Year 1 2025 - 2026

Welcome to year 1's class page and welcome to Year 1!

Here you will find details of our daily routines and our curriculum.

My name is Mrs. McGowan, and I’m delighted to be starting my 29th year of teaching. I am very much looking forward to working with you and your child to make this year exciting, enjoyable, and successful.

We have an open-door policy in Year 1 and warmly welcome parents and carers into our classroom.

Reading in Year 1:

Each week, your child will bring home two books and a reading diary:

• “I Can Read” book – linked to phonics learning. This should be read repeatedly throughout the week to build confidence and fluency. It will be changed every Friday, so please return it then.

• Library book – chosen to encourage a love of reading.

Please ensure your child brings both books and their reading diary to school every day. Use the diary to record what they’ve read and celebrate progress. Children will also visit the library weekly to enjoy a wider range of books.

Homework

To help ease weekend pressures, we will send home a BINGO Homework Menu at the start of each half term.

• Children choose activities each week.

• By the end of the half term, they should complete at least one full row or column.

• Completed rows or columns earn a sticker and certificate.

In addition, each half term we will share Maths Key Instant Recall Facts (KIRFs) via email. These will include practical ideas for practising at home, with the aim of helping children recall key facts quickly and confidently.

Learning this term:

Geography: What would we find in our local area?
We’ll explore human and physical features, use fieldwork and observations, and create a simple map.

History: How have toys changed?
We’ll compare modern toys with those from the past, looking at changes within living memory.

Science:

• Our Bodies – learning about body parts, their functions, and the five senses.

• Materials – identifying, naming, and sorting materials, understanding their properties, and distinguishing between objects and the materials they’re made from.

RE:

• Creation and Covenant – Creation story, God’s love and care, the Our Father, the Nicene Creed, Laudato Si, and caring for God’s world.

• Prophecy and Promise – The Annunciation, Mary visits Elizabeth, Mary as mother, the Birth of Jesus, and the Visit of the Shepherds.

To find out more about our learning, please go to http://www.st-pauls-hyde.tameside.sch.uk/page/year-1/20238

General Reminders:

• PE: Wednesday and Thursday – PE kit needed, all items clearly labelled. Please practise dressing at home.

• Book bags: Return letters/reply slips inside. Children hand these in during registration.

• Water bottles: Bring daily, named clearly, refillable in school.

• Snacks: A healthy snack will be provided at playtime.

Keeping in Touch

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Thank you for all of your support.

Warm regards,

Mrs McGowan