Year 1 & 2 Class information page 2025 - 2026

Mrs Calvert

Mrs Allason

Mrs Wright

Mr Murphy

Welcome to Year 1 and 2!

Read on to find out what we'll be up to this term!

Literacy

In Literacy, we will be reading the book The Owl Who Was Afraid of the Dark by Jill Tomlinson.

The Owl Who Was Afraid of the Dark: as read by HRH The Duchess of ...

In their writing, the Year 1s will be working on the following:

Saying the sentence they are going to write before they write it
Use 'and' to join two simple sentences
Reading what they've written to check that it makes sense
Using '-s' and '-es' suffixes for plurals

The Year 2s will be working on:

Using commas to separate items in a list
Use coordinating conjunctions 'but' and 'or' in sentences
Reading what they've written to check that it makes sense
Revising what they've written and fixing mistakes
Using apostrophes in contractions (isn't, aren't)

Foundation Subjects

In Science, we will be looking a classifying animals into groups, such as mammals, fish, birds, invertebrates, reptiles and amphibians. We will also be learning about animals' diets and how to classify them as herbivores, carnivores and omnivores.

In Geography we will be looking at the UK and the different types of places we can find there. We will also be focussing on our local woodland and what human or physical features we can find there.

In RE, we will be learning about Judaism. We will be asking how Jewish people show their faith, looking at Shabbat, The Star of David and The Torah.

In Art, our topic is called Explore and Draw. In it, we will be looking at our environment and how artists, such as Rosie James and Alice Fox, explore it using drawing and mark making.

In Music, our unit is called Let Your Spirit Fly. We will be looking at R&B music to learn about pulse, rhythm and pitch. We will be looking at songs such as Ain't No Mountain High Enough by Marvin Gaye and You Are My First, My Last, My Everything by Barry White.

In PHSE, our unit is called 'Money Matters'. In it, we will be learning about money's role in day-to-day life and exploring our own needs and wants. We will look at saving, earning money and essentials.

In Computing, we are learning about Digital Painting, using computers to create media.

Reading

We are continuing to follow Little Wandle Letters and Sounds, Revised this year. This scheme will be used to teach Year 1 phonics and Year 2 spelling lessons.

Your child will come home with a book for enjoyment each week. We will not be expecting your child to be able to read all of this book independently. It is exactly as it says - a book to enjoy, alone, with a parent, with a sibling, with anyone! Just enjoy the story together. Let them read bits that they can but most importantly take the time in a comfy spot - bed, sofa or even outside - together! This book will be changed only on a Monday.

Don't forget to read your e-book or your coloured book at home at least three times a week. Please use the reading record provided to record ONLY e-book/colured book reads where sessions have been child led - we do not expect reading for pleasure sessions or adult led reading to be recorded. Again, these books will be changed every Monday.

Remember, you will receive a reward for CHILD LED reading at home as follows:

White = 15 reads

Bronze = 30 reads

Silver = 45 reads

Gold = 60 reads

Platinum = 75 reads

Platinum + = 100 reads

Diamond = 150 reads

Ruby = 200 reads

Emerald = 250 reads

In PE this term, we will be doing multiskills and invasion games. PE days will be Monday and Friday so please ensure a full PE kit is in school at all times.

The children should come to school at the beginning of the half term with their PE kit in a small, drawstring bag, which is to be kept in school until the end of the half term when we will send them home for washing. We would also appreciate your help in allowing the children to independently dress and undress themselves at home. In Key Stage 1, it is an expectation that the children get themselves ready for PE.

Children will usually wear their white shorts and navy PE t-shirt for PE but as the cold weather continues, they can instead wear tracksuit bottoms or leggings on their lower half if those are more comfortable. It is a good idea to have both options in the PE bag - please make sure that you show your children the different items that are in there or even get them to pack it with you!

Please ensure all items are labelled with your child's name. If items of clothing are lost and are unnamed, it is incredibly difficult for these to be returned to their owner.

Homework

Children will be sent home with a spelling based activity each week. This will focus on spellings children have been practising within lessons. This is to be handed in on a Monday and will be sent home every Tuesday. Spelling tests will take place each Monday.

Children are responsible for bringing home the work which has been set for them and then handing it in the following week. This promotes further independence.

All children are expected to engage with Times Table Rock Stars every week. Certificates will be given out on a Friday to those who have done well that week. Children are expected to complete a total of at least 15 minutes each week.

Coats/bags

Your child will need a coat in school at all times as we will be doing as much as we can outside and the weather can vary each day.

No bags, apart from lunch bags, book bags and PE bags, are needed in school. Bags that are not school book bags will be sent home as we simply do not have space for these items in school. Children's book bags will be kept in trays - please can any keyrings attached to bookbags be kept to a minimum.

Please make sure that all items of clothing, including PE kits, shoes, and coats, have the children's names on the labels. The children may be able to identify their belongings at home, but it is surprising how difficult they find it when they haven't worn something for a while and it looks so similar to everyone else’s!

Water Bottles

Please remember that children need a full water bottle every day and we will send them home every night for a wash and refill. School water bottles can be bought from the office for £1.

Things to Do at Home

Times Table Rock Stars
Practise your times tables and test your recall of multiplication facts against the clock.

Play here: https://play.ttrockstars.com/auth/school/student/23174

ICT Games (Maths)
Click the 'Maths' tab to have a go at all sorts of different interactive maths activities

Play here: http://www.ictgames.co.uk/

ICT Games (Phonics)
Click the 'English' tab to have a go at all sorts of different interactive phonics and spelling activities

Play here: http://www.ictgames.co.uk/

Oxford Owl (Reading)
Free-to-read, colour-banded Oxford Reading Tree books to read digitally

Log-in here: https://www.oxfordowl.co.uk/login?active-tab=students (Just create a personal log-in for this one)

Maths Songs
Sing along to some great maths songs to practise your times tables, counting and shapes

Watch here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLWc_LkDZW58oQMe7wohFAHtNYKBNR33Yz

French Songs
Learn some French with these French songs