Unique Unicorns

Dear Parents/Carers, 

Welcome back after the holidays! Our new topic is ‘King of the castle’ which will include a trip to a real castle in order to look at the history of castles and what castle life would have been like. Please see the attached topic web for a breakdown of what we will be focusing on in each subject.

Science targets

This half term our science unit is ‘plants’. During the unit these are the targets we will be trying to achieve:

Spellings

You may have noticed that the spellings have changed slightly. Children will now have 2 ‘bonus words’ at the end of each test which they can get an extra house point for. They are not spellings that are learnt at home but we will look at the spelling patterns/ suffixes at school. I can then use the bonus words for assessment to see which rules/patterns children have remembered.

Genre

This half term we will again be looking at a specific genre rather than an author. The genre for this half term will be fairy tales. We will look at a range of different fairy tales and using these to pick out features, adapt and write our own.

P.E.

P.E will continue to take place on a Monday and Wednesday. Thank you so much for remembering kits, all children have kits on these days which is brilliant! If children have pierced ears and are unable to remove earrings by themselves please can you ensure that children have plasters/tape to cover them, this is for their own safety. Long hair should also be tied up.

Passport statements

This half term I will be looking for:

• Understanding how to stay safe outside of school
• Asking to join in other children’s games.

We have a parents evening this half term so I look forward to meeting with you. If you have any further questions or concerns before this please feel free to catch me before or after school.

Thank you,

Miss T Ward

Class Teacher

Dear Parents/Carers,

I hope that you have all had a fantastic Christmas break. As we return back to school our new topic is ‘Winter Wonderland’ which will fit with the world around us at this time. Please see the attached topic web for a breakdown of what we will be focusing on in each subject.

Science Targets

Our Science topic this half term is ‘Seasonal changes - Winter.’ These are the targets that children will be working on.

Spellings

Thank you to everyone that has supported their child with spellings last half term. Spellings will continue as normal this half term.

Genre

This half term we will be looking at a specific genre rather than an author. The genre for this half term will be poetry. We will look at a range of different poets and styles of poetry and will use what we learn in our own writing.

We are also continuing to work on joined handwriting. If you would like any information or advice on how to assist your child at home please do feel free to come and see me.

P.E.

P.E will continue to take place on a Monday and Wednesday. Hair needs to be tied up and earrings took out or taped up.

Passport statements

Statements I will be looking at this half term are:

• Understand what is right and wrong
• Always try my best

If you have any further questions or concerns before this please feel free to catch me before or after school.

Thank you,
Miss T Ward
Class Teacher

Dear Parents/Carers,

This is always a fantastic time of year in school with the run up to Christmas! This half term we will be doing lots of festive activities as well as our main topic ‘light explosions!’ I have created a topic web so that you can see what this topic will be covering.

Science
This half term our target is linked to ‘Materials’ 

Writing
If you do want to help with your child’s writing at home we are focusing on joining our handwriting this half term. Our writing policy suggests that children should be joining their handwriting by Christmas in year 1.  Please feel free to ask if you need further support or advice.

Spellings
Thank you to everyone that has supported their child with spellings last half term. It really does make a difference in writing and gives children a huge boost when they get them all correct! This half term spellings will be linked to a phonics sound that they have been working on.

Author
The author that we will be focusing on this half term is David McKee; he has written many popular books such as Mr Ben and the Elmer series. We will be building on our own storytelling skills. We are happy to display or read any books children have by our author.

Homework
Thank you for supporting your child with their homework. This terms homework is as follows;

Passport statements

• To solve a problem without arguing.
• To not sulk or become angry when they don’t like something.
• To always follow class rules.

P.E.
P.E. will continue to take place on a Monday and Wednesday. It is really important children have their kits on these days as spare kit is limited. Also a reminder that long hair should be tied up and earrings should either be taken out on PE days or taped up for health and safety reasons.

Thank you,
Miss T Ward
Class Teacher

Dear Parents/Carers, 

Welcome back to a new school year and to year 1, I hope you have all had a fantastic summer break! Our topic this term is ‘Barnaby Bear’s Highland Adventure!’ and as many lessons as possible will be linked to this topic. I have created a topic web so that you can see what this topic will be covering.

English
If you do want to help with your child’s writing at home we are focusing on using finger spaces, capital letters and full stops correctly this half term. We will then move onto using ‘and’ to join ideas and a huge focus will be on joined handwriting. Every child is also placed in a phonics group to suit their ability in order for them to progress at their level. They will be learning new sounds and spelling patterns each week, ask them to share these with you, but please feel free to ask if you need further support or advice.

Spellings
Children will get 5 spellings a week; if they correctly spell all 5 then they will be rewarded with a team point. The spellings they receive will initially be the year 1 words and then will be linked to the phonics sound that they have been working on and they will be tested on a Friday. Any help you can give your children at home is greatly appreciated and makes a big difference in their writing.

Homework
Children will have the first few weeks to settle into their new surroundings before homework is given. Homework will be given out on a Friday and is to be returned by the following Wednesday. It is children’s responsibility to hand it in as we are starting to build up independence. Your child may need support reading the task but as the year progresses they should become more confident at having ago by themselves. You are welcome to work with them and let them know if an answer is incorrect, supporting them to correct it.

P.E.

P.E. will take place on a Monday and a Wednesday. Children will require an indoor and outdoor kit. Indoor kits should consist of shorts, t-shirt and plimsolls. Outdoor kit should consist of jogging bottoms, t-shirt, jumper and trainers. As it gets colder children may need gloves and a hat for outdoor PE.

Passport statements

The PSHE areas that we are working on from our passports are:

• Always say please and thank you.
• Share a favourite toy.
• Help tidy the classroom.

A few further bits of information:

• Just a reminder that children with pierced ears should have their earrings removed or taped up before school on PE days.
• We will be testing children on number facts this year such as number bonds to 10 and 20 and also times tables later on in the year. If any parents are interested in volunteering to come into school to test children then please let me know and I can give you more information.
• Please avoid booking to go away during June as this is usually when the phonics screening check that we have to do in year 1 takes place. I will speak to you more about this during the first parents evening.
• We do not check through book bags for letters in year 1 due to time restrictions. If you have something to hand in please put it in the basket on the front desk. 

If you have any further questions or concerns, please feel free to catch me before or after school.

Thank you,

Miss T Ward
Class Teacher