The Year 1 Class is led by Mrs. Burns (Monday to Thursday), Mrs. Thomson (Friday), and Mrs. Wells, the Year 1 Teaching Assistant. Together, they have been a dedicated team, teaching this wonderful age group for over 13 years.
In addition to their class teachers, the children are taught by specialist teachers in French, Music, Art, PE, and Games. These subject experts bring enthusiasm and passion to their lessons, sparking a love for these subjects among the children.
Our Year 1 classroom is a bright, calm, and inviting space filled with resources to support learning. It includes a library corner, an art table, an outdoor area, and a challenge corner for extended tasks. Displays feature learning prompts to guide the children, alongside celebrated examples of their work to boost confidence and pride.
Whole-class lessons usually begin with the children gathered on the carpet, followed by independent tasks at their tables, tailored to each group’s level. The children work in groups of six, with Mrs. Wells and Mrs. Burns circulating to provide support as needed.
By the end of Year 1, children will be reading more fluently and independently, developing skills in inferring meaning from stories. They also prepare for the Phonics Screening which they complete in May, with daily sessions following the Monster Phonics scheme.
In writing, the children start learning to join letters and spell key words accurately. Creative writing is encouraged regularly, with plenty of opportunities for the children to express their ideas throughout the day. Basic punctuation and grammar are taught and reinforced all year long.
In Maths, children learn to count forwards and backwards from 0 to 100, writing numbers as both numerals and words. They practise addition and subtraction using different strategies and begin to count in steps of 2, 5, and 10. They are also introduced to simple division, multiplication, and concepts like shape, measure, money, and time.
Throughout the year, various topics are covered, including All About Me, Light and Dark, Victorians, Africa, and Polar Regions. Children are encouraged to bring in relevant items related to each topic as part of their learning experience.
Children are expected to read with an adult at home every day. Each Tuesday, they receive a new spelling list to learn for a test the following Monday, linked to the Monster Phonics scheme. Additionally, they work on Numbots, a fun and interactive platform designed to build their mental maths skills.
On Fridays, they may also have a ‘Finding Out’ task or a comprehension activity to complete over the weekend.
Year 1 children enjoy several exciting trips throughout the year. These include a visit to Tatton Park at Christmas and a trip to the Theatre at Sale Waterside. Past trips have also featured a Victorian Day at Salford Art Museum, a visit to Styal Mill, and an exploration of animals at Lower Moss Wood.
