HOLY ROSARY CATHOLIC PRIMARY SCHOOL Welcome to Year One

Year One Staff Miss Stanton- Infant 4 class teacher Mrs Varney– Infant 3 class teacher Miss Stanton- Infant 4 class teacher Mrs Boden – Year 1 teaching assistant Mrs Roach – Year 1 teaching assistant Miss Fairclough- Year 1 teaching assistant

General Class Information Attendance: The classroom doors close at 9:00am prompt. Anybody arriving after this time must go through the office and will be marked late. Playtime: 10:30 – 10:45 and 2:00 – 2:15 Lunchtime: 11.45; children have time to eat their lunch and then go out to play. Snack: Children have fruit provided for them at morning playtime. Water: Children should bring in a water bottle each day or can use the water fountains in school. Open door Policy: Communication between teachers and parents is important, please if you have anything you wish to talk about with your child's class teacher please wait to see them at the end of the day or make an appointment at the school office. Marking; Due to the age of the children detailed marking in Year 1 is not always appropriate. Therefore motivational comments and verbal feedback are more frequently used. Detailed marking is used only when a teacher has worked with that particular group when the marking can be meaningful. Keeping you informed: Each infant class will display any current information in the classroom windows for your reference.

A Typical Day in Year One Your child will experience the following activities in a typical day in year one. Independent play Reading with an adult Whole class carpet time Group work Out door activities Phonics – Letters and Sounds Practical activities

Curriculum We follow a topic based approach to learning in Year 1. Some of these topics are decided by the teacher and some come from the children themselves. Trips and visitors: We aim to enhance all topics with a range of experiences. Keeping you informed: We will regularly keep you updated on our latest topics and any relevant information. Our planned topics will be on the school website.

Reading Reading in School: Children will read with an adult at least twice a week in year 1. We also read a variety of texts and stories within Literacy, Topic and Letters and Sounds lessons. Communication with parents: The individual reading record will be stamped to indicate when a child has read at school. Specific adult comments will also be added when required. Their reading books are changed regularly during the week. Children must be responsible for putting their own book in the box to get changed. Home reading: In order for children to become fluent readers they must be given ample opportunity to practice the skills that they learn in school. We would ask that your read at least three times a week. Please ensure that this is quality time to share a book together. They will have the opportunity to change their book a number of times during the week. If it is noted that anyone is not reading at home they will be sent a letter home as a reminder. Levels: Please remember that children learn to read at different rates and that reading is not a competition. Understanding the text and developing comprehension skills is equally as important as decoding words. Therefore children will not be rushed through levels.

Spelling From this week (Thursday) children will have weekly spellings. Children will be assessed in school to find out the phonics phase they are currently working in. Their spellings will correspond to this. Children will be tested on a Thursday and new spellings will be given on the same day. Children will be given a spelling book where their weekly spellings will be stuck and they are encouraged to use one page to practice each week. A good way to practice spellings is to; Look, Say, Cover, Write and Check. Their spelling test will be done in school and marked the same day. Their marks are recorded in class and their tests are sent home for you to see. Children must bring their spelling book into school every Thursday.

Maths Early number skills are essential for all areas of maths and should be practiced regularly at home. Please encourage your child to count daily. They should be able to count to 100 forwards and backwards, starting at any given numbers. Once secure move onto counting in 2s, 5s and 10s. They should be able to recognise odd and even numbers and recall these. Children should know by hear halves and doubles to 10. Number bonds are also very important and should be practiced at home. As the year progresses children will learn about place value and how to partition numbers. It will be beneficial if you start practicing to tell the time with your child. After Christmas your child will receive weekly maths homework.

Maths Packs Will be given out within the next week. Are to be kept for year 1 and year 2. Must be returned at the end of year 2 or there is a small fee. Meeting with Mrs Marray next Tuesday after school.

Letters and Sounds Children will have daily phonics lessons. In the summer term children will have a phonics check. This consists of 40 words, 20 real words and 20 nonsense words. Nearer the time you may receive phonics activities to complete with your child for practice and consolidation.

RE In Holy Rosary we follow the ‘Come and See’ curriculum for RE. Children will study a range of topics based around the church calendar. When necessary your child will bring home work to discuss with you at home. Children will be asked to reflect on what they have learnt and sometimes prepare work at home.

PE Children will have PE twice a week. One will be an indoor PE Lesson on either Dance or Gymnastics. The other will be an outdoor Games or Athletics Lesson. Children should have their PE kit in school at all times. They may bring it home every half term to get washed. PE Kit: White T-shirt, Blue or Black Shorts/ PE Skirt, Black Pumps Winter: Children may bring a grey tracksuit to wear.

Homework Reading books: Must be in school every day Spellings: Once a week with a weekly test Maths activity: Weekly after Christmas Research for current topic: As a when required

Medical If your child requires inhalers or medication (prescription only) these must be brought to the office clearly labelled. A parent/ guardian must give clear instructions and sign.

Thank You School Website www.holyrosaryschool.co.uk If you have any questions please feel free to stay behind to ask.