Year 1 | Holy Trinity Church Of England Primary School

Year 1

Class teacher: Mrs Rea-Gardner

Support staff: Mrs Taylor

Calendar

Welcome to Year 1!

Year 1 is a fantastic time for both personal and academic growth. It marks the transition from the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) to the National Curriculum, where children begin to learn subjects in a more structured yet engaging way.

A key focus in Year 1 is phonics. We ensure that all children develop strong reading skills so they can confidently access the wider curriculum throughout their school years. As their phonics knowledge grows, so does their ability to write, as they begin to see the connection between reading and spelling.

To support a smooth transition from EYFS, we take a gentle and balanced approach. While children engage in more formal learning, we also recognise that they are still young. That’s why we provide ‘choosing time’—unstructured play opportunities where children can explore activities such as outdoor play, painting, LEGO, or crafting. This helps them develop creativity, independence, and social skills while giving them a well-deserved brain break.

The progress children make in Year 1 is truly remarkable. They build strong foundations in English and Maths, setting them up for success in the years ahead.

Please see the termly overviews to find out what your child will be learning each term.

Y1 Spring 2 Overview

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Y1 Trip -Botanical Gardens

Year 1 had a fantastic day at the Botanical Gardens! The children became sensational scientists, conducting several experiments—including extracting DNA from a strawberry! Their curiosity shone through as they explored a wide variety of plants, both in the gardens and inside the (very warm!) greenhouse.

RE- Beginning to learn about Sikhs

What Stories Do Sikh People Love to Remember? In our Religious Education lessons, the children learned about significant stories in Sikhism. They focused on the story of Guru HarGobind, the sixth Guru, and the powerful tale of the prisoners and the cloak. To further immerse themselves in Sikh teachings, the children also used drama and freeze frames to explore the story of Guru Nanak, helping them connect with the emotions and important messages within the story.

Spring 2- Basketball

This half term, we have been developing our basketball skills. We learned how to perform a chest pass and a bounce pass, helping us improve our teamwork and accuracy.

Spring 2- Maths

This half term, we have been practicing addition and subtraction within 20, learning about place value up to 50, and exploring measurement in a fun and engaging way.

RE- Creation

Y1 Scientists

In science, we used secondary sources to investigate and answer the question: How did Beatrix Potter help our understanding of mushrooms and toadstools? Through our research, we discovered her contributions to the study of fungi and how her detailed illustrations helped scientists learn more about them.

Once upon a crown!

We created royal crowns to wear for each of our History lessons, where we learned about Queen Elizabeth I, Queen Victoria, and Queen Elizabeth II.

Curious Curators

Through role-play, the children immersed themselves in the lives of Florence Nightingale and Mary Seacole, retelling their incredible stories and discovering the lasting impact these remarkable women have had on healthcare today.

World Book Day!

We had an amazing World Book Day in Year 1! We loved sharing our favorite stories, and many of us created fantastic potato characters!

Y1 Designers

For our Design Project, we prepared a fruit salad for a sick soldier who had been taken to the hospital during the Crimean War.

Snow Day!

When it snows, we have fun! Year 1 had a great time enjoying the snow in our outdoor area.

Y1 Geographers

We learned to name and locate the continents and oceans of the world. To help us remember them, we also learned a song—and we are fantastic at singing it!