Hi, my name is Miss Eccles, and I am the Year 1 Teacher for Hummingbirds. I am thrilled to be teaching at St John's CE Primary School and to be part of the Year 1's journey of learning.

I have a passion for fostering a love of learning in young minds, with a background in Early Childhood Education and a dedication to helping children reach their full potential.

In Hummingbirds, I look forward to a year full of growth, fun and memorable learning experiences. I love teaching maths and I have a huge passion for story telling. I enjoy nothing more than ending the day with a story and becoming lost in the world of books. Outside of teaching, I enjoy reading, cooking, hiking, spending time with family and friends. 

Other staff supporting Hummingbirds:

Miss Reilly is our teaching assistant. Miss O teaches on Tuesday afternoons.

 

Year 1 Timetable

 

Term 5

 

This term in English, Year 1 will explore the exciting topic of Stunning Structures. We will enjoy reading stories such as Katie in London, Iggy Peck, Architect, and The Curious Garden, using them to inspire our own ideas about buildings and design.We will continue to develop our sentence writing skills by using our phonics to build clear and simple sentences using correct punctuation including capital letters and full stops. We will also practise using suffixes to help us become more confident writers and we will practice how to use question/exclamation marks in sentences.

 

                                 

Reading - Your child will be bringing home a reading book every day so please bring their book bag daily to keep the books safe. Please try to spend 10 minutes each day listening to your child read as it really does have a positive impact on their progress. Remember to sign your child’s reading record book when they have read to you, these needs to be brought into school each day to be checked. The children will be able to change their reading book every Tuesday and Friday. This will give your child the chance to become more confident by re-reading the same book several times.

 

Your child's Spelling Shed login is stuck at the front of their reading record. Assignments are set once a week, so please keep practising as it really makes a difference to your child's progress! Thank you! 

Phonics – The children will continue to learn their sounds in set 1, 2 & 3 and use the sounds they know to help with their writing.

Please see some useful websites below, to support your children's phonics at home. YouTube is great for Read, Write, Inc (RWI) phonics videos and Miss Phonics has some great lessons to watch.  https://www.youtube.com/@MissPhonics/videos 

Games: https://www.phonicsplay.co.uk/ 

 

 

 

This term in Maths, 1 will focus on developing an understanding of multiplication and division, as well as exploring simple fractions. We will learn to solve problem by grouping and sharing, helping to build a strong foundation in early calculation skills. We will also introduce fractions such as halves and quarters through practical, hands-on activities. Throughout this term, we will use a range of manipulatives, including counters, cubes and other concrete resources, to support our learning and deepen our understanding.

 

Your child's Numbot login details are stuck in the front of their Reading Record book.

This term in RE, we will be learning about Judaism. We will explore key beliefs, traditions and special stories from the Jewish faith. We will learn about important symbols, celebrations and places of worship, helping us to understand how Judaism is practised. Through discussions, stories and activities, children will begin to recognise similarities and differences between religions, developing respect and understanding of different beliefs and cultures.

 

 

This term in Science, we will be learning about plants and trees. We will be exploring the different parts of plants, including roots, stems, leaves and flowers, and learn about their functions. We will also identify and name a variety of common plants and trees, including those found in our local environment. Through observation and simple investigations, we will discover what plants need to grow and stay healthy. This topic will encourage curiosity about the natural world while developing scientific vocabulary and enquiry skills.

 

This term in History, we will explore the topic of Canterbury Cathedral, focusing on what makes this famous building so special. We will learn about its history and why it is an important place for many people. We will discover key features of the cathedral and how it has changed over time, as well as learn about significant events that have taken place there. Through stories and simple sources, we will begin to understand why Canterbury Cathedral is an important part of our heritage and what it can tell us about the past.

   

Outdoor learning is every alternate Wednesday and you will receive a text beforehand so appropriate clothing can be brought in. PE is every Tuesday afternoon.

Please do not hesitate to talk to us if you have any concerns so that any problems can be sorted quickly.  

 

Be ready for learning! In Hummingbirds, your child will need to have these items in school: 

Key Stage One (Years 1 and 2) 

• Book bag (no rucksacks please) 

• PE kit (to be worn on PE day) 

• Water bottle (no squash or juice) 

• Lunchbox (if not having school meal) 

• Wellington boots (to leave in school) 

• Coat (weather appropriate) 

We encourage children to not bring other items into school, as we do not have space to store them, and it can cause upset if things are lost or damaged. 

 

Learning at home for Hummingbirds Class: 

Children are expected to read every night for at least 10 minutes.  Reading records should be signed by an adult and brought back to school each day to be checked by a member of staff. Your child will take home 2 books each day – a banded book, and a phonics book.  These will be changed on Tuesdays and Fridays.

Spelling Shed and Numbots can be accessed from home using the logins provided on the inside of your child's reading record. 

 

School Uniform Checklist:

Please label ALL items of clothing and shoes clearly with your child’s name. This helps even our younger children to take responsibility for and look after their uniform. 

Reminders

In the morning, please drop your children off at the gates and leave any important messages with staff on the playground. We start our day's learning as soon as the children arrive, so teachers are not available to speak with parents and carers at the start of the day; after school is best.

 

 

During Term 4, Year 1 enjoyed a busy and exciting lead up to Easter filled with memorable experiences. We celebrated World Book Day by sharing our favourite stories and dressing up as book characters, inspiring a love of reading across the class. In Design and Technology, the children took part in a hands-on workshop where they designed and made their own toy cars, developing creativity and practical skills. To finish the term, we held a wonderful Easter bonnet parade, where the children proudly showcased their colourful and creative designs. It has been a joyful and engaging term full of learning and fun.

Highlights from Term 4 :