Year 1 is an important year in KS1 because it is when the children will complete the Year 1 phonics screening. This takes place in June and there will be more information nearer the time about how you can help your child at home.

In Maths this term, we are learning all about place value. We are exploring our numbers to 10 and practicing counting forwards and backwards, using practical resources with lots of games and songs. We are also starting to look at how we can compare and group numbers, recognising that some are bigger or smaller than others. We will be focusing on our number formation.

In English, we focus on the story ‘Owl Babies’. We have learnt to retell the story. We will create a lost poster and will be learning about describing words or adjectives.  We also are learning about how to create a list of instructions that will need a time connective like first, next, then and finally at the beginning. We will be learning about fact files and non-fiction texts about owls and woodland creatures.

  We are learning to write sentences that includes a capital letter, finger spaces in between words and a full stop at the end.

After October half term, we will send spellings home each week. Some are linked to a spelling rule and some are based around our topic for the term. These are tested each week on a Wednesday so make sure you practise!

This term, we will focus on our picture ‘Starry Night’ to help us explore a range of topics in our foundation learning.

In History we will be exploring living memory focusing on our own family tree and memories. In Geography we will begin to explore maps through looking at our school grounds. RE we will be focusing on a range of different religious festivals.

Parental involvement is key in the learning of phonics and reading. Your child will be given a decodable book that matches their secure phonics knowledge, which contains the *graphemes and phonemes they have learned during their daily phonics lessons. The decodable book is to be read by the child with the encouragement of an adult.

In addition to a decodable book, your child will choose a sharing book to promote reading for pleasure. The sharing book is for the child to read and to be read to by an adult. It is not essential that your child is able to read this book fluently. This book is for enjoyment.

It is important to read with your child every day. We ask that the decodable book is read at least three times before being changed to develop 100% fluency. The National Curriculum suggests “Children re-read these books to build up their fluency and confidence in word reading.” (English programmes of study: key stages 1 and 2 National curriculum in England, 2014).

Children’s reading books will be changed on Monday and Thursday. The books should be sent to school every day. After reading with your child, it is important that you record it in their reading diaries each time in order for the adults at school to change them.

Please click here for more information from the phonics section of our website.

Also, to help your child in class, please remember the following:

• Practise counting forwards and backwards from 0 -10 and writing these numbers.
• Practise weekly spellings so they are ready for the test on Wednesday mornings. (After October Half Term)
• Ensure that your child comes to school in correct uniform and with correct PE Kit.

Other routines are as follows:

Beech class PE: Wednesdays Birch class PE: Wednesdays.

Spellings due in on Wednesdays. (After half term)

Year Group Routines & Timetables

Beech class PE: Wednesdays 

Birch class PE: Wednesdays

Spellings due in on Wednesdays.

(After half term)

Phonics videos of teachings introducing our phoneme actions and rhymes

https://www.southmeadschool.co.uk/learning/phonics-at-southmead/ 

Phonics Play: Free to use during lockdown!

https://www.phonicsplay.co.uk/resources/phase/3  

Topmarks:

https://www.topmarks.co.uk/Search.aspx?q=phonics%20games%20year%201  

Number blocks episodes that we teach alongside our maths learning:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/shows/numberblocks 

Interactive maths resources:

https://www.didax.com/math/virtual-manipulatives.html 

Free e-books for home learning – Oxford Owl

https://www.oxfordowl.co.uk/for-home/find-a-book/library-page/ 

Cosmic Kids – mindfulness & yoga

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5uIZ2KOZZeQDQo_Gsi_qbQ

June – Year 1 Phonics Check

Please click here to access the school calendar

Please click here for information regarding term dates

See below to view the UNCRC (United Nations Convention of the Rights of the Child) Articles which are learned, practised, respected, protected and promoted at Southmead. Please click on the image below to find out more.