We will be following the National Curriculum. Learning is topic based, as in Reception. We aim to provide as many enrichment opportunities as possible with new Art and computing opportunities as well as trips and focus weeks.  Transition from the Early learning Goals to the National Curriculum will be closely monitored.  

Year 1 will build on the successful principles and approaches encapsulated in Reception but will challenge at a year 1 National Curriculum Level, however where necessary, time will be spent ensuring that objectives from the ‘Early Learning Goals’ have been achieved.

Children will learn through adult lead, adult initiated and child initiated challenges. Free play is called ‘challenge time’ where children have set tasks to complete through independent exploration.

We have a Mathematics area, Writing area, Reading corner, Phonics area, Role play area, Construction area, investigation area and a Finger Gym (to develop fine motor skills). Learning through play will be a very important part of our day, and we will be gradually be eased into more formal learning as the year goes on, so that we stay motivated and eager learners.

Please click on the link below to view the Year 1 curriculum at St Mary's for 2022-23. 

Please Note:  These maybe subject to change, as necessary to fulfil the ongoing needs of the curriculum. 

	Year 1 Curriculum Overview 2022-23	[pdf 29KB]
	Year 1 Curriculum Overview Art, Design, Music, Computing and PE 2022-23	[pdf 78KB]
	Year 1 Autumn Term Curriculum Coverage Map 2022	[pdf 60KB]
	Year 1 Spring Term Curriculum Coverage Map 2023	[pdf 59KB]
	Year 1 Summer Term Curriculum Coverage Map 2023	[pdf 59KB]

‘Why did dinosaurs rule the world?’ Our topic lessons will be a mixture of both history and science.

History – Within living memory (significant people) Within this unit children will cover the following objectives:

• Name a famous person from the past and explain why they are famous.

Science – Animals including humans

• Know how to classify a range of animals by amphibian, reptile, mammal, fish and birds

• Know and classify animals by what they eat (carnivore, herbivore and omnivore)

• Know how to sort by living and non-living things

Please select the document below.

	Y1 Spring 1 Dinosaurs and Other Animals Knowledge Organiser	[pdf 196KB]
	Y1 Ongoing - Seasonal Changes Knowledge Organiser	[pdf 120KB]

We are rewarded through Team Points for the right attitude to learning, effort and behaviour. Our behaviour is monitored through the SCARF principles – Safe, Caring, Achieving, Respectful and Friendly.  In class one we have a visual behaviour system in place in which supports the children to make good choices with their behaviour and attitude to learning.

Each day someone will be awarded the Daily Scarf Award. This is someone who has stood out in some way, either by the work they have completed, the effort they have put into their work, how they have behaved or how they have treated other people. They get to wear our special scarf award badge, receive a certificate and are treated like a VIP the following day!

Every Wednesday each child will be given a new home reading book (a decodable book, which correlates directly to the level of book the children read in school each week). We encourage your child to re-read this book (at least three times) to help support their fluency and expression (over-learning).

We ask that home reading books are brought back into school on a Monday, so that new books can be organised and sent out on a Wednesday.

Additional to this, we encourage lots and lots of reading for pleasure! Read, read, read! Read favourite books with your children, read new and exciting books that you have never seen before!  Read to your children, and let them enjoy and listen to a what good reader sounds like – you are the best teacher!

Reading records will be given out for you to record any additional reading that you do at home with your children to promote their love of reading, and to record any story telling time too.

Teachers will endeavour to check reading records as regularly as possible, however if you have a concern regarding the book your child is reading (as a home reading book) please come and speak to me at the end of the day/arrange a meeting via the office.

Please read with/to your child every night, this is imperative for both their letter/sound recognition to strengthen, thus improving their overall reading and also their writing!

The children have been assessed and grouped according to their phonics knowledge and skills. Small group RWI sessions will go ahead every day for 45 mins. RWI phonics will be streamed throughout the whole of Key Stage 1. As a school we feel that it is vital for the children to develop and secure their phonics knowledge and understanding, which will inevitably lead to competence and confidence with their basic reading and writing skills. We believe that our streamed approach will help to target and accelerate the children’s progress.

As part of our whole school approach to promote reading and support the children’s love of reading, in Class 1 we will be following a programme called ‘Talk through stories’ derived by the creator of RWI Ruth Miskin. The aim of this will be to extend and deepen children’s vocabulary so that they can understand the books they will one day be able to read for themselves. We will also use these books to create a range of speaking and listening, and writing opportunities.