Welcome to Chestnut 1

Welcome to Chestnut 1! We have a fun filled year ahead of us and I can't wait to get to know you all. Please find information about life in Year 1 below. If you have any questions then please do not hesitate to ask.

Miss Alington - class teacher 

Mrs Alcock - full time teaching assistant and RWI teacher 

Mrs Peters - HLTA (Higher learning teaching assistant) who will cover PPA on Friday afternoons

Mr Baker - Sports coach who will be teaching the children PE every Monday

The transition between Reception and Year 1 can be daunting for some children (and parents!). I would like to reassure you all that we have a very well planned out and gradual transition from EYFS to Year 1. The following will be done to help support all the children through the transition: 

- Daily free flow, both inside and outside 

- Small group work with both the class teacher and teaching assistants 

- Practical learning opportunities in every subject 

- A strong focus on personal, social and emotional development 

- Topic themed choosing time 

- Recognition board focusing on similar targets as Reception (e.g. We are super listeners).

More formal lessons and teacher led tasks will be introduced very gradually nearer the end of the first term. In Year 1 we follow the National Curriculum, which is different to the curriculum in EYFS. Please find our timetable below. 

Topics are taught on a two year rolling program of themes. Our topic this term is Turrets and Tiaras. Year 1 and 2 collaborate together to supply an enriched learning environment where children can access new information, build upon prior knowledge and develop as learners. Literacy, maths, science, music, PE, computing, life skills and RE are taught separately.

We follow the Read Write Inc. phonics and literacy scheme which is taught for an hour every day in small groups. This scheme covers phonics, reading, writing, grammar and comprehension skills. Below is our curriculum web.

Class letters will be posted on SeeSaw every Friday by 4pm. In Year 1 we use SeeSaw in similar ways to Reception, however we do also use it as a whole class journal where group pictures will be published to your accounts. This is used for both teaching purposes but also to show you what we get up to in a school day. 

I am really excited for the year ahead, I hope you are too!

Thank you,

Miss Alington