In Year 1 Maple, we are a team who learn, play, and grow together. We love discovering new things and enjoy taking on fun and exciting challenges. We are proud to be part of this class, and we are known across Key Stage 1 for being polite, hardworking, and respectful.
We follow our three school rules:
– Be Ready
– Be Respectful
– Be Safe
Our learning takes place in lots of different ways – through whole-class teaching, small group activities, and independent work in provision areas. Our wider curriculum is filled with exciting opportunities to explore history, geography, science, art, PE, DT, music, RE, and PSHE. These lessons are always hands-on, engaging, and linked to our class themes. We record and celebrate our curriculum learning in our class floorbook and our spiritual scrapbook, which showcase the wonderful things we achieve together.
Phonics and Reading in Year 1
Phonics is the foundation of how we learn to read, and reading is the key that unlocks learning across every subject. That’s why phonics plays such an important role in Year 1. In the summer term, all children across the country complete the Phonics Screening Check. This involves decoding 40 words using their phonic knowledge. Throughout the year, we will share lots of information to make sure every child feels confident and ready to do their very best in this statutory assessment.
We work hard in our daily Read Write Inc. phonics lessons. Each 45-minute session includes a speed soundactivity and a group reading session. These lessons help us to become “phonics superstars” by building speed, fluency, and confidence — skills that will support us all the way through school.
Every child has a reading book that matches their current phonics stage. Alongside the book we read in class, children also take home:
- A Book Bag Book – carefully chosen to practise the same skills learned in lessons.
- A Reading for Pleasure Book – a story to enjoy together as a family at any time.
Book bags, containing these books, should come into school every day so children can practise both at home and in class. Books are changed every Monday.
We also have some year group focus authors who we learn more about throughout the year. These are:
– Autumn: Julia Donaldson
– Spring: Janet & Allan Ahlberg
– Summer: Kes Gray
We love going outside and learning through play. We are very lucky to have our own outdoor area, including a large-scale construction area and an outdoor reading shed.
Over the year we plan lots of exciting active learning opportunities. This year we are planning a walk of our local area, a trip to Eureka and a trip to a toy museum! There will be lots more activities planned later in the year so check back to see what they are!
When we work hard and do the right thing, we earn Dojo points which we can save up and exchange for fun and exciting activities such as an arts and crafts session or an ice cream parlour experience.
Our PE days are:
– Outdoor PE on Tuesday– Indoor PE on Wednesday
We need to have our PE kit in school on these days, our kit should include:
