check
Information for parents about screening check -https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/676e908e517edf5c74c83728/Phonics_screening_check_information_for_parents.pdf
2023 Phonics Screen Check-https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6495b5d783131100132962d0/2023_phonics_pupils_materials_standard.pdf
Home learning
Children should be reading to an adult at least three times per week for at least 15/20 minutes each time. Reading can take place with either the book sent home from school or an allocated book on your child's Bug Club. Each book must be recorded in your child's reading record, including any e-books.
Children are expected to read with an adult at home at least three times per week. Children also have access to e-books via Bug Club using their personal log in details.
Each week, the children will take home a sheet with spellings on for them to practise.
Every child has their own Spelling Shed account where they can play spelling games to support their learning.
Spelling Shed website
Spelling Shed parent how to guide
Handwriting
