Year 1 Newsletter 9th January 2026

January 9, 2026

English

In our English lessons next week, we will be creating our own fact file about Neil Armstrong, using the information we have researched in History about him. We will be focussing on using all the tools we have learnt so far in Year 1, including capital letters, full stops, finger spaces and using the conjunction ‘and’ in our writing. We will also learn how to use headings and subheadings correctly. 

 

In phonics we will learning new digraphs (alternative spellings)

 

y (igh) as in fly, dry

ow (oa) as in snow, grow

g (j) as in giant, gem

ph (ff) as in phonics, dolphin

 

We will also be reading the following tricky words:

 

who          whole              where               two           

 

Have a look below to see some examples of the types of ‘real’ or ‘alien/fake’ words they may have to read. More information about the Phonics Screening Check will be given to you later in the year.

 

Real Words:

when               follow                energy                 phone

 

Alien/Fake Words:

frake             greep             larping              trooted

 

Don’t forget to review the sounds and tricky words in the front of the reading records whenever you read with your child.

Reminders

Thursday 15th January Winnie the Pooh themed school dinner.

Thursday 5th February 8,40am – 8.55am Open Door morning – a chance to come and look at your child’s books in the classroom.

Maths

In Maths we will begin our work on place value for numbers up to 20. We will be using these numbers in a variety of simple problem solving contexts including identifying how many tens and ones a number has and one more and one less. We will also be exploring the number line.

Topic

In Science we will be exploring materials and identifying their uses based on their properties.

 

In History we will be learning about Neil Armstrong.

 

In PSHE we will be learning about setting our own goals for the future and explaining how we can best achieve these.

 

In Art we will be completing observational fruit drawings using different shading techniques.  

 

In our mindfulness sessions, we will be learning about the brain:

-the prefrontal cortex (Feel Good Fox)  helps us with executive function, helping us to make good decisions and think about the consequences.

– the amygdala (monkey) that keeps us safe from danger but can be unhelpful as it reacts with big emotions.

Homework

Your child will either have a maths homework booklet or a handwriting homework book.

 

Maths Homework Book – Complete page 12 & 13 (progress test)

Handwriting Homework Book – Complete Pages 19 & 20

 

Please complete these in writing pencil.

 

We are also learning about different materials in our science lessons this term. As an optional activity your child could draw pictures of different materials they find around the house. E.g. wood, glass, plastic, fabric. They could label these too e.g. glass/window.

 

Please speak to your child’s class teacher if you have any questions or concerns.

Top Players

Top Player

Class 4

Elsie Doty

Bernardo Cruz

  

Class 5

Hunter Coleman-Wood

 

Class 6

Freddie Atkinson

Scarlett Dorking

 

Top Dancer

Class 4

Maeve Desmond-Baker

 

Class 5

Colby Boylan

 

Class 6

Violet Fullalove

 

Children’s Health Project

 

Class 4

River Westmore

Class 5

Felicity Brockbank

 

Class 6

Imogen Williams

As the weather is changeable now as we approach winter, please could you ensure all children have a named coat in school everyday.