Rowan Class 2026 - 2027

Teachers: S Lucas and J Davenport

Teaching Assistant: H Hellyer, E.Bradbeer, R. Shaw

Welcome to Rowan Class – Year 1

Year 1 is your child’s first year in Key Stage 1 and first year following the National Curriculum. It is a year for learning through more structured activities and becoming more independent in completing their reading, writing, maths and other areas of the curriculum. We very much learn through fun, exciting learning experiences and are lucky to have our outdoor area which we use daily to add to our continuous learning provision.

Our overarching learning experiences cover the 6 terms but can also vary to include current topical events in society. Typical learning in year 1 include ‘Wonderful Weather’ looking at seasonal changes, ‘Fireworks’ looking at Guy Fawkes and colour; ‘This is me’ focusing on our local area; ‘Intrepid Explorers’ and much more.

In Year 1 we have daily phonics sessions following our whole school phonic scheme ‘Unlocking Letters and Sounds’ which follows on from their learning in reception. The children learn, through Phase 5a, b and c, any alternative spellings and pronunciations for the graphemes and additional Common Exception Words. By the end of Year 1 children will have mastered using phonics to decode and blend when reading and segment when spelling. In Year 1 all children are screened using the national Phonics Screening Check. Guided reading sessions take place regularly at school and the books children read in school and take home are very closely matched to a child's current phonics knowledge so that every child can experience real success in their reading. Handwriting lessons are taught discretely at least 3 times a week. Good handwriting is critical to children's writing progress. It is essential that handwriting is practised until it is fluent and effortless so that the children can put all their effort into thinking about what they are writing. There are daily writing lessons where children practice their skills from phonics to first write dictsted sentences and then progress into forming their own sequenced sentences based on narratives shared as a class.

Maths is taught at least 4 times a week in practical lessons following the NCTEM progression. It is vital in that children build a deep, connected, and lasting understanding of mathematical concepts using concrete representations. Alongside this children have daily fluency sessions following the mastery number progression.

We have 2 PE sessions a week to support their physical development. In the remaining sessions during the week we cover the other areas of the National Curriculum giving children a broad and balanced curriculum. Each subject being taught termly. We like to celebrate achievements in our class and we regularly celebrate work together.

How can you help?

Read every night with your child to buld their fluency – discuss the book, new vocabulary.  Practise recognising, reading and writing numbers to 100 and counting on and back from any number to 100, number bonds to 10 and in due course support them in counting in 2s, 5s and 10s. Support them in completing Phonics and Maths homework. In addition, involve them in practical maths activities, money, weighing and measuring etc.

In line with school policy we operate an open-door policy and an open Class-Dojo policy. Please do contact me if you have any questions, concerns or successes to share with regard to your child’s learning.