Welcome to Year 1
Welcome to Year 1 at St Mary’s Catholic Primary. We are delighted to begin this exciting stage of your child’s learning journey with you. In Year 1, children build strong foundations in reading, writing and mathematics, while also developing confidence, curiosity and kindness in their everyday school life.
Phonics is a key part of our approach to early reading, Children practise letter sounds and blend them to read new words, alongside learning how to write simple sentences with growing accuracy. Teachers provide clear guidance and regular opportunities to practise, so that every child can make steady progress at their own pace.
We use the Little Wandle program daily with the Little Wandle books being sent home on a Friday for you to listen and discuss the texts with. Children are given a book to share with the family, these might be for you to read and the child discuss looking at the pictures or the child read some of the text. They will also be given a levelled scheme book that the child should be able to access and read to you. It would be great if your child could read for a minimum of 5-10 minutes everyday. Please ensure the books and yellow contact book are in school (even if they haven't read) so that we can stamp the books when an adult in school has read to them.
In maths we follow the NCETM program and concentrate on number and number skills. To help support this it would be great if you count in 1's and 10's to 100 or practice number bonds to 10 knowing that 1 + 9 = 1- but also 9 + 1 = 10. We take it further to know that 10 - 1 = 9 and 10 - 9 = 1.
We value learning choices and encourage children to take part in their learning in meaningful ways. If you ever have questions about how your child is progressing, please speak to Miss Ward—we are here to work together.
Little Wandle Phonics
Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised is a complete systematic synthetic phonics programme (SSP) developed for schools by schools. Based on the original Letters and Sounds, but extensively revised to provide a complete teaching programme meeting all the expectations of the National Curriculum, the Ofsted Deep Dive into reading and preparing your children to go beyond the expectations of the Phonics Screening Check.
Phonics Screening Information
The phonics screening check is taken individually by all children in Year 1. It is a nationally required assessment which takes place in June.
It is designed to give teachers and parents information on how your child is progressing in phonics. It will help to identify whether your child needs additional support at this stage so that they do not fall behind in this vital early reading skill.
Click on the link below to find out more about why we teach 'alien words' for the Phonics Screening Check.
Why do we teach 'alien words'?
Click on the link below to read more about the Year 1 Phonics Screening Check.
Government Guidance for the Year 1 Phonics Screening Check
Past Papers
Parents can practice the Phonics Screening Check with your child at home with these past papers:
More Phonics Screening Practice
Phonics Screening Practice Paper 1
Phonics Screening Practice Paper 2
Phonics Screening Practice Paper 3
Supporting your child at home
Guidance on how children are taught to say their sounds:
Maths Day
Looking at Trees and Bark rubbing in Forest School
Maths day games
Gallery from January till May, Year 1
