Year 1

Year One

Mrs Hawes (1B) and Mrs Cook(1Y) are supported by Mrs Raut, Mrs Steadman, Mrs Yorke, Mrs Stepanenco and Mrs Edney.

Curriculum

At St. Helen’s we are committed to developing the whole child through a broad and balanced curriculum. We ensure that we cover all areas of the National Curriculum.

Supporting Learning at Home

We recognise the extremely important role that parents play in their child’s education. We want to work in partnership to help parents develop their skills supporting their child’s learning at home. If parents would like any support with developing home learning please see the Year 1 team.

Every week we change the children’s home reading books, as well as sending home spellings and homework for the children to learn and complete, please help support your child to try their best.

Please click here for the PowerPoint from our Parent Support Sessions on Reading 

News and Photos

Year 1 enjoyed french day. They enjoyed speaking French with each other and learning about the French speaking country Congo.
We learnt about their flag and the colours in the flag. They then used these colours to become designers just like the Congolese singer and designer Papa Wembe.
We also enjoyed learning Congolese dancing and exploring the patterns in African fabrics.

We were delighted to see Santa on Monday 19th December. Even though he was super busy he made time for us at St Helen’s.

Year 1 has been reading Beegu during the character and setting focus. We have been concerned about Beegu being all alone on earth and wrote notes to help encourage him to come to St Helen’s and be friends with us. One afternoon, we got to see Beegu. He came to tell us how kind we all are. We were all so excited to see our persuasive note writing had worked!

Year 1 were very lucky to go to the Unicorn Theatre and enjoy a performance of Christmas in Sunshine. It was interesting to see and visualise how Christmas is spent in a hotter climate like Jamaica. It reminded some children of their grandparents and they enjoyed seeing this on the stage. The show included songs that we have enjoyed singing in class remembering our visit to the Theatre.  

In Science, we have been learning about the parts of animals. We know that humans are mammals, so we identified our own body parts as well as identifying the parts of Mr Skeleton who joined our class to help our learning.

Year 1 have started learning Design Technology for the first time. In Reception we would learn using expressive arts so the children were very excited and enthusiastic about this new subject. The children are developing an understanding of Levers and Sliders this half term. They focussed on the movement of a lever by making a dinosaur that “opens and shuts” and goes “up and down”.

1Y attended a Prayer Service with Fr Tony. We discussed Saints, thinking about how we can all be like saints following the teachings of Jesus. We learnt about St Claire, St Pio, St Frances and St Martin De Porres. 1Y could tell Fr Tony that these people helped others before they helped themselves. 1Y told Fr Tony they will try to put the needs of their friends first in class and on the playground.

Useful Links

These are websites that are useful for developing children’s skills in year one to compliment their learning in school.

English Links

Phonics Play
Website: www.phonicsplay.co.uk
Description: A really useful website for learning about real and nonsense words.

Jolly Phonics
Website: www.jollylearning.co.uk/overview-about-jolly-phonics/
Description: A great website to learn the phonics songs and actions.

Teach Handwriting
Website: www.teachhandwriting.co.uk/
Description: Lots of fantastic videos and work sheets to support letter formation.

BBC Bitesize
Website: www.bbc.co.uk/schools/ks1bitesize
Description: This website is packed with games and activities to support your child's learning in school.

Maths Links

Active Learn
Website: www.activelearnprimary.co.uk/planning#abacus
Description: Use your child’s login to access lots of fun and interactive games.

ICT games
Website: www.ictgames.com/resources.html
Description: A selection of fun games to support mathematical skills.