Year 1 2021 - 2022

Phonics and Early Reading for KS1

In EYFS and KS1 we follow Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised, which is a complete systematic synthetic phonics programme (SSP). We start teaching phonics in Nursery and Reception and continue phonics into KS1. This ensures children build on their growing knowledge of the alphabetic code, mastering phonics to read and spell as they move through school.

During their time in Year 1, the children will recap over previously taught phases 2,3 and 4 before continuing with Phase 5.

In order to support your child, please continue to read at home regularly. Your child will be given a reading book, which has been carefully matched to your child’s current reading level. If your child is reading it with little help, please don’t worry that it’s too easy – your child needs to develop fluency and confidence in reading.

Listen to them read the book. Remember to give them lots of praise – celebrate their success! If they can’t read a word, read it to them. After they have finished, talk about the book together.

In order to encourage your child to become a lifelong reader, it is important that they learn to read for pleasure. Sharing books with them is key to promote a love of books. Discuss the pictures, enjoy the story, predict what might happen next, use different voices for the characters, explore the facts in a non-fiction book. The main thing is that you have fun!

 Please click on the link below for more information. 

 https://www.littlewandlelettersandsounds.org.uk/​

Welcome to Year 1

“We Share, We Value, We Respect”

Dear Parents/Carers,

Welcome to Year 1, we hope that you had a lovely summer and that your child is looking forward to the year ahead in school. The move to Year 1 is quite a big step, as we work on a different curriculum to Nursery and Reception and there is much less free play. The children will gradually move towards more formal, structured learning; however, they should hopefully continue to find it engaging and fun! The children usually settle very quickly into the new routines and are ready for the challenge.

There are still procedures in place to keep children, families and staff covid safe, however thankfully many things have returned to normal.

You will be aware that government guidance states that a full class will now not have to isolate if ONE pupil tests positive for Covid-19. However, should multiple cases within a given period arise, Public Health will advise on any subsequent actions. These actions will be forwarded to you.

Therefore, please be reassured that all measures in place are to ensure the least possible disruption to your child’s education.

As ever, we thank you for your understanding and support with this.

Arrival & Dismissal

All pupils will be dropped off and collected from the Foundation Stage playground. 

Start time is from 8.45 to 8.55am and home time 3:20pm.

To keep the children safe, it is essential that we are informed if an adult other than the usual person is collecting your child from school. Please let us know in the morning or phone the office to let us know of any changes, otherwise we are unable to send a child home until we have contacted parents to confirm the arrangements.

Uniform

Thank you for the effort which has gone into preparing your child for the start of the new term. We will do our best to support your children to look after their belongings and return home with the things they came with. Please help us with this by ensuring that all items of school uniform and belongings are clearly labelled with your child’s name; this also includes coats, PE kits, shoes and water bottles. We also ask that you continue to support the school policy by removing earrings from your child before sending them to school.

P.E.

The children do PE on Mondays and Fridays.  Please ensure that your child has a full kit (white T-Shirt, blue/black shorts and pumps) in school at all times.  They will be returned home each school holiday to be washed.

We always support the children when needed but would be most grateful if you could help your child to become independent at dressing and undressing. This really helps us to make the most of our PE lessons!

Homework

Maths: The Learning Plan which you will receive will highlight the maths targets we are working on in each half term. Online weekly homework will follow on from the lessons taught in school and is designed to consolidate learning and build confidence and speed. Log in details and passwords will be sent home.

Spellings: On the back of the topic plan you will find a list of words which children are expected to be able to read and write by the end of year 1. Initially homework will focus upon phonics practice, however as the year moves on we will move onto spelling practice.

Reading Books

Please aim to read every night with your child. Reading for 5-10 minutes a day, frequently, is the most effective way to build their reading confidence. Please note that for early

readers it is also important to ask your child to re-read the same book as this helps them to build self-esteem and enjoyment as they begin to recognise more words.

Your child will usually read individually in school twice a week. Children will be given two new books on a Monday which they will keep for the week. Please continue to send your child’s reading folder to school every day.

Please could we remind you to record in the Reading Diary when your child has read, along with any other comments you wish to add. Please don’t be afraid to ask if you need any advice in supporting your child’s reading.

Thank you for your continued support and should you have any queries or concerns please do not hesitate in contacting us.

Yours sincerely,

Mrs Cox (class teacher) & Mrs Hubble (teaching assistant)