🍂 Autumn Term Learning

This term is all about settling into Year 1, developing independence and building confidence as learners. The children will continue to learn through practical experiences, discussion and exploration whilst gradually taking on new challenges across the curriculum.

📖 English

We begin the year with The Something, a beautifully illustrated story that encourages children to think imaginatively and describe events in sequence. Through storytelling, role play and discussion, the children will learn how to construct clear sentences and begin to add more detail to their writing.

Later in the term, we will be exploring Star in a Jar. This delightful text provides lots of opportunities for creativity, helping children develop their narrative writing and inspiring them to write for different purposes, including creating their own posters and descriptive sentences. 

Towards Christmas, we will use How to Hide a Lion as the stimulus for writing instructions. The children always enjoy helping the lovable lion solve his problems while learning how instructions need to be precise, organised and easy to follow. 

🔢 Mathematics

In maths, we will spend lots of time building a secure understanding of number. Rather than rushing ahead, we focus on helping children understand numbers deeply by counting, comparing, representing and explaining their thinking.

The children will explore place value within 10, addition and subtraction facts and begin learning about shape. Through practical activities, games and problem-solving, they will develop confidence when discussing their mathematical ideas and strategies.

Alongside this, we are excited to continue with our Mastering Number programme, supported by the NCETM (National Centre for Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics). This daily number fluency practice builds on the children’s learning from EYFS and will help them to develop a secure and confident understanding of numbers as they progress through Key Stage 1 and beyond.

Phonics and Early Reading

🔤 Read Write Inc.

This year, children will continue to take part in our daily Read Write Inc. phonics lessons.

Read Write Inc. teaches children the sounds that letters make and helps them to apply this knowledge when reading and writing. As children become more confident, they learn to blend sounds effortlessly, read increasingly complex words and develop their fluency and expression.

Phonics sessions are fast-paced, engaging and carefully matched to each child's stage of development. Children will bring home books that closely link to the sounds they have been learning in school, enabling them to practise and celebrate success at home.

As the year progresses, we place increasing emphasis on understanding what has been read as well as simply reading the words. We want children to become thoughtful readers who can talk confidently about stories, characters and information texts.

🔬 Science

Our young scientists will be observing the changing seasons and investigating the weather around us. Living in Cumbria gives us a fantastic opportunity to notice seasonal differences firsthand, and we will regularly take our learning outdoors.

The children will also begin learning about trees, animals and the different ways humans and animals grow, survive and meet their needs. We encourage children to be curious, ask questions and make careful observations about the world around them. 

🌍 Geography

This term we begin our journey around the world. Children will learn about the seven continents and five oceans before exploring the countries of the United Kingdom and their capital cities.

We will use maps, globes and atlases to help children understand where they live in relation to the wider world and develop important geographical vocabulary. 

🕰️ History

This term, children will become local historians as they explore how our community of Brampton has changed over time. Through photographs, maps and historical sources, we will compare shops, streets and everyday life in Brampton today with what they were like in the past.

The children will learn to spot similarities and differences, ask questions about the past and begin to understand how our local area has developed over time. We will encourage them to look carefully at old photographs and consider what has changed, what has stayed the same and why these changes may have happened. This is a fantastic opportunity for children to make meaningful links between history and the place they know best, helping them develop a sense of belonging within our local community.

🎨 Art & Design

Our art lessons will focus on drawing, with children exploring line, shape and simple drawing techniques. They will learn to look carefully at objects and experiment with different ways of representing what they see. The focus is very much on creativity, confidence and enjoyment.

🏗️ Design Technology

Children will become designers and engineers as they explore stable structures. They will investigate what makes a structure strong before planning, building and evaluating their own creations. Expect lots of excitement, testing and problem-solving along the way.

🏃 Physical Education (PE)

In Year 1, we want children to develop a lifelong love of being active. This autumn, our PE lessons will focus on running, jumping, throwing and catching, alongside dance.

Through a range of fun games and activities, children will develop their coordination, balance and teamwork skills whilst building confidence in their physical abilities. We encourage perseverance, resilience and a positive attitude towards challenge, helping children understand that being active is not only important for physical health but also for wellbeing and enjoyment.

In dance, children will explore movement, rhythm and creativity, learning to express ideas and stories through their actions. It is always wonderful to see the children's personalities shine as they gain confidence in performing and collaborating with others.

In Year 1, we want children to develop a lifelong love of being active. This autumn, our PE lessons will focus on running, jumping, throwing and catching, alongside dance. Through a range of fun games and activities, children will develop coordination, balance and teamwork whilst building confidence in their physical abilities.

PE Kit

Please ensure your child has their PE kit in school at all times. Our PE kit consists of:

• House Team coloured T-shirt
• Black shorts
• Trainers suitable for indoor and outdoor activities
• PE bag

PE kits will remain in school and will be sent home periodically for washing. Keeping kits in school means children are always ready to take part in PE lessons and any additional sporting opportunities that arise during the week.

For safety reasons, earrings should be removed before PE wherever possible. If your child is unable to remove their own earrings, please provide tape for them to cover them during lessons.

Where possible, we make the most of our outdoor spaces and encourage children to enjoy being active in all weathers, helping them develop healthy habits that can last a lifetime.

❤️ Personal Development (PSHE)

The transition into Year 1 is an important milestone, so our PSHE curriculum focuses on emotional wellbeing, friendships and understanding how we can help ourselves and others feel happy and safe.

We spend time developing classroom routines, kindness, resilience and independence, helping every child feel valued and confident within our school community.

Reading at Home

📚 A Love of Reading Starts Here

At Brampton Primary School, reading is at the heart of everything we do. In Year 1, one of the most valuable things you can do at home is spend 5 to 10 minutes reading with your child every day.

We do not set formal weekly homework in Year 1 because we believe that regular reading has the greatest impact on children's progress. A short daily reading session develops confidence, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension, whilst also helping children develop a lifelong love of books.

Reading together should be an enjoyable experience. Some days your child may be decoding their reading book independently, whilst on other days you might choose to share a story, talk about pictures, discuss characters or predict what might happen next. Every reading experience counts.

Thank you for supporting us with this. Those few minutes each evening really do make a huge difference.

Class Dojo:

Our Class Dojo is our main channel of communication.  We will put day to day information on there, as well as some pictures of what the children have been up to in school.  Please do not hesitate to message us via Dojo if you need anything. If it is urgent or you need a quick response, please contact school directly.

A Message from Mrs Shovlin and Mrs Sparke

We are incredibly excited about the year ahead and all the opportunities it will bring. Year 1 is a special year where children grow in confidence, independence and maturity whilst still retaining the creativity, curiosity and enthusiasm that make them unique.

Thank you for your continued support. By working together and fostering a love of reading at home, we can help every child flourish and enjoy a successful year at Brampton Primary School.

Mrs Shovlin & Mrs Sparke 🍎

 

 

 

Glossary of terms to help with shared reading at home

A list of Read, Write Inc. terms to help adults and children understand what the book is asking them to do.

Speed Sounds

Practise reading the speed sounds across the lines and in and out of order.

 

Green Words

Words are made up of the graphemes (sounds) listed in the speed sounds and that come up in the story.

Red words

Common words with graphemes are not listed in the speed sound box.

Vocabulary check

After reading the introduction and discussing this with your child, discuss the vocabulary to clarify any misunderstandings in meanings.

Read the story

Read the story on more than one occasion with your child over several days. This will help to build comprehension of the story. It will also help your child gain confidence as they become fluent and familiar with the text.

Questions to talk about

Answer the questions to ‘read and answer’.

Speed words

Practise reading the speed words in and out of order