Year 1 Phonics

In Year 1 we are revisiting our learning from Reception. We have been practising key blending and segmenting skills in our reading and writing. We have been practising writing sentences by breaking our sentences up into words and sounding out each word out carefully. We have discussed different words endings such as -s -ing and -ed. In reading we are working on fast blending words and reading sentences fluently without stopping to sound out words we have seen before.

The children are showing much more confidence and enjoyment towards their phonics learning and we are really pleased with how they are settling into our routines in class.

This week we have focussed on the /ear/ trigraph. Can you read these words?

If you want an extra challenge can you spell the words/sentence without looking?

If you are unsure how to help your child at home with their phonics learning then we have a phonics drop in session on Tuesday 24th September at 3pm in the school hall where class teachers will be available to demonstrate how children learn phonics in school and how you can help at home. Next term we will also be inviting parents to take part in your child’s phonics session in class so you can see how your child learns in school! We hope you can join us!

Year 1: Numbots

This week your child will be introduced to ‘Numbots’. Once we have introduced this in school your child will bring home their log-in details. Numbots is an app that will help your child to develop their mathematical skills. NumBots is all about every child achieving the “triple win” of understanding, recall and fluency in mental addition and subtraction, so that they move from counting to calculating. 

Last year we saw some amazing progress from the children who regularly played on the Numbots app. Children play games to move through levels and collect parts for their robots.

We thoroughly recommend this app to all children regardless of their current skill level. Although the first few levels appear to be easy for some children the levels will get increasingly harder. We would recommend using this app little and often. We would suggest around 3-4 minutes per day for as many days as is manageable for you as a family.

Teachers will be able to track your child’s progress as they access the app. Although your child may need you close by to explain the activity, please do not be temped to tell your child the answer. The levels are designed to build your child’s knowledge and quick recall skills and if they do not do this themselves they will find their learning difficult later. Please do not allow siblings to log in and play as your child. If your child shares a device then please ensure they are logged out when they have finished playing.

If you have any questions or concerns please contact your child’s class teacher. 

Thank you,

Miss Schon and Miss Rodgers

Useful information for parents:

Class 5 Achievements

Last week some of our children took part in their first Martial Arts grading. These children attend Nathan Pickles Martial Arts which we are very lucky to hold in our school hall. The children have been working hard over the past few months and were awarded their first colour belt. Well done to Phoebe, Dax and Addison who are now the proud owners of their orange belts!

Design a library!

This year, we are working hard to raise money to develop our reading for pleasure library so firstly, we would like to say a huge thank you for all your sponsors from the colour run which will go along way to helping us!

Secondly, we still need your help! We would love for you to help us design the library based on the space we have to use which is the foyer area near the hall.

Please design your ideal library and share your plans with Miss Knowles in person or at [email protected] This is for everyone across school to get involved in! Please send your plans by 7th October.

We can’t wait to see your fantastic ideas which will help us design the perfect library!

Class 5 PE

We had lots of fun in our extra PE session with Coach Morgan on Friday. The children’s behaviour and attitude was excellent and it was lovely to see their skills developing throughout the lesson. Eli was chosen as Coach Morgan’s star of the day and Bella was chosen as mine. Both children put lots of effort into improving their movements and there was clear progress from the beginning to the end of the lesson!

It was also fabulous to see the children looking so smart in their PE kits! A lot of time and effort went into ensuring children’s clothing did not get mixed up but please could we request that all PE items are labelled with the children’s name to help us with this. Also please could we request that children are wearing their white T-Shirts for their school uniform and green T-Shirts for PE only as stated in the school uniform policy as this really helps us to check that children have the correct clothing packed away after our PE sessions.

I am already looking forward to our next PE session in Thursday! Please remember to return PE kits on Monday’s ready for our PE lesson later in the week. We only require indoor kits for the time being – Green T Shirt, Black Shorts and a change of shoes (pumps or trainers).

I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all the parents of children in Class 5 for being so organised and ensuring children bring their backpacks, water bottles etc into school each day as it is really helping us to keep everyones belongings organised in school.

Year 1: Reading Challenge

In Year 1 the children take part in our KS1 reading challenge. You will notice that your child has a 100 square in the front of their reading diary. Every time your child reads at home please place a comment in their reading diary. The staff in school will then mark off the number of reads your child has completed on the 100 square. Your child will receive rewards in assembly when they complete 30, 70 and 100 reads!

We understand that reading at home can be a challenge and some children may find it hard to engage. We will help to encourage children in school to feel confident in their own abilities and to be motivated towards reaching their next reward. Every classroom will have a reading challenge display that the children will move along to show their progress.

We encourage children to find the joy in reading. If your child finds it difficult to engage at home then please keep reading sessions little and often until they build up their stamina and enjoyment. Your child does not have to read the whole book in one go to be rewarded – even just a few pages will do!

Your child will also receive a phonics homework sheet each week. Reading the words on their phonics homework sheet will also count as one read so please write this in your child’s reading diary each time they practise reading the words. Your child can practise the same sheet several times over the week to build up their number of reads.

Please ensure your child brings their reading books back to school on a weekly basis so that we can help to keep children motivated and engaged. Reading books will be changed on Tuesdays and Fridays only. If your child’s books are handed in on any other day they will be changed on the next changing day. Your child will need to place their books in the changing box in order for the books to be changed. The class teacher will always remind children to place their books in the box on book changing days.

If you have any questions or concerns about your child’s reading please contact your child’s teacher asap. This way we can work together to help your child to reach their goals.

Thank you,

Miss Schon and Miss Rodgers

Key stage 1 crew assembly

This was our first key stage 1 crew assembly and it was amazing. The children had fantastic manners and listened beautifully throughout, as well as doing some great singing.

We handed out certificates for fabulous stewards and HOWL point winners. Well done to all of you guys, what a super start to the year!
We also celebrated some fantastic home learning that the children had been doing, including a taekwondo certificate!
Also, a massive well done to Crew Shaw for 100% attendance last week. I am so proud!
Have a lovely weekend x x

Year 1 Phonics Drop In

We would like to invite parents/carers to take part in our phonics drop-in session on Tuesday 24th September. The drop-in will take place at 3pm in the school hall. Parents are invited to bring their children along with them to take part in some of our phonics games. Staff will be on hand to answer any questions you have about phonics, reading and writing in school and how you can support your child at home.

We hope you can join us!

Miss Schon and Mrs Rodgers

Year 1 PE

Reminder: Year 1 will begin PE lessons tomorrow. Please ensure you child has their PE kit in school.

This week children will also have a special additional PE lesson on Friday. Please ensure PE kits are returned to school on Friday.

Thank you,

Miss Schon and Miss Rodgers