Hi, I am Mrs Bradshaw, and I am very excited to be your teacher in Year 1.

I have been lucky enough to be a teacher at St John’s for three years. I love walking, swimming and reading to relax.

 

Other staff working in our class are: 

Miss O'Sullivan - Teacher Mondays

Mrs Buckett - Teacher on Tuesday afternoons

Miss O'Sullivan - Teaching Assistant

 

Welcome to our Year 1 class page! We are excited to share our learning journey with you this year. Here you will find updates, photos, and news about all the exciting things happening in our classroom. We can’t wait to show you how we learn, explore, and grow together!

 

Weekly Timetable in Woodpecker Class:

 

Term 5

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 need 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/ 

 

In Maths, Year 1 will focus on developing an understanding of multiplication and division, as well as exploring simple fractions. We will learn to solve problems 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.

In RE this term, 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.

 

      

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. 

 

 

             

In Year 1 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.

      

 

Highlights from Term 4

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.         

                         

                

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

PE is every Tuesday afternoon. Please come to school in your PE Kit.

 

Be ready for learning! In Woodpecker class, 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 school) 

• Coat (weather appropriate) 

Please don’t 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. 

 

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.

 

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us!