1. An introduction to year 1

2. We recognise that Key Stage 1 (Year 1/2) is different from the Foundation Stage and therefore we aim to manage the transition from Reception to Year 1 in a gradual, staged approach, which allows the children to adapt during the first half of the Autumn Term.
Transition...

3. Our Goals...
To support pupils adapting to the Year One routine. To develop children’s level of independence and maturity. To provide an environment suitable to more formal learning with interesting and fun interactive activities. To provide a balanced and stimulating curriculum based upon the New Curriculum, differentiated to suit the needs of each child. To develop a love of learning!

4. Termly topic plans are available on our school website under Year 1
Our half termly topic...
Who am I
Termly topic plans are available on our school website under Year 1

5. Reading
We encourage the children to read a wide range o literature in addition to this scheme. This is very important. We also encourage the children to visit their local library as often as they can. Library books that are read should also be recorded in your child’s reading record. Your child should be reading every evening, little and often is the best approach with young children. Ideally we would like to see a parental comment in your child’s reading record for every entry, please include words they sound out or were unsure of.
Ask you child questions after they have read to check their understanding.
We will hear children read daily, trying to get through each child once a week. We have our own sheets to record our observations.

6. Reading records. We have completed our reading assessments
Reading records... We have completed our reading assessments. If you have any concerns with the level your child has been put on please make an appointment to see me. We will not move children onto the next level until all words are read with fluency. Reading books are changed every Friday. There will be no change of reading books if there is no parental comment in the reading record. Please make sure this reading record is filled in on time because there will be no change of books till the following Friday.

7. Handwriting I have enclosed a document with regards to why we teach cursive writing and tricks on ensure your child holds a pencil correctly. Please encourage homework to be written in pencil as we do in class.

8. Year 1
Phonics
Screening

9. What is phonics?
Children are taught to read by breaking down words into separate sounds or ‘phonemes’. They are then taught how to blend these sounds together to read the whole word.
Children have a 20mins phonics lesson each day and they are encouraged to use these strategies to read and write in other lessons.
There are around 40 different sounds.

11. Mr Thorne does phonics (Geraldine Giraffe)
Useful Phonics videos
You tube...
Mr Brocks phonics
Mr Thorne does phonics (Geraldine Giraffe)

12. Why are the children being screened?
Every Year 1 child in the country will be taking the phonics screening check in the same week in June (Week commencing 12th June, 2017)
The aim of the check is to ensure that all children are able to read by the end of year two.
This ‘midpoint check’ will ensure that we have a clear understanding of what the children need to learn in year 2.

13. THIS IS NOT A READING TEST
What will the children
be expected to do?
The check is very similar to tasks the children already complete during phonics lessons.
Children will be asked to ‘sound out’ a word and blend the sounds together.eg d-o-g - dog
The focus of the check is to see which sounds the children know and therefore the children will be asked to read made up ‘nonsense’ words.
THIS IS NOT A READING TEST

14. Examples of words:

16. When will the screening take place?
The children cannot retake the test at any other time so it is very important your child is in school during this week.
The check has been designed so that children of all abilities will be able to take part.

17. Who will complete the check?
The children will complete the check one at a time in a quiet area of the school.
I will conduct all of the screening checks with the children.
The screening will only take
5-10mins with each child.

18. How can you help? Digraph- 2 letters making one sound cow
Encourage your child to ‘sound out’ when reading or writing. Focusing particularly on spotting more unusual sound patterns. Eg
Digraph- 2 letters making one sound
cow
Trigraphs- 3 letters making one sound
night
Split digraphs- 2 vowels with a consonant inbetween. Use to be known as the magic e!
spine - i_e

19. How can you help? http://www.phonicsplay.co.uk/BuriedTreasure2.html
Encourage your child to use their sound mat when writing and use their actions to find the sound they need.
Children can practise their phonics by playing games online. The children particularly like ‘Buried Treasure’

20. How can you help?
REMEMBER: Phonics is not the only thing needed to become a fluent reader.
Please continue to read with your child each night and encourage them to:
Sound out
Re-read to check it makes sense.
Use pictures for clues.
Ask questions about the book.
And most importantly ENJOY READING!

21. General Housekeeping...
P.E Please ensure that all items of clothing are clearly labelled either with permanent pen or proper name tags. On P.E days (Tuesdays) please ensure the clothes that your children are wearing they can unbutton or put on unaided. When PE kits go home to be washed, please ensure your child’s plimsolls still fit.

22. Homework We aim to send out Maths homework nightly to consolidate the days learning, the only times that it will not be sent home is when I feel we need to go over it again. Spellings I will send out each Friday night and ask for them to be returned on the Thursday completed with the sentences on the back.

23. Trips Paddington Assessments Concerns