Our teachers are:
Spectacular Sycamores – Miss Hodges and Miss Harrison
Positive Palms – Mrs Moore, Mrs Newbury, Miss O’Sullivan and Mrs Brown
· SENDCO · ADMISSIONS · CONTACTS · 01332 346230
Year 1 Spectacular Sycamores and Positive Palms 23-24
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 – Dena and Evelyn
Our Eco-Councillors are:
Positive Palms – Seth
Our School Councillors are:
Positive Palms – Minahil
Spectacular Sycamores
Our Dojo Masters are:
Spectacular Sycamores – Casey-Jay and Aditi
Our Eco-Councillors are:
Spectacular Sycamores – Daoud
Our School Councillors are:
Spectacular Sycamores – Viniksha
Throughout our Muck, Mess and Mixtures topic we will be learning all about Florence Nightingale and Mary Seacole. In design and technology we will be making pizza’s and understanding where our food comes from. In science we will be looking at the human body and our senses. Finally, in art and design, we will be looking at multiple artists and creating observational drawings of fruit and vegetables.
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
We will be having a messy afternoon with the children. Will be investigating with lots of different materials and getting very messy!!
Come back soon to see what we do!
Careers
A doctor and an artist will be coming in to talk to us about their jobs.
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
WB:11th September: Meet the Teachers
25th September – New Phonic Scheme Parents Meeting
27th and 28th September: Drumba Workshops
To be confirmed – Parents afternoon
28th Oct- 3rd: HALF TERM
Autumn 2
4th November: INSET Day – School closed for children
11th December: Whole school to Derby theatre
TBC: Parental engagement
Spring 1
TBC: Parental engagement
TBC: Phonics screening Parent Meeting
Spring 2
Summer 1
23rd April: School Photos
Summer 2
W/C 9th 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:
MyOn
As well as the topic homework, we also have a school subscription for MyOn. On here is a library of books that your child can read for free, as well as the books that we will send home on a weekly basis. If you want your child to be using this, you can ask Miss Hodges or Miss O’Sullivan for your child’s login details.
Click here to read the letter about how to use MyOn.
PE:
For Spectacular Sycamores, PE will be on a Tuesday.
For Positive Palms, PE will be on a Monday.
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