Year 1&2 are continuing to work very closely together, to ensure good continuity and challenge for all the children. Working in this way means that we can build on the excellent Foundation Stage principles of thematic learning to captivate the children and inspire them.

I believe that year 1 children are entitled to good quality play to increase their understanding of the world around them and build on the skills they are developing. Which is why, in our year 1 classroom you will find a range of 'learning areas', based on the areas found in an Early Years setting. We have a writing area, maths area, small world, role play, painting and workshop areas, sand, construction area, reading area and a listening area, all of which are linked to our topic to ensure the children develop a good understanding of the theme.

Play helps children learn about the world in which they live. They can investigate and discover, test their theories, build their self-esteem, build social skills, learn to share and take turns. These are all skills which I believe need nurturing past Foundation Stage, into Key Stage1. All this play, alongside activities and tasks which are appropriate to the child,will ensure that children have a smooth transistion into Key Stage 1, and will be ready to learn and develop in their own way and time.

As the year moves on the children will become more engaged in direct teaching and activities allowing them to discover their own abilities and preparing them for year 2. The 'learning areas' will become a backup to the learning and teaching allowing the children to use their newly learnt information in their own preferred way.

Remember 'Open House' is on tuesday evenings immediately after school. Feel free to come in and chat or just have a look around.

Thank you

Miss McGrath

Year 1 teacher, KS1 leader

Spring Term

Our thematic topic this half term, along with year 2, will be 'Dinosaurs'. We will use this topic to engage the children in all areas of the curriculum. The topic will broaden out to include science, where we will be growing some plants from seeds to create a habitat for our 'moving dinosaurs' which we will make in DT. Our writing will be based on the well known story of Jack and the beanstalk, to incoprorate growing, before moving on to helping the children write a new ending for the story, (possbly incorporating dinosaurs!). We will be using a lot of art and design techniques throughout this topic, in our discrete Design and Technology lessons, and also in the making and creating of an 'archaeological dig site' where the children can role play being paleontologists and use their enquiry skills to discover things about the past.

Siân McGrath English Martyrs Catholic Primary School Wakefield KS1 leader ~ ICT coordinator