Welcome to Year 1

Welcome to the final term of Year 1! It’s hard to believe how far the children have come since September. Their confidence, independence, and curiosity have blossomed beautifully—and this term, we’re looking forward to even more exciting opportunities for learning and growth.

As the sunshine (hopefully!) sticks around and the days get longer, we’ll be diving into some wonderful books, hands-on learning, and explorations of the world around us. Below, you’ll find an overview of what your child will be learning this term, and how you can continue to support them at home.

English

Our class story this term is The Bee Who Spoke by Al MacCuish—a charming tale that opens the door to themes of discovery, nature, and curiosity. We’ll be using this book to inspire our own writing, including:

• Crafting well-structured sentences with correct punctuation
  
  

• Writing non-fiction pieces
  
  

• Composing a diary entry, using the character's experiences as inspiration
  
  

In Phonics, we’re now consolidating all the sounds we’ve learnt so far, and practising reading both real and ‘alien’ words. This will support your child as they prepare for the Phonics Screening Check in June.

Handwriting remains a key focus. We’re working on correct letter formation and encouraging pride in presentation across all pieces of work.

Maths

This term, we’re building confidence with numbers up to 100 and developing a solid foundation in key number concepts. We will be:

• Counting in 2s, 5s, and 10s
  
  

• Exploring halves and quarters through practical activities
  
  

• Introducing multiplication and division in simple, meaningful contexts
  
  

You’ll notice these ideas popping up in home learning too—so any extra counting practice, visual aids, or real-life maths (like halving snacks or grouping toys) can really make a difference.

Our Daily Timetable

A typical day in Year 1 includes a balance of active learning, creativity, and calm, focused work. Here’s what a usual day looks like:

• Registration
  
  

• Funky Fingers (Handwriting Practice)
  
  

• Phonics
  
  

• Reading and English
  
  

• Breaktime
  
  

• Maths
  
  

• Lunchtime
  
  

• Topic and Foundation Subjects: Science, Geography, DT, RE, PE, Music, Computing
  
  

• Story Time – A calm way to end our day with imagination and discussion
  
  

Please ensure your child arrives on time each day—our early morning sessions set the tone for successful learning.

Topic Learning Highlights

Geography

We’ll be exploring our local area—Woolwich—and building our knowledge of the UK’s four countries and their capital cities.

Design Technology (DT)

Children will design and create their very own moving picture book, using simple mechanisms like levers and sliders.

Religious Education (RE)

In RE, we are discussing what it means to belong. We’ll be talking about family, friendship, school, community, and religious groups, and why these connections matter.

Science

We’re continuing our journey through the natural world by learning more about plants and animals, and observing seasonal changes in our local environment.

How You Can Support at Home

Your involvement at home makes a huge difference to your child’s learning. Here are some helpful habits:

• Daily reading: Share your child’s phonics book or another story. Talk about the plot, characters, and what might happen next.
  
  

• Counting practice: Count up to 100 and practise steps of 2, 5, and 10 in fun and active ways.
  
  

• Play Numbots regularly to strengthen number fluency.
  
  

• IXL focus areas: Support your child to complete their weekly Maths skills (particularly Skills: E, S, BB, and CC)
  
  

• Spelling and Homework: Help your child prepare for their weekly spelling tests and complete any tasks sent home.

 Additional Information

• 🏃 PE and Forest School take place every Monday – please send your child in their PE kit and suitable outdoor clothing
  
  

• 🎵 Music and Computing are taught on Thursdays
  
  

• 👕 Please ensure all items of clothing and personal belongings are clearly labelled

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Thank you for your continued support this year. It has been such a joy to watch your children grow in confidence, creativity, and independence. We’re looking forward to making the most of every moment in this final term!

Warm regards,
The Year 1 Team