Welcome to Year 1

Year 1 is an exciting year as children build on everything they have learnt in Reception and begin their journey through Key Stage 1.

We understand that moving into Year 1 is a big step, so during the year we gradually support children as they move from an EYFS-style learning environment towards more structured Key Stage 1 learning. Children continue to have opportunities to learn through practical activities, exploration and continuous provision alongside small-group and whole-class teaching.

Our aim is for every child to feel happy, confident and excited about their learning while becoming increasingly independent throughout the year.

This page contains useful information about Year 1, what we are learning and ways you can support your child at home.

Meet the Year 1 Team

Teachers
Mr McCallum and Mrs Cowan

Support Staff
Mrs Cunningham and Mrs Farrington

Useful Information

PE

Our PE lesson takes place every Monday.

Children should come to school wearing their PE kit and will remain in their PE kit for the day.

Children can wear trainers and do not currently need pumps. When PE takes place outdoors during colder weather, children can wear suitable jogging bottoms and a school sweatshirt or fleece.

Children may also bring a spare pair of socks in their book bag in case they need to change after their lesson.

What children need each day

Please make sure your child brings:

• their book bag

• their reading book

• a water bottle containing water

• a healthy morning snack

An afternoon snack is provided in school.

Please keep reading books inside your child's book bag each day as there will be opportunities throughout the week for children to read with an adult.

Reading and Phonics

Phonics is a very important part of learning in Year 1.

Children take part in daily phonics teaching and are encouraged to use their phonics knowledge throughout the school day when reading and writing.

Regular reading at home makes a huge difference to children's confidence and progress. We encourage families to share their child's reading book regularly and talk together about what they have read.

Children will also have opportunities to read with adults in school throughout the week.

Useful phonics sound mats, tricky words and reading resources can be found in the downloads section below.

Year 1 Phonics Screening Check

During June, children in Year 1 complete the national Phonics Screening Check.

This is a short, one-to-one check completed with a familiar adult in school. It helps us to see how confidently children can use their phonics knowledge to decode words.

Children are asked to read 40 words. These include a mixture of real words and made-up or 'alien' words, which allow children to demonstrate their ability to recognise sounds and blend them together.

There is no need for children to worry about the check. Phonics is practised regularly as part of our normal classroom learning and we aim to make the experience as relaxed and familiar as possible.

Further information for parents can be found in the downloads section below.

Homework and Learning at Home

Homework newsletters are sent home every other week.

These contain one or two activities which allow children to practise and revisit skills they have been learning in school.

Activities do not need to be returned to school unless specifically requested. They are designed to provide simple opportunities to practise learning together at home.

Regular reading remains one of the most valuable ways you can support your child throughout Year 1.

What We Are Learning

Autumn Term 2026

The beginning of Year 1 is an important transition period.

During the autumn term, children gradually move from an EYFS-style classroom environment, with opportunities to independently access continuous provision, towards more formal Key Stage 1 learning.

Children will work with adults in small focus groups, take part in whole-class teaching and continue to have opportunities for independent and collaborative learning.

English

In English, we will explore a range of high-quality texts including Oi Frog! by Kes Gray, Lost and Found by Oliver Jeffers and Nibbles the Book Monster by Emma Yarlett.

Children will develop their confidence in writing simple sentences. We will focus on using phonics to support spelling, leaving spaces between words and beginning to use capital letters and full stops accurately.

Maths

In maths, we will begin by developing children's understanding of numbers within 10.

Children will explore different ways of representing numbers and develop their understanding of place value, addition and subtraction.

They will use practical equipment and representations including part-whole models, ten frames, bar models and Base 10 equipment. Children will also begin to develop their understanding of equality and comparison.

Science

In science, we will explore everyday materials.

Children will identify and name different materials, investigate their properties and carry out simple investigations to decide which materials are most suitable for different purposes.

Geography

In geography, we will explore our local area, including Hoole and Chester.

Children will begin to develop their map skills and learn more about the area in which they live.

History

In history, we will investigate toys from the past.

Children will compare toys from different periods and begin to understand how things have changed within living memory.

Art

In art, children will develop their mark-making skills with a particular focus on spirals.

They will experiment with different materials and techniques and create artwork both indoors and outside.

Design and Technology

In DT, children will investigate, design, make and evaluate structures.

We will put our learning into practice by creating an enclosure strong enough to stop Nibbles the Book Monster from escaping and eating any more books!

Spring Term 2027

During the spring term, children will continue to become increasingly confident and independent learners while building on the skills developed during the autumn term.

English

In English, we will explore The Lion Inside.

Children will continue developing their sentence-writing skills, focusing on using capital letters and full stops accurately.

We will also begin to explore question marks and exclamation marks and use our learning to create our own versions of the story.

Maths

In maths, children will begin by developing their understanding of place value within 20, followed by addition and subtraction within 20.

We will then extend our understanding of place value to numbers within 50.

Later in the term, children will begin learning about measurement, including length and height and mass and volume.

Science

In science, we will learn about animals, including humans.

Children will identify and group different animals, explore the human body and investigate our five senses.

We will develop our scientific skills by observing carefully, asking questions, comparing and grouping.

Geography

In geography, we will learn about the United Kingdom.

Children will locate the four countries of the UK on a map and begin to identify their capital cities.

Art

In art, we will explore simple printmaking.

Children will make prints using their hands, explore rubbings and textures from the environment and experiment with creating printing plates.

They will investigate line, shape, colour and texture while exploring pattern, sequencing and symmetry.

Summer Term 2027

During the summer term, children will continue to build their independence and prepare for their transition into Year 2.

English

In English, children will continue to develop their confidence as writers through a range of high-quality texts.

They will work towards writing increasingly independent sentences and using capital letters, full stops, question marks and exclamation marks accurately.

Children will continue to expand their vocabulary and begin using conjunctions such as and to join ideas together.

Maths

In maths, children will begin by learning about multiplication and division.

They will practise counting in 2s, 5s and 10s and explore making and recognising equal groups.

Children will then learn about fractions, including finding halves and quarters.

Later in the term, we will explore:

• position and direction

• place value within 100

• money

• time

Science

In science, we will learn about plants.

Children will identify and name common wild and garden plants and learn to recognise deciduous and evergreen trees.

We will investigate the basic structure of plants, including roots, stems, leaves, flowers and fruit and observe how plants grow and change over time.

Geography

In geography, children will continue developing their knowledge of the wider world by exploring hot and cold places.

They will use maps and globes to locate different places and begin to understand how weather and environments vary around the world.

Art

In art, children will continue to develop their drawing and making skills.

They will explore different materials, techniques, shapes and textures while becoming increasingly confident in creating their own artwork and talking about their creative choices.

Phonics

Children will continue developing their phonics throughout the summer term.

We will practise recognising graphemes, blending sounds to read words and applying phonics confidently when reading and writing.

Children will complete the Year 1 Phonics Screening Check during June.

Year 1 Curriculum

Would you like to see more detail about what we learn throughout the year?

Please use the links below to view our Year 1 curriculum plans.

Year 1 Curriculum Plan

Long-Term Plan for English

• Pathways to Write – Feature Keys Progression

• Pathways to Write – Texts and Mastery Overview

Long-Term Plan for PE

Supporting Your Child at Home

There are a range of resources available below to help you support learning at home.

Reading and Phonics

• Year 1 Common Exception Words

• Tricky Words

• Phase 2 Sound Mat

• Phase 3 Sound Mat

• Phase 5 Sound Mat

• How Can I Help My Child With Reading?

• A Guide to Phonics Screening for Parents

• Phonics Screening PowerPoint for Parents

• DfE Phonics Information for Parents

Maths

• Number Bonds to 10 – Poster and Activity Sheet

• Number Bonds to 20 – Poster and Activity Sheet

Year 1 Fact Files

Our fact files help children revisit some of the important knowledge and vocabulary taught during the year.

They are a useful way to talk to your child about what they have been learning in school.

Autumn

• Our Local Area

• Materials

• Toys: Old and New

Spring

• Animals Including Humans

• Hot and Cold Places

Summer

• Plants

Throughout the Year

• Seasonal Changes

Keep Up With Year 1

We love sharing the children's learning and celebrating the things they achieve throughout the year.

Please keep an eye on our school communication channels for photographs, updates and examples of what we have been getting up to in Year 1.