Welcome Robins, Swallows and Wrens!

Welcome to Year 1!

We are delighted to welcome your child to Year 1 and to another exciting year of learning, growing and discovering. Moving from Reception into Year 1 is a very special time as children become more independent, develop new skills and continue to build confidence in themselves as learners. We look forward to working closely with you to support your child throughout this exciting journey.

As children begin their journey through Key Stage 1, we will continue to encourage them to be Ready, Respectful and Safe. We will support the children to develop their independence, make positive choices, listen carefully and be kind and caring towards others. We celebrate children's efforts, achievements and progress so that every child feels valued and proud of what they can do.

English

This term, our key text will be the wonderful story Beegu by Alexis Deacon. Beegu is a little yellow creature who finds herself lost on Earth and is looking for somewhere to belong. Through this engaging story, the children will explore themes such as friendship, family, kindness, belonging and emotions.

Beegu will provide lots of opportunities for children to talk, listen, read and write. We will explore the characters and their feelings, learn new vocabulary and develop our storytelling skills. The children will have opportunities to write simple sentences, describe characters and settings, retell parts of the story and use their imagination to create their own ideas.

Children will also continue to take part in Read, Write, Inc. lessons four times a week. These sessions will help children to develop their phonics knowledge, blending and segmenting skills, reading fluency and confidence in writing.

Mathematics

In Mathematics, we will build on the strong foundations developed during Reception. Children will explore numbers and counting, develop their understanding of place value and begin to use addition and subtraction to solve problems. We will also explore shape, measure, patterns and mathematical relationships.

We will encourage children to use practical resources, drawings and mathematical language to explain their ideas. Most importantly, we want children to develop a positive attitude towards mathematics and feel confident to have a go, make mistakes and try again.

Foundation Subjects

In History, the children will learn about significant individuals who have made an important contribution to space exploration. They will discover the story of Neil Armstrong, the first person to walk on the Moon, and learn about Jessica Watkins, a scientist and astronaut who has travelled into space and worked aboard the International Space Station. The children will explore what life was like in the past, compare the experiences of astronauts and consider how space exploration has changed over time.

During October, we will celebrate Black History Month, learning about inspiring Black people and their achievements and contributions to society.

In Art, the children will explore line drawing. They will experiment with different types of lines, including straight, curved, wavy, zigzag and thick and thin lines. Using a range of drawing materials, children will develop their pencil control and learn how lines can be used to create shapes, patterns, textures and pictures. Inspired by the work of Joan Miró, they will have opportunities to use their imagination to create their own drawings and develop their confidence in expressing ideas through art.

In Science, we will learn about humans and our five senses. Children will identify and name the five senses — sight, hearing, smell, taste and touch — and explore how different parts of our bodies help us to experience the world around us. Through practical activities and investigations, children will have opportunities to use their senses, make observations, ask questions and talk about what they discover.

Support at Home

To support your child’s learning at home, we ask that you:

• Read with your child every day and talk about the stories you share.
• Practise the sounds and words sent home as part of our phonics programme.
• Encourage your child to talk about their day, feelings, experiences and interests.
• Encourage your child to practise writing letters, words and simple sentences.

Thank you for your continued support as your child begins this exciting new chapter. Just like Beegu, our children are beginning a new journey, discovering new places, making new friendships and finding their own special place within our school community. By working together, we can help every child to feel happy, confident, safe and ready to learn. We are very excited about the year ahead and look forward to sharing many wonderful moments, discoveries and achievements with you.

Should you ever wish to contact us by email, our address is: year1@whitehallschool.org

Yours sincerely,

Miss Wright, Mrs Ahmed, Mrs Mulvhill and Mrs Bains

Year 1 Class Teachers