Welcome to Year 1

Year 1 is a very important and exciting year for our children. It is a big step in their learning journey as they move from the play-based learning of Reception to a more structured and formal approach in Key Stage 1. We understand that this is a significant transition, and we work hard to make sure it is a smooth and positive experience for every child.

Although learning becomes more structured, we continue to value the importance of learning through play. Our Continuous Provision (CP) area gives children the opportunity to explore, practise and apply their learning in a hands-on and engaging way. Within this area, children also complete carefully planned tasks each week that help them revisit and retrieve prior learning. This regular retrieval practice strengthens their understanding and helps to secure knowledge in their long-term memory.

Phonics is a key focus in Year 1, particularly as children prepare for the Phonics Screening Check in June. Building on their strong start in Reception, children will continue to develop their ability to recognise graphemes, sound them out confidently and blend them to read phonetically decodable words. We teach phonics daily in small, structured sessions. Children work in homogenous groups, meaning they learn alongside others of a similar ability so that teaching is carefully matched to their needs and helps every child make excellent progress.

Working in partnership with parents is extremely important to us. We kindly ask that you listen to your child read every day using the phonics book that is sent home each Friday. Regular reading practice at home makes a significant difference to children’s confidence, fluency and success in phonics.

In Maths in Year 1, we focus on building strong foundations in Maths and developing children’s confidence with number.

Across the year, children will learn about:

• Number and place value
• Addition and subtraction
• Measurement (length, height, weight, capacity and time)
• Geometry (2D and 3D shapes)
• Fractions (halves and quarters)
• Early multiplication and division through grouping and sharing

A secure understanding of number is at the heart of all our Maths learning. We use practical resources and visual methods to help children fully understand each concept.

You can support your child at home through simple maths games and everyday practice — counting forwards and backwards, counting in 2s, 5s and 10s, practising number facts and spotting numbers in the environment. Making Maths fun and part of daily life really helps to strengthen learning.

In writing in Year 1, we focus on developing confident and accurate writers.

We place a strong emphasis on Oracy, as we know that if a child can say a sentence out loud, they are far more likely to write it successfully. Children regularly rehearse sentences aloud before writing to build confidence and vocabulary.

Handwriting is taught daily to ensure children hold their pencil correctly and form letters accurately, helping to establish good habits from the start.

Each afternoon, we focus on Sentence Accuracy through short dictation activities, allowing children to practise punctuation, spelling and grammar while applying their phonics knowledge.

We are very much looking forward to working closely with you this year to support your child as they grow in confidence, independence and develop a lifelong love of learning.

Year 1 Classes