Year 1 Team: Miss S Law (Class Teacher): Blog items
Date: 25th Jun 2026 @ 2:51pm
What a wonderful week we have had!
In Maths this week, we focused on place value, recapping our previous learning about tens and ones. The children used Base 10 resources to support their understanding, helping them to physically build and represent numbers. We began working with numbers up to 100, focusing on how many tens and ones each number contains. To deepen their understanding, we also used a hundred square to help visualise numbers within 100, noticing patterns such as counting in tens and spotting sequences. These practical and visual approaches supported the children in developing a secure understanding of place value and how numbers are structured.
In English this week, the children stepped into the role of Bear from our class story Goldilocks and Just the One Bear. They had so much fun working in role, asking thoughtful questions to one another about the story. The children used their understanding of the text brilliantly, asking imaginative and insightful questions such as, “How did you feel when you were walking through the streets?”, “Why did you sit on a cactus?” and “How did the porridge taste?” They then extended this activity by writing a diary entry from Bear’s point of view. The children worked hard to include adjectives and use exciting punctuation to make their writing engaging for the reader. We were so impressed with their creativity and effort.
In History, we continued our learning about toys from the past, taking a closer look at how different toys were made and how they were played with. The children enjoyed exploring the differences between toys from the past and present, developing a deeper understanding of how materials and designs have changed over time.
Our highlight this week was spending the morning in Year 2! The children had the opportunity to explore the classroom and take part in a discussion about the similarities and differences between Year 1 and Year 2. They shared lots of thoughtful ideas and asked excellent questions, showing real maturity and excitement about the transition. It was lovely to see how reassured they felt about what will stay the same, as well as their enthusiasm for the new opportunities Year 2 will bring. To celebrate, we created a class paper chain, with each child writing something they are excited about on a strip before linking them together. It was a wonderful way to bring all of our ideas together.
Well done, Year 1, for another fantastic week of learning. Have a lovely weekend, and thank you for your continued support.
Date: 17th Jun 2026 @ 8:43pm
What a fantastic week we have had!
In Maths this week, our learning focused on halves and quarters. The children took part in a range of practical and engaging activities to help deepen their understanding of fractions. They explored sharing objects into equal groups, folding shapes and using visual representations to recognise one half and one quarter. These hands-on experiences supported the children in developing their understanding that fractions are equal parts of a whole, in line with the Key Stage 1 National Curriculum. The children showed great enthusiasm and growing confidence as they began to recognise and describe simple fractions in a variety of contexts.
In English, we used our phonics knowledge to spell words and create sentences, focusing on Set 2 and Set 3 sounds. The children worked hard to apply their learning independently, using Fred Talk to segment each word carefully before writing. This process really helped them to build accuracy and confidence in their spelling. We also practised dictation this week, using lots of “my turn, your turn” to support memory and sentence recall. The children did a fantastic job of listening carefully, holding sentences and writing them down, really putting their learning to the test.
In History, we continued our learning about toys from the past. The children enjoyed reflecting on what they had learned last week and were excited to share the work they had completed at home with their families. It was wonderful to see such enthusiasm and involvement, and we loved hearing about the special toys that family members played with when they were younger. This helped the children develop a stronger understanding of how toys have changed over time.
In Science this week, we explored the life cycle of a plant. The children learned about each stage, from seed to fully grown plant, and described what happens at each point using pictures and simple descriptive sentences. They enjoyed discussing how plants grow and what they need to survive, linking their learning to the world around them.
Our highlight this week was our fantastic class trip to Tatton Park! We had an amazing time learning all about the Victorians and what life was like for children during that time. The children were fully engaged throughout the day and loved experiencing the life of a servant, being able to act like servants all day really brought our learning to life.
Well done, Year 1, for another wonderful week of learning. Have a lovely weekend, and thank you as always for your continued support.
Date: 11th Jun 2026 @ 5:43pm
This week has been full of exciting learning, hands-on activities and wonderful enthusiasm across all of our subjects.
In Maths, we continued developing our understanding of multiplication and division, focusing on sharing and grouping. The children explored how numbers can be shared equally into groups and how we can group objects together to find totals. We used practical resources such as counters and cubes to help us see these concepts more clearly, supporting the idea that multiplication involves repeated groups and division involves sharing into equal parts. The children worked hard to understand what it means for groups to be equal, linking this to the Year 1 objective of solving simple problems involving multiplication and division using concrete objects and pictorial representations. It has been lovely to see their confidence grow as they explained their thinking and made connections between grouping, sharing and repeated addition.
In English, we focused on writing our own short poems inspired by our new story, Goldilocks and Just One Bear. We listened carefully to a sound clip of a busy city and discussed the different noises we could hear, such as beeping horns, people laughing and singing, and footsteps stomping along the pavement. This helped us to build a bank of ideas before writing our poems. The children were very creative, using their senses and imagination to describe what they could hear and picture. It was wonderful to see such thoughtful word choices and to hear the children sharing their ideas with such excitement.
In History, we continued exploring our topic on toys from the past. This week, we were very lucky to enjoy a special show and tell session, where children brought in old toys to share with the class. We found the stories behind these toys fascinating and loved hearing about who they belonged to and how they were played with. This helped us to deepen our understanding of how toys have changed over time and made our learning even more meaningful.
In DT, we had a fun and practical lesson learning about fruits. The children worked together to sort a range of items into fruits and non-fruits, carefully examining each one. We discovered that fruits contain seeds, and this is what scientists use to classify something as a fruit. The children were really interested to find seeds inside different fruits and were surprised by some of the results. This hands-on experience helped them to better understand how foods are grouped and where they come from.
Well done, Year 1. You have all worked incredibly hard this week and should be very proud of everything you have achieved.
Date: 4th Jun 2026 @ 12:12pm
This week has been full of exciting discoveries, creative thinking and hands-on learning across the curriculum.
In English, we began predicting what our new story might be about. We explored our star vocabulary and even played charades to help us understand and remember some of the new words. The children developed a great understanding of words and phrases such as lolloping, peeked and nipped, and it was wonderful to see them using these in their discussions. We made predictions about the story and many of us thought it might be the familiar tale of Goldilocks and the Three Bears. To help us recall the story, we retold our own versions, sharing ideas and sequencing the events. We are very excited to find out if our predictions are correct.
In Maths, we continued to build our understanding of multiplication and division, focusing on arrays. The children learned about rows and columns and practised creating their own arrays using counters and counting bears. We then linked this to repeated addition, matching number sentences to our arrays. It was fantastic to see the children making these connections and explaining their thinking with increasing confidence.
In History, we started what is sure to be one of our most exciting topics.. toys. We began by exploring toys from the past, comparing the toys we play with today to those our families may have used, as well as toys from Victorian times. The children were fascinated to see how toys have changed over time and asked lots of thoughtful questions.
In RE, we began thinking about what the world might have been like in Jesus’ time compared to our world today. We focused on the ideas of past and present and made comparisons between how people lived then and how we live now. The children particularly enjoyed dressing up as people from Jesus’ time, which helped bring our learning to life and made the experience even more engaging.
Well done, Year 1, you have all worked incredibly hard this week and should be very proud of yourselves.
Date: 20th May 2026 @ 1:06pm
This week has been full of exciting new learning, thoughtful discussions and a wonderfully calm atmosphere in our classroom.
In Maths, we began learning all about time. The children were so excited to start telling the time, and it was lovely to see some children eager to share their prior knowledge. We explored what time means in our daily lives and began to look at o’clock times. We also introduced fractions, focusing on halves and quarters. We discussed the ideas of sharing, grouping and making things equal, and the children enjoyed exploring this with practical resources. It was fantastic to see them beginning to understand these important concepts so confidently.
In PSHE, we had a very special RSE week, where we explored a range of important topics. We had thoughtful discussions about stereotyping and explored how boys and girls can enjoy the same things. The children were really respectful and open-minded during these conversations. We also learned about different types of families and how all families can look different, but are built on the same unconditional love and care. The children showed such maturity and kindness when sharing their ideas, and we were very proud of them.
In PE, we continued with our yoga sessions, which we are all thoroughly enjoying. The children are really embracing the calm and mindful atmosphere, and it has been wonderful to see the positive impact this is having in the classroom. They are becoming more focused, relaxed and ready to learn, making it a truly special part of our week.
Well done, Year 1. You have all worked incredibly hard this half term, and we are so proud of everything you have achieved.
I hope you all have a lovely and restful half term, and we look forward to seeing you again soon.
Date: 14th May 2026 @ 12:12pm
In Maths this week, our learning focused on the 2s, 5s and 10s times tables. The children enjoyed using fun songs and interactive games to help them practise reciting their tables with confidence. They showed great enthusiasm and determination, eagerly challenging themselves to beat their previous scores each time. It has been wonderful to see their growing confidence and motivation as they continue to develop their multiplication skills.
In English, the children put their writing skills to the test by completing an independent write, giving them the opportunity to show how much they have learned this term. They focused on using and to join phrases, applying the prefix un- to change the meaning of words, and using exclamation marks to add expression and excitement to their sentences. The children worked hard and were very proud of their writing, producing some fantastic pieces.
In Geography, we explored where we live in more detail, focusing on addresses and our local area. The children enjoyed discussing their own addresses and learning about why they are important. This helped to deepen their understanding of their local community and how places are organised.
We also enjoyed lots of mindfulness this week during our yoga sessions. The children practised their favourite poses and focused on breathing and relaxation. These sessions helped to create a calm and positive atmosphere, supporting the children’s wellbeing alongside their learning.
Art was a real highlight this week as the children had the opportunity to use LEGO to create pieces of art. They explored primary colours and created abstract designs, using the backs of LEGO bricks to add texture and pattern to their work. The children were incredibly creative and loved experimenting with different techniques.
Well done to everyone for another brilliant week of learning. Have a lovely weekend, and thank you as always for your continued support.
Date: 7th May 2026 @ 8:05pm
In Maths this week, our learning focused on doubles and near doubles to help strengthen quick recall skills. The children took part in a variety of practical and engaging games such as Hit the Button, Snakes and Ladders and dice games, all of which involved rolling doubles and using near doubles to solve calculations efficiently. These activities supported the children in developing confidence and fluency with mental addition while having lots of fun.
In Geography, we explored our local area, discussing Formby and what makes it special. The children learned about the difference between urban and rural areas, identifying key features of each. We compared rural areas such as the Lake District, which has open countryside, hills and fewer buildings, with busy urban areas like Liverpool and Southport, which have more shops, roads, housing and transport links. This helped the children develop a clearer understanding of different types of settlements and how places can vary.
In RE, we worked together as a whole class to complete a large jigsaw puzzle to help us understand the meaning of baptism. Each piece of the puzzle represented a person, showing how being baptised means becoming part of the church community, where everyone belongs and each individual is important. This activity helped the children understand the idea of belonging and how communities are strengthened when everyone is included.
Our news focus this week was the birthday of Sir David Attenborough. The children were fascinated learning about his incredible life and achievements, and we were inspired by the positive impact he has had on our understanding of the natural world. To celebrate, we enjoyed a day of David Attenborough–inspired activities. We were mesmerised watching clips from Our Planet, learned more about his journey to becoming such an influential figure, and used whiteboards and magnifying glasses to explore minibeasts on the playground. The children also used iPads to draw animals, create posters about their favourite natural wonders and even recorded their own David Attenborough–style voice-overs.
Well done to everyone for another fantastic week of learning. Have a lovely weekend, and thank you for your continued support.
Date: 30th Apr 2026 @ 4:42pm
The children have continued to show fantastic attitudes, working hard, supporting one another and approaching new challenges with confidence.
In English, we focused on developing our character description skills. The children practised writing full sentences using a range of adjectives to describe characters clearly and in detail. We also worked on joining ideas using words such as and and so that, helping sentences to flow and make sense. To extend our descriptions further, we introduced the use of words ending in est to compare characters, for example “He is the strongest cowboy!” The children had some brilliant ideas and showed great progress in building richer, more descriptive sentences.
In Maths, we continued to strengthen our understanding of place value by developing our addition skills. The main focus was adding on by making links to known number bonds. The children practised using number bonds confidently to help them calculate addition problems more efficiently, explaining their thinking and making connections between numbers. This approach supported their growing fluency and confidence when working with numbers.
In Geography, we learned more about key landmarks found within the countries of the United Kingdom. The children explored famous locations such as the London Eye in England and Edinburgh Castle in Scotland, discussing what they look like, where they are found and why they are important. This helped to deepen their understanding of the UK’s geography and develop their ability to recognise and talk about significant human features.
In Music, we explored how music can be created using everyday objects. The children experimented with making different sounds using items such as brushes, pencils, water, skipping ropes and even tennis rackets. They listened carefully to how sounds changed and discussed which objects made high, low, loud or quiet sounds. We are really looking forward to creating our own simple instruments using everyday materials.
In PE, we enjoyed another yoga session, learning new poses and showing lots of creativity by inventing fun and imaginative names for them. Later in the week, we loved our tennis lesson on Thursday. The children learned how to hold a tennis racket correctly and took part in games that developed control and coordination, practising keeping the ball balanced and moving the racket carefully.
Reminders for this week:
- Please ensure all children are wearing the correct school uniform each day, in line with the uniform policy.
- All children should bring a water bottle to school every day.
- Where possible, please provide a healthy snack for morning break time.
- Outdoor learning will continue on Fridays; children are welcome to bring a change of shoes if needed.
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Additional contributions are still being collected for this term, as outlined in the letter sent in September. These contributions help us to provide a wide range of enriching experiences for the children throughout the year. All contributions are greatly appreciated and make a real difference to the opportunities we can offer our pupils. Thank you for your continued support.
Well done, Year One, for another fantastic week. We hope you all have a lovely weekend and enjoy the bank holiday!
Date: 23rd Apr 2026 @ 3:52pm
In Maths this week, our focus was place value within 50, in line with the National Curriculum objectives for Year One. The children worked hard to recognise, read and order numbers to 50, developing a clear understanding of how numbers increase and relate to each other. A key area of learning was using and estimating on a number line to 50. The children practised placing numbers accurately, ensuring they were the correct way around and in the correct order, and began to estimate where numbers should sit between given points. This helped to strengthen their underst
anding of magnitude and position, and it was lovely to see their confidence grow as the week went on.
In English, we focused on developing our descriptive writing skills. The children thoroughly enjoyed unpicking characters and discussing their appearance, feelings and personalities. We explored how using a variety of adjectives and descriptive phrases can help bring characters to life, and the children had some fantastic ideas.
In RE, we shared baptism photographs and talked about what we could remember from these special days. The children listened respectfully and enjoyed learning about one another’s experiences. We also learned about the baptism of Jesus and began to understand why baptism is such an important celebration for Christians, marking a welcome into the church community. The discussions were thoughtful and showed growing understanding of faith and belonging.
In Geography, we learned about the countries and cities within the United Kingdom. The children identified England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and explored some major cities and their famous landmarks. We discussed features such as the London Eye and Edinburgh Castle, developing our knowledge of what makes different places special and recognisable.
Well done Year One for another super week of hard work. We are very proud of you all and hope you have a lovely, restful weekend.
Date: 16th Apr 2026 @ 5:50pm
What a wonderful week it’s been in Year 1 – full of thoughtful learning, new topics, and lots of smiles!
In Maths, we continued to develop our understanding of place value within 50. The children worked really hard using tens and ones frames, as well as Base 10 resources, to physically build and represent numbers. We have been practising how to use a place value chart with growing confidence, and it has been fantastic to see how secure the children are becoming when working with tens and ones.
In English, we began an exciting new story called Toys in Space. We made links to the much-loved film Toy Story, comparing characters and thinking about similarities and differences. This week, we explored the first few pages, making predictions about what might happen next and discussing how the characters might be feeling. There were some brilliant ideas and lots of imaginative thinking!
In RE, we started our lovely new topic all about Baptism. It was wonderful to share our own memories of baptisms and to talk about what a baptism is and why it is special to Christians. The children listened carefully to one another and shared their experiences so thoughtfully. Next week, we are looking forward to exploring these memories further by looking at photographs from these special occasions.
In Geography, we explored the continents and oceans of the world. Using music, pictures, and maps, the children began to learn their names and locations. It was a fun and engaging way to start building our understanding of the wider world.
In PE, we enjoyed a calm and relaxing yoga session, trying out different poses and focusing on our balance and breathing. We also began our new topic of net and wall games, where we practised rolling small balls with control and accuracy.
Well done, Year 1, for all your hard work and enthusiasm this week. Have a lovely, restful weekend!
Date: 24th Mar 2026 @ 2:07pm
We’ve had another fantastic week in class, filled with curiosity, creativity and so many proud moments.
In Maths this week, we focused on mass and capacity, with a particular emphasis on understanding capacity. The children developed a great understanding of what volume and capacity mean and were able to confidently recall our star vocabulary throughout the week, including full, empty, nearly full and nearly empty. We used a range of containers, cups and pots to compare capacity, describing which held more or less and explaining our thinking clearly.
To celebrate World Maths Day, we enjoyed a whole day of exciting maths challenges. We designed the longest repeated patterns, built the tallest and longest structures in the block area, and worked on super tricky shape patterns using iPads and Lego. It was a brilliant day full of teamwork, problem‑solving and lots of smiles.
We also completed a fantastic DT project this week: designing and making our very own hand puppets. Using colourful felt, staples, glue and plenty of imagination, the children created wonderful characters and showed great determination and creativity. They were so proud of their finished puppets, and rightly so!
With Easter approaching, we enjoyed getting into the festive spirit. One of our highlights was taking part in Easter baking, making delicious rice crispy cakes. The children loved mixing and decorating their treats. We also created beautiful Easter cards using bright colours, collage and thoughtful messages.
In RE, we discussed how the Easter story is represented in the celebrations that take place across the UK. The children shared some of their favourite Easter traditions and talked about special memories. We then learned about different parts of a church and how many of these features represent elements of the Easter story. The children showed a thoughtful understanding and asked some excellent questions.
It has been a wonderful week full of learning, creativity and special moments. We are very proud of the children for their enthusiasm, positivity and brilliant behaviour throughout, enjoy a lovely half term Year 1! I look forward to seeing you all after Easter!
Date: 20th Mar 2026 @ 4:10pm
We have had another wonderful week in Year One, full of learning, excitement and brilliant behaviour. The children have continued to impress us with their kindness, manners and enthusiasm, and it has been lovely to see how happily they have settled back into school life.
In Maths this week, we focused on mass, using practical equipment to measure and compare weight. The
children explored balancing scales, handled different classroom objects and used key vocabulary such as heavier, lighter, heaviest and lightest. They enjoyed making predictions, checking their ideas and discussing their findings with great confidence.
In RE, the children created beautiful watercolour artwork linked to the Easter story. They explored colour mixing, brush control and thoughtful imagery, resulting in some truly lovely pieces that showed care and creativity.
During our sing and praise assemblies, we continued to learn a range of new songs. The children have par
ticularly enjoyed learning the actions and performing each song with energy and enthusiasm. Their confidence when singing together has grown so much this term.
In Computing, we had a very exciting session using iPads. The children learned how to scan QR codes and log in to their own accounts independently. We explored Seesaw and practised using digital tools to draw with shapes, which ended up being one of the highlights of the week.
Our favourite moment this week was our fantastic trip to Windmill Farm. The children had a brilliant time playing in the park, riding the go‑karts and tackling the obstacle course. They met lots of different animals and had the special opportunity to feed lambs, goats, llamas and alpacas. Everyone showed great bravery and care when handling and feeding the animals. We also visited the reptile room, where we learned fascinating facts about bearded dragons, snakes and other creatures. The children listened beautifully and asked thoughtful questions throughout. We were incredibly proud of how sensibly and politely Year One represented our school during the entire trip.
Thank you for a lovely week of hard work, fun and fantastic behaviour. We hope you all enjoy a restful and happy weekend.
Date: 12th Mar 2026 @ 5:33pm
What a wonderful week we’ve had in Year 1!
This week has been full of hands-on learning, incredible imagination and plenty of “wow” moments across all our subjects.
In Maths, we began exploring length and height. The children loved comparing objects around the classroom and deciding which were longer, taller or shorter. We used both non-standard units such as blocks and cubes, as well as standard units like rulers. It was brilliant to see the children carefully lining up their equipment, checking their measurements and talking confidently about what they had found. Their enthusiasm for practical Maths made our lessons lively and exciting.
In English, we wrote our very first diary entry all about Timothée and his chase to find his brother, Teddy. I was absolutely blown away by the quality of the writing this week. Every single child showed such incredible effort—their imagination shone through, and their thoughtful vocabulary choices made their diary entries so exciting to read. It was a true joy to see how hard they have all been working and how proud they were of their finished pieces.
In RE, we spent time discussing the Easter Story. The children shared what they already knew, asked thoughtful questions, and then explored why Spring is often linked with Easter. We talked about new life, growth and hope, which linked beautifully with the fact that we now have our very own caterpillars in Year 1. We are looking forward to watching them grow and change over the next few weeks.
In Geography, we continued learning about life on the farm. This week was especially exciting because some of our own little experts brought in real objects from the farm, along with videos and photographs. The children were fascinated and asked so many brilliant questions to find out more about what life is really like for a farmer. We are beginning to understand just how much hard work goes into running a farm, and the children showed fantastic curiosity throughout.
Reminders -
Our trip to Windmill Farm is next Thursday, 19th March.
Please ensure children wear their PE kits.
If your child is bringing a packed lunch, please ensure it is in a disposable bag and that they have a disposable water bottle.
Date: 5th Mar 2026 @ 7:31pm
What a fun and exciting week it’s been in Year 1!
In Maths, we continued building on our place value learning from last week. This time we worked with numbers from 20 to 50, practising our counting and becoming more confident with larger numbers. We also developed our partitioning skills, breaking numbers up into tens and ones. Using Base 10 resources really helped us to see how numbers are made and supported our understanding. The children did a fantastic job explaining their thinking and showing how they know how many tens and ones are in a number.
In English, we worked hard on developing our descriptive writing. Using our new story as inspiration, we practised writing sentences that describe what is happening in more detail. We focused on using the word “and” to join phrases together and make our sentences longer and more interesting. The children came up with some wonderful ideas and showed great imagination in their writing.
In Geography, we continued learning about life on the farm. This week we discovered more about how animals are looked after, learning about pig sties and chicken coops. The children enjoyed discussing why animals need different types of homes and how farmers care for them.
It was also an extra special week because we celebrated World Book Day! We were lucky enough to take part in a fantastic dance lesson, moving and grooving to “I Want to Be Like You” from The Jungle Book. We were so impressed by everyone’s brilliant listening skills and enthusiastic dancing. The monkey-like moves and wonderful partner work were definitely a highlight! We had a Matilda-themed day, which was so much fun. One of our favourite activities was making mini chocolate cakes to recreate the famous chocolate cake scene. The children loved acting out their favourite moments while enjoying their delicious creations. It was such a joyful way to celebrate our love of stories and books.
Date: 25th Feb 2026 @ 6:28pm
What a fantastic week it’s been in Year 1. It has been wonderful to welcome you all back to school after a well deserved break!
In Maths, we turned our attention to place value, working with numbers greater than 20. The children explored how numbers are made up of tens and ones and practised representing them in different ways. We talked about how quickly and easily we can fill ten frames to help us count larger numbers with confidence. One of our favourite activities this week was playing Race to 50! The excitement in the classroom was brilliant, and it was a fantastic way to put our place value knowledge into action.
In English, we began a brand-new story featuring a very mysterious main character. The children became detectives, hunting for clues throughout the week to work out who (or what!) it could be. There were lots of thoughtful guesses and brilliant discussions, and by the end of the week we discovered that a curious woolly mammoth was on the loose! Some of us guessed correctly on the very first day – super stars!
In Geography, we started our new topic all about life on the farm. We learned about the different types of produce that farms grow and rear, and the children enjoyed sharing their own experiences of visiting farms or seeing farm animals. We’re excited to continue exploring where our food comes from.
In RE, we began learning about spring and how it represents new life. The children were set a special challenge to look for signs of spring around them. We made some lovely discoveries in the playground, in our gardens at home, and even on our walks to school. From blossom on trees to brighter mornings and new flowers blooming, the children were fantastic at spotting the changes around them. I was so impressed with their enthusiasm and keen observation skills!
Well done, Year 1, for another week of hard work and brilliant learning. Keep shining!
Date: 11th Feb 2026 @ 11:47am
What a fantastic end to our half term in Year 1 – full of reflection, creativity, and brilliant learning!
In Maths, we continued focusing on subtraction within 20, but this week we challenged ourselves even further by exploring related facts and fact families. We discovered how addition and subtraction number sentences are connected and how knowing one fact can help us work out another. The children worked so hard to spot these links and explain their thinking. We have absolutely loved playing maths games this half term – especially Snakes and Ladders! It has been such a fun way to put our number knowledge to the test and practise counting forwards and backwards with confidence.
In RE, we brought together our learning about key Christian beliefs, including Creation, The Fall, the Trinity, and Salvation. We reflected on why Christians believe Jesus is special and discussed how he performed miracles because he was sent by God – God in human form. It has been wonderful to see the children beginning to understand and talk about these important ideas with growing confidence.
In History, we brought our Titanic learning to a close by discussing ways the disaster could have been prevented. The children used their knowledge to explore different factors, such as investing more money in lifeboats, having speed limits, and improving lifeboat training drills. This led to some fantastic discussions and showed how confidently the children can now think about cause, effect, and change.
We also had so much fun with junk modelling this week! Using cardboard boxes, tubes, and recycled materials, the children used their creativity and imagination to design and build their very own Titanic models. The teamwork and enthusiasm on display were wonderful to see.
Important reminders:
Reading books have been collected this week ready for regrouping next half term, so children will not have school reading books over the holidays.
QR codes have been sent out to help further embed the sounds the children have been taught this half term. Please try to watch these over the holiday – one a day is recommended to keep the learning fresh.
To continue developing a love for reading, please spend time reading with your child using books of their choice. Sharing stories together is one of the best ways to build confidence, fluency, and enjoyment in reading.
I am so incredibly proud of all your hard work this half term, Year 1. You have all made wonderful progress – enjoy a very well-deserved break!
Date: 29th Jan 2026 @ 1:08pm
What a fantastic week we’ve had in Year 1! The children have continued to amaze us with their enthusiasm, determination and wonderfully positive attitudes towards their learning. It has been lovely to see them supporting each other, challenging themselves and celebrating their successes as a class.
In Maths this week, we focused on addition and subtraction, with lots of work on number bonds to 20. W
e revisited our number bonds to 10 and made connections to help us build our understanding of larger numbers. The children used a range of practical resources, including counters and tens frames, to show their thinking clearly. They also tackled some tricky problem‑solving questions, showing brilliant reasoning and perseverance. Their confidence with number bonds is really growing!
In English, we spent time writing in role. The children took on the role of the mouse from The Lion Inside, imagining what he might say or think when he decides to be brave and become a tougher mouse. We also learned about words ending in -ed, discussing how these verbs often describe actions that have already happened. The children enjoyed spotting -ed words in sentences and using them in their own writing — they produced some fantastic character pieces.
History was a particularly thoughtful part of our week. We explored how the tragedy of the Titanic has been represented over time. The children looked at pictures from around the time the disaster happened and compared how similar or different these were to other representations they had seen. We discussed why the event might have been shown in certain ways and how we think it should have been represented. Their ideas were incredibly insightful — real historical thinking at its best.
In Science, we sorted a variety of everyday materials such as rubber, rock, plastic, fabric, metal and glass. The children talked about the properties of each material using words like fragile, soft, hard, stretchy and tough. They enjoyed grouping and discussing the materials, and they showed a great understanding of how different materials behave and what they might be used for.
Well done, Year 1, for another brilliant weekof learning and exploring. You have all worked so hard and shown such maturity and curiosity. Have a lovely weekend — you’ve earned it!
Date: 20th Jan 2026 @ 12:43pm
What a lovely week it has been in Year 1! The children have continued to impress us with their enthusiasm, teamwork and positive attitudes towards learning. Each day has been full of great discussions, brilliant ideas and lots of happy moments.
In Maths, we explored number lines in more depth. We looked at how number lines can start and end at different points, and how they can move in different steps such as 1s, 2s and 10s. We also learned what estimating on a number line looks like and practised using halfway points to help us decide where other numbers might go. The children showed fantastic reasoning skills as they explained their thinking — it was wonderful to see their confidence grow.
In English, we focused on unpicking the character of the lion from The Lion Inside. We talked about how he is confident, strong and sometimes a little scary. The children completed a roll-on-the-wall activity to describe him, thinking carefully about the words they could use and what it really means to describe a character. Their vocabulary choices were thoughtful and detailed.
In History, we delved deeper into the story of the Titanic and looked closely at the different causes of the tragedy. We read several explanations of what might have happened all those years ago and worked in groups to discuss how valuable each explanation was. The children then fed back as a whole class and discussed which explanation they thought was the most likely and why. Their reasoning was impressive, definitely historians in the making!
In RE, we read the story of Jesus calming the storm and talked about how many of the stories we have learned show Jesus performing miracles. The children created their own pictures of the Bible story and wrote sentences to caption what was happening in each part. They worked beautifully and produced some lovely pieces.
Well done, Year 1, for another fantastic week full of curiosity, creativity and wonderful learning. Have a lovely weekend.
Date: 15th Jan 2026 @ 4:35pm
What a brilliant week we’ve had in class! The children have continued to show such enthusiasm, kindness and happy attitudes towards their learning. It’s been lovely to see them challenging themselves, supporting one another, and celebrating their successes together.
In Maths, we focused on numbers greater than 10, with lots of work on recognising, reading and writing numbers from 11–20. The children really enjoyed the different games we played to put their skills to the test — snakes and ladders was definitely the class favourite this week! It was wonderful to see them confidently identifying numbers, counting carefully and using their growing understanding of place value to help them succeed.
In English, we spent time unpicking the characters in The Lion Inside. We explored describing words and used these to build a clearer picture of both Mouse and Lion. The children did some fantastic roll on the wall work, describing how each character might feel on the inside and how they appear on the outside. Their ideas were thoughtful and imaginative, and it has been lovely to see their confidence with vocabulary growing.
History was another exciting part of our week as we delved deeper into the story of the Titanic. This time, we explored the different social classes on board and discussed why their experiences may have been very different. We also began to think about what it really means to be a historian. Working in teams, the children used sources of evidence from the past — including photographs and illustrations — to decide which facts were true or false. They approached this with such curiosity and teamwork, and it was fantastic to see them reasoning and justifying their ideas like real historians.
In Science, we continued exploring everyday materials, this time looking more carefully at their properties. The children discussed examples such as wood being tough and strong, and glass being transparent. They enjoyed identifying these materials in the classroom and talking about why each material is helpful for certain objects. Their observations were brilliant and showed how well they are beginning to understand the world around them.
In PSHE, we talked about what it means to have a goal. The children shared wonderful personal goals — from getting up and dressed in the morning, to earning a sticker, to trying their best in a game. We’ve also been thinking a lot about being more like Leo the Lion from our story: trying our best, even when things feel tricky, and not giving up when we make mistakes. I have been so proud to see the children practising this throughout the week, showing resilience and courage in their learning.
Overall, it has been a happy, busy and inspiring week. The children continue to amaze us with their enthusiasm and positivity — we can’t wait to see what next week brings.
Date: 8th Jan 2026 @ 2:36pm
What another wonderful week we’ve had together! The children have continued to show beautiful behaviour, lovely manners, kindness towards their friends and such happiness in both playing and learning. It has been amazing to see how confidently everyone has settled back into school life after Christmas, we are so incredibly proud of how fantastically they’ve all returned.
In Maths this week, we carried on exploring numbers within 10–20. We built on our understanding of place value, thinking carefully about how many tens and ones are in each number. The children represented numbers in lots of different ways and practised counting forwards and backwards from different starting points. We used manipulatives like ten frames, bead strings, number fans and base ten to help us, and we played games such as number bingo, snap and matching activities to make learning super fun. The children showed brilliant enthusiasm and growing confidence every day.
In English, we spent more time getting to know our new story The Lion Inside. We explored the characters in more detail and thought about how they might be feeling at different moments in the text. The class came up with fantastic descriptive vocabulary for both lions and mice, and we’ve been using what we know to make predictions about what might happen next. We also continued learning real-life facts about lions and mice, which has helped build our understanding before we fully dive into the story, the curiosity in the classroom has been amazing!
Our History topic, The Sinking of the Titanic, has already become a class favourite. This week we looked at new clues to help us piece together what might have happened, and the children shared thoughtful ideas about why the event is so significant. Their predictions about who might have been on board and why the ship is remembered today were brilliant. We can’t wait to uncover more as our learning continues, it’s such a fascinating topic and the excitement is definitely growing.
In Science, we continued exploring everyday materials. The children investigated wood, metal, plastic, glass, rubber and fabric, and discussed the properties of each. They came up with clever examples of objects made from these materials and explained why they are suitable, from glass windows to wooden furniture and rubber tyres. Their observations were thoughtful and detailed, and it’s wonderful to see them applying their knowledge to the world around them.
Overall, it has been another busy, happy and exciting week full of curiosity and fantastic learning. The children continue to make us smile every single day with their enthusiasm and kindness. We can’t wait for another wonderful week.
Reminders -
- The jumper/cardigan box will be brought out at the end of the day. Please can you ensure items are labelled so these can be returned to children.
- Please ensure to email the new class account Y1@tsp.allsaintsmat.org
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All children across the school are encouraged to read every day, both in and out of school. Additional recommended Reading at Home resources can be found here.
Date: 16th Dec 2025 @ 6:58pm
What a magical and memorable final week of term it has been in Year 1 – truly bursting with creativity, excitement and Christmas cheer!
This week, our classroom transformed into a wonderfully festive hub as we enjoyed a whole range of Christmas activities together. The children absolutely loved making their own Christmas cards, carefully designing them and writing thoughtful messages inside for their families.
We also turned our attention to writing letters to Father Christmas. The children had so much fun sharing their Christmas wishes, but we were especially proud of how polite and kind their letters were, remembering to say please and thank you.
Our creative skills were on full display as we made festive decorations. Cutting, colouring and decorating helped the children practise their fine motor skills, and they were so proud to see their work displayed for everyone to enjoy.
One of the highlights of the week was our Christmas biscuit making. The children loved mixing, cutting and decorating their biscuits, all while following instructions carefully and working together as a team. Of course, tasting the finished biscuits was the best part! The classroom was filled with smiles.
We are so proud of how hard the children have worked this term and how beautifully they have embraced the Christmas spirit.
Reminders
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Please ensure all jumpers and cardigans are clearly labelled so they can always be returned.
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Children will not be bringing books home over the holidays. We encourage you to continue reading their favourite books together to keep their love of reading alive.
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Phonics QR codes have been sent out. Please watch these over the holiday to support your child's reading at home.
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A reminder to please use the new school email for any communication moving forward.
Thank you, as always, for your continued support.
We wish you all a very happy, peaceful and festive holiday – we look forward to seeing everyone in the new year!
Date: 11th Dec 2025 @ 1:23pm
What a magical and memorable week it’s been in Year 1 – full of learning, laughter, and Christmas cheer!
This week, we proudly completed our Maths topic on shape. The children have worked so hard exploring 2D shapes, learning all about their vertices and sides. We enjoyed lots of practical activities in the classroom – from making shapes out of play dough to drawing and labeling them with care. It was wonderful to see the children confidently identifying shapes and explaining their properties. Their enthusiasm for spotting shapes around the classroom was infectious, and we can’t wait to build on this knowledge in the new year!
In RE, we began our new topic: Christmas – Giving and Receiving Gifts. We had some fantastic discussions about the different shapes and sizes gifts can come in, but more importantly, what really makes a gift special. The children shared thoughtful ideas about kindness, love, and the joy of giving. We also learned that the birth of Jesus was the most precious gift of all – a gift from God to the world. It was lovely to see how deeply the children understood this message.
Of course, the Christmas magic didn’t stop there! Our cheeky elf was up to more mischief this week, leaving little messes behind. The children decided to take action – they wrote polite notes asking him to be cleaner and tidy up after himself!
We also had some very special festive treats this week. We enjoyed a Christmas party with Formby High, which was full of fun and excitement. On top of that, we were lucky enough to visit the wonderful Present Room and do some of our own Christmas shopping! The children cannot wait for you to see the gifts they have chosen – they were so thoughtful in their choices.
To finish the week, Friday was a fun-filled extravaganza! We want to say a huge thank you to all the helpers in school and to our amazing families for donating treats, prizes, and their time. You have helped make this week truly magical for the children.
Reminders
- All jumpers left in school will be in a box for parents to check between Monday–Wednesday. After this, they will be moved to the parent room. If you are missing any cardigans or jumpers, please do check this box.
- Please ensure all jumpers and cardigans are clearly labelled so they can always be returned.
- Children will not be bringing books home over the holidays. We encourage you to read their favourite books together to keep their love of reading alive.
- Phonics QR codes have been sent out, children should practice these over the next few weeks to support their sound knowledge.
Have a wonderful Christmas and a happy, restful holiday!
Date: 4th Dec 2025 @ 8:15pm
What a magical and memorable week it’s been in Year 1 – full of sparkle, surprises, and festive joy!
The highlight of our week was, of course, performing our Year 1 Nativity! We are so proud of ourselves. Every child shone on stage, delivering their lines, singing beautifully, and performing with such confidence. It truly was a special moment, and we hope you all enjoyed watching it as much as we enjoyed putting it together.
In RE, we began our new topic, all about the Nativity Story. We explored two different tellings of the story and talked about which parts we liked best. The children shared thoughtful ideas about what they felt were the most important moments, and we finished by recreating our very own nativity scene in the classroom. It was lovely to see how much they already understand about this special story.
In Maths, we continued our learning on shapes, diving deeper into 2D and 3D shapes. The children learned how to spot them in the classroom, name their properties, and explain how they are different. We will be continuing this learning next week, and the children are already excited to discover even more!
But this week had an extra sprinkle of excitement… because our cheeky elf made an appearance! He spent the week playing a sneaky game of hide and seek, leaving us clues each day. The children decided that enough was enough – they wrote him some brilliant letters, set some clever traps, and waited patiently. Finally, on Friday, he came out to play! It seems he had read all of our fantastic letters and was desperate to become part of the Year 1 class.
I am incredibly proud of you all this week. Your hard work, creativity, and festive spirit have been wonderful to see. You all deserve a restful, joy-filled weekend.
Date: 27th Nov 2025 @ 1:58pm
This week has been full of excitement and hard work in Year 1!
We have enjoyed lots more Nativity practice, and the children have been giving it their all. Their singing, acting, and enthusiasm have been incredible, and they are so excited for you to see the final performance. It’s shaping up to be something truly special!
In Maths, we began exploring 3D shapes. The children loved learning the names and properties of different shapes, focusing on spheres, cuboids, cubes, and pyramids. They enjoyed handling real-life examples and spotting these shapes in the world around them – such brilliant curiosity!
In English, our adventure with Nibbles the Book Monster continued. This week, Nibbles caused chaos in Jack and the Beanstalk! We spent time discussing describing words and practiced using them to bring the characters to life. The children also explored diary entries and even had a go at writing one themselves – their creativity really shone through.
In History, we had a very special visitor – a real nurse! The children were fascinated to learn about her job and asked lots of thoughtful questions. We compared nursing now and then, and the children impressed us with everything they already knew. It was a wonderful opportunity to connect our learning to real life.
In RE, we learned about Hinduism and the creation story that Hindus believe in. The children were captivated by the details and enjoyed comparing it to the creation story we believe in. Their ideas and reflections were thoughtful and respectful – such an inspiring discussion.
Well done, Year 1! You have worked so hard and brought so much joy to our classroom this week. We are incredibly proud of you all.
Reminders: Please refer back to messages sent regarding Nativity costumes.
Date: 20th Nov 2025 @ 4:01pm
This week we proudly completed our learning on subtraction. Our focus was on using a number line to help us take away, and the children worked brilliantly to understand how jumping backwards shows subtraction in action. It was wonderful to see their confidence grow as they solved problems and explained their thinking with such enthusiasm.
We continued our adventures with Nibbles the Book Monster, and once again he caused plenty of mischief! This time, Nibbles found his way into some famous fairytales, leaving chaos behind him. The children thought carefully about how the characters might feel and wrote their own imaginative sentences to capture those emotions. Their ideas were thoughtful, creative, and full of empathy.
Our week has been extra busy as we rehearsed for our Nativity. The children have been singing, acting, and performing with so much energy and joy. They are giving it their all, and we cannot wait for you to see the final performance – it’s going to be something very special!
In RE, we had an inspiring lesson about how we can look after our planet and make sure we don’t spoil God’s wonderful creation. The children shared thoughtful ideas about caring for animals, recycling, and protecting nature. It was lovely to see how passionate they are about keeping our world beautiful. We then created some fantastic posters that we are extremely proud of!
In History we explored how hospitals have changed since the time of Florence Nightingale. Looking at pictures from the past and comparing them to hospitals today sparked some brilliant discussions. The children were fascinated by how much has improved and how Florence’s work helped shape the care we see now.
Well done, Year 1! You have worked so hard and brought so much joy to our classroom this week. We are incredibly proud of you all. Have a lovely weekend!