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Year 1 Spectacular Sycamores and Positive Palms 25-26
Welcome to Our Page!
Spectacular Sycamores
Look at our classrooms!
Our classrooms are well organised and provide a calm environment to promote the children to be independent. The children can find their own resources to support them in learning.
Positive Palms
Positive Palms
Our Dojo Masters are:
Positive Palms – Opal and Noor
Our Eco-Councillors are:
Positive Palms – Jason
Our School Councillors are:
Positive Palms – Princess
Spectacular Sycamores
Our Dojo Masters are:
Spectacular Sycamores – Bilal and Peniel
Our Eco-Councillors are:
Spectacular Sycamores – Laura
Our School Councillors are:
Spectacular Sycamores – Gabriella
This term in Year 1, we are learning about superheroes from the past who changed the world! We are finding out about Alexander Graham Bell and his amazing invention of the telephone, and we are also learning about Louis Braille, who created Braille to help blind people read. In Science, we are exploring our five senses and how they help us understand the world around us. In RE, we are learning about Christianity and the stories that Christians believe are important.
For this half term we are going to be focussing on our oracy. We will be writing a range of captions, predictions and labels in relation to the book that we will be focussing on that week.
We will then be looking at the unit of : The place value of punctuation and grammar.
This unit will teach the student common, proper nouns and verbs and how they all work together to make a sentence.
We are looking at a range of Julia Donaldson Books this half term to support our Oracy English unit.
Memorable Experience
Our memorable experience this term will be exploring the outdoor trails, spotting different plants and trees, and learning about nature all around us. We will also have fun on the adventure play areas and worked together to explore the activities indoors. We will spend the day using our senses to discover new things, and spend time outdoors with our friends.
Careers
This half term we will be inviting a guide dog into school and learning about what their job is.
During this topic we will be learning about our local environment. We will go for a walk and discover what is in out local area. We will also be looking at maps and investigating how they are read.
Key Text:
Our Tower by JOSEPH COELHO
Memorable Experience
We will be having a walk around our local area. Come back to find out what we find.
Careers
Come back soon to see who comes to see us.
During this topic we are going to be learning about a place in Africa. We are then going to be comparing the differences between that place and Derby.
Key Text:
Meerkat Mail by Emily Gravett
Memorable Experience
Come back to see what we do
Careers
Come back soon
During this topic we will be learning about the natural environment. We will be visiting a wood and investigating the trees and seasonal change.
Key Text:
Little Red Riding Hood
Hook:
Coming soon!
In this topic we will be learning about the world and maps of the world. We will be learning about the names of the different oceans and continents. We will also be looking at sea pollution and human and physical features in geography.
Key Text:
The Night Pirates
Hook:
Coming soon!
See below for any important information you need to know:
Autumn 1
10th September: Meet the Teachers
4th/5th Nov (TBC) Parents afternoon
TBC Parental engagement
28th Oct- 3rd: HALF TERM
Autumn 2
TBC: Parental engagement
19th December – INSET DAY – School closed for children
Spring 1
5th January – INSET DAY – School closed for children
TBC: Parental engagement
TBC: Phonics screening Parent Meeting
13th February – 23rd February – HALF TERM
Spring 2
23rd February INSET DAY – School closed for children
Summer 1
Summer 2
W/C 8th June – Phonics screening check
Weekly Homework:
Throughout each half term we will be sending home one piece of homework a week, either linked to our English or maths learning and you will also have the option to complete some of the topic based activities as you can find in each tab of the half term, or below:
Topic Homework
As well as the weekly homework your child will also be given Topic homework. The children have to complete at least 4 activities each half term. At the end of the each half term we will celebrate the children’s work with a certificate and special prize.
PE:
For Spectacular Sycamores, PE will be on a Monday
For Positive Palms, PE will be on a Wednesday
What to wear:
We ask for the children to wear PE kit each week. They are required to wear black shorts or tracksuit bottoms, a white PE top and black trainers. During the cooler months, the children can also bring a hoodie to wear, only for PE.
This year we have a new phonics scheme so are trialing using eBooks using the ColinsHub website (see link below)
Your child will receive a log on from their teacher. Once they have logged on you will be able to read a selection of books suitable for their reading level. These will be updated weekly with the book your child has been reading in school that week.
At the end of Year 1 children are assessed using the National Phonics Screening Check. This assessment gathers information on the children’s ability to blend and segment decodable words to read.
The children sit with their class teacher, one to one in a relaxed environment, and read 40 words. Some words are real words and some are nonsense words .
If a child in Year 1 does not meet the required pass standard, they will re take the test in Year 2. Through-out Year 2 the children will be supported and will have interventions to help them to develop in phonics. They will also continue on the RWI program. The children will then retake the test in June.
Moving to Year 3, if any children still need support with their reading, writing and confidence in this area this will be put in place for them. They will also continue on the RWI program, having phonics lessons specific to their Assessment and needs.
© Copyright 2025 Firs Primary School
Part of the Derby Diocesan Academy Trust (DDAT) family of schools
Registered Address: Unit 3 Top Floor Endcliffe Mount, Deepdale Business Park, Ashford Road, Bakewell, Derbyshire. DE45 1GT
Tel: 0333 3554353, Email: info@ddat.org.uk