Your Child in Year One Blackbirds Woodpeckers Doves

What is the same? Broad and balanced curriculum Phonics every day Mental maths session every day Handwriting everyday Reading every day- group or individual P.E. At least twice per week- a legal requirement Strong focus on literacy and numeracy Label everything – they still lose their clothes!

What is different? Please leave your child at the outside door after the first week. Messages can be left in paper form with the adult on the door. Children can enter at either entrance depending on which way you come into school. The doors have been renamed ‘The North’ and ‘South Doors’ for ease of recognition. They really can do it! The reading challenge runs in a similar way in Year One. Children are asked to give their books to their teacher on the required day. The reading diaries are checked by looking in the diaries for dates and signatures – a minimum of five entries per week. In addition to reading with your child on a regular basis, we will also be sending home weekly spellings to learn and mathematics homework. Spellings go home on Mondays and are tested in class the following week. Mathematics goes home on Thursdays and it is to be returned on Tuesday of the following week.

What is different? At lunch time, children in Year One may go out to play first before eating. Parents and carers will have received a letter briefing them on collection points at the end of the day. There is less time for child initiated learning and more time spent on directed tasks. Book bags are not checked for letters and dinner money. It is the child’s responsibility to hand these to the teacher.

First term Big focus on handwriting – please support at home- name, alphabet formation Reading support at home continues to be vital as well as the reading practiced in school More opportunity to take part in after school clubs - children will be invited to take part Continue to participate in home learning challenges to earn merit stamps It is probably the biggest transition your children will make and it will take them a while to settle into the new routines.

Phonics Screening Check There is now a phonics screening check at the end of Year One that has to be taken by all children. Results will be reported to parents. It is an expectation from the government that all children will achieve the level required. We will do everything we can in school to ensure that they reach the required standard. This makes reading support at home more important than ever. Five minutes a day at home really does make all the difference.

Thank you for listening