Welcome to Class 1
St Giles-on-the-Heath Primary School
Dear Parents and Carers,
A very warm welcome back to a brand-new school year. I hope you have all had a wonderful summer and enjoyed some special time together. I am so excited to welcome the children into Class 1. Having had the pleasure of teaching them last year, I already know them well and am looking forward to seeing their confidence, independence and love of learning continue to grow.
Everything we do will be guided by our school motto:
Aim High • Be Resilient • Take Care of Each Other
We will also continue developing our Carey Qualities, encouraging children to be resilient, reflective, respectful and resourceful, while building positive relationships and helping every child to flourish.
We really value strong relationships between home and school. For attendance, general enquiries or to contact Mrs Alford, please contact the school office. I am also very happy to arrange a meeting or telephone call. We are a really friendly team and are always here to support you and your child.
If your child requires medicine or an inhaler during the school day, please ensure the appropriate medical forms are completed and returned to the school office along with any medication.
We have a busy and exciting half term ahead! Alongside our curriculum learning, we will continue helping children understand how to keep themselves and others safe, celebrate diversity, build positive relationships and develop the qualities they need to thrive.
Every morning the children will have Read Write Inc. Children are regularly assessed and grouped so teaching closely matches their phonics needs. As their reading develops, we will focus on accuracy, fluency, expression and comprehension.
Your child’s RWI storybook will come home every Wednesday. As children have already practised this book at school, rereading it at home is a wonderful way to build fluency and confidence. Please aim for your child to read five times each week, with each read recorded and signed in their Reading Record. Reading can be varied and fun- share stories, take turns, read to a teddy or sibling, or explore comics, recipes, signs and instructions together- little and often makes an enormous difference.
We will begin the year by exploring place value, securing the foundational mathematical knowledge that children need to become confident mathematicians. Through our mastery approach, children will develop a deep understanding of number before applying this knowledge to our next unit on addition and subtraction. Alongside our main Maths lessons, children will take part in a 10-minute Mastery session four afternoons each week, giving them regular opportunities to revisit, practise and secure important number knowledge.
We will begin our English learning with the traditional fairy tale Little Red Riding Hood. The children will explore the story in depth before using what they have learned to create their own narratives. We will then move into non-fiction writing, linking closely with our History learning. Inspired by the Little People, BIG DREAMS book about Florence Nightingale, children will use their historical knowledge to write a biography of Mary Seacole.
Throughout our English sequences, we will place a strong emphasis on securing the foundations of successful writing. Children will learn to construct complete sentences containing a subject and a verb, while consistently remembering capital letters and full stops. Once these foundations are secure, we can begin introducing increasingly complex grammar and sentence structures.
Children will also have a dedicated handwriting session four times each week, following the Read Write Inc. handwriting scheme. Initially, our focus will be on secure and accurate letter formation before progressing towards cursive handwriting when children are ready.
Our History enquiry question this term is: How did Florence Nightingale and Mary Seacole help improve hospitals? We will explore how hospitals have changed over time, learn about the contributions of Florence Nightingale and Mary Seacole and consider the importance of hospitals and the NHS today. As part of this exciting topic, we will be learning about Winsford Hospital alongside our KS1 friends from Halwill and Ashwater, giving the children an opportunity to make meaningful connections between their classroom learning and the world around them.
Our Science topic is Animals, Including Humans. Children will learn to classify and sort animals into different groups, name and compare their structures and identify whether animals are carnivores, herbivores or omnivores. We will also explore the human body, naming different body parts and investigating our five senses and how they help us understand the world around us.
Our Art enquiry asks: How can I use different lines to draw a self-portrait? Inspired by the wonderful work of Quentin Blake, children will experiment with line, pattern, shape and colour using a variety of tools and materials before applying their learning to create their own self-portraits.
Our big question in RE is: Who is Jewish and how do they live? Within this unit, the children will learn about Jewish worldviews and ways of life. They will learn about texts from the Torah and their importance for Jewish people today. We will find out about the mezuzah and the Shema prayer and what they mean for believers. Later in the unit, the children will find out about Shabbat and Chanukah, discussing why Jewish people mark these times, what they learn from stories found in the Torah and why they are important today.
Our PSHE theme is Me and My Relationships. We will explore why we have classroom rules, what good listening looks like, recognising and talking about feelings, how feelings can affect our bodies and what it means to be a good friend. This links particularly closely with our school motto of taking care of each other, helping the children build strong, respectful relationships and ensuring that everyone feels safe, valued and included in our classroom.
In Computing, we will investigate Information Technology Around Us. Children will develop their understanding of what information technology (IT) is and identify examples both within school and in the wider world, including places such as shops, hospitals and libraries. We will investigate how technology can improve our lives while also developing children’s understanding of the importance of using technology safely and responsibly.
Our Music learning will focus on Rhyme in Time. Children will develop their ability to move in time with a steady beat or pulse and respond to different tempos. They will also learn to chant, rap and sing using different voices while following simple musical cues, including starting and stopping together.
We are very lucky that every Wednesday this term, the children will take part in Wild Tribe with Miss McT, alongside our friends in Reception and Red Robins. These sessions provide wonderful opportunities to be resourceful, resilient, build relationships and learn through the outdoors. Please ensure that your child brings wellies, long sleeve tops and suitable waterproof clothing every Wednesday.
In PE we will be focusing on multi skills. Multi-skills lessons are the foundation of physical education, helping children build their agility, balance, and coordination-skills that we need for almost every sport. Our main goal will be helping the children build and improve their fundamental movements, including throwing, catching, and balancing. These activities are designed to boost their confidence and teamwork in a fun and active environment.
Each morning, children will arrive to find enhanced provision activities ready for them to explore. These activities will link with our current learning and provide opportunities for children to revisit and consolidate knowledge through a more open-ended, playful approach. This gives children the freedom to explore areas of the curriculum that interest them, make choices, solve problems, collaborate with others and become increasingly resourceful and independent learners.
Every Friday afternoon, children will also enjoy Free Choice. They can continue exploring our enhanced provision or venture into areas such as our kitchen and construction provision. It is a wonderful opportunity to see their creativity flourish, support social interaction and allow children to learn through purposeful play- something that remains incredibly important in KS1.
Home learning will be set every Friday and completed by the following Thursday. It will include:
Thank you for supporting these important routines at home.
Attached you will find our long-term planning and class timetable, giving you an overview of the exciting learning ahead. Above all, we want every child to come to school feeling happy, safe, valued and excited to learn. We will encourage them to aim high, embrace ‘marvellous mistakes’, show resilience when things feel challenging and always remember to take care of each other. We are a friendly team and are here to support you and your child throughout the year. By working together, we can help every child grow in confidence, independence and curiosity, so they can truly flourish.
Thank you for your continued support. Here’s to a happy, exciting and successful year in Class 1. Let’s aim high and have a fantastic year!
Warmest wishes,
Miss Shinn
Class 1 Teacher
St Giles-on-the-Heath Primary School are a busy but friendly school taking children from the age of 2 to 11.
St Giles-on-the-Heath Ofsted URN: 113165
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