Welcome to Squirrels Class!

We want to start off by saying a huge WELCOME to our new Year 1 Class! 

After Reception, the children will begin to make the transition from play-based learning, towards a more structured learning style with a different curriculum, which includes subjects such as English, Maths, Science, History and Art. As the children build on their their existing skill set, they will also aquire and develop a range of other skills, through exciting learning opportunities and independent challenges. Whilst the children begin to take on more responsibility and ownership of their own learning, we still incorporate aspects of play and continuous provision within our lessons. This is because we recognise and appreciate that the children still require the freedom of child-led learning opportunities and play for their personal development, cognition and understanding, as well as continuing to develop their social skills and other important life skills too. 

We cannot wait to see all the amazing progress your children will make this year, and we look forward to all the fun, happiness and learning that this year is going to bring! 

Meet the Team

Hello, I'm Miss Cleary! I like reading, swimming and travelling. My favourite book is Tiddler. I love teaching Phonics, Maths and Computing.  

This is Miss Green, one of our wonderful Teaching Assistants here at Abingdon!  

Creative Curriculum

Autumn Term

Down in the Deep, Dark Woods

Our topic for the creative curriculum this term is ‘Down in the Deep, Dark Woods’. Through this topic the children will cover various Geography, History, Art and DT objectives. We will be doing lots of exciting activities, such as identifying local landmarks and walking aorund our local area of Reddish, using maps and simple compass directions. We will also be making a finger puppet of a woodland creature and drawing landscape pictures of Reddish Vale. In PE we will be doing Dance, Gymnastics and invasion games. 

Spring Term

Amazing Adventurers

 In the Spring Term, we will be doing some target games, Gymnastics and Yoga. We will be looking at a range of significant explorers from around the world and different periods in time, then comparing the similiarities and differences between them and their discoveries. During this term we will also be creating an arctic-themed collage with mixed media, and planning and designing moon buggies with wheels and axels. 

Summer Term

A Taste of India

In the Summer Term, the children will begin to make comparisons between a non-European country (India) and the UK. Our children will focus on human and physical geography, the locational knowledge of India and it's history, landmarks and culture. We will compare the similiarities and differences between India and our own local area, and learn about the achievements of significant individuals, such Mahatma Gandhi. After, we are going to cook a tasty veggie curry and create some beautiful mandala and rangoli patterns. In PE we will be doing some more Dance, as well as learning Fundamentals and Athletics, in preparation for Sports Day! 

Important information for parents 

The children will have PE twice a week, once with the class teacher and once with Mr Rowe. The children will have PE on Wednesdays and Thursdays. The children should come to school already wearing their PE kits. PE kits must be a white t-shirt, black shorts/joggers/leggings and trainers/pumps. We also change reading books on Tuesdays and Fridays. Please ensure that you have signed your child's reading record each time you read with them.

Newsletter and Programme of Study

Autumn newsletter

Spring newsletter 

Summer newsletter 

Year 1 Statutory Spellings

Below is a list of spellings children in Year 1 should know how to read and write by the end of the year. Please practice these with your child where possible. 

Useful Websites

BBC Bitesize: https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/primary

Topmarks Maths Games: https://www.topmarks.co.uk/Search.aspx?AgeGroup=2

Phonics Play: https://www.phonicsplay.co.uk/

Phonics Bloom: https://www.phonicsbloom.com/

Purple Mash: https://www.purplemash.com/login/

Numbots: https://numbots.com 

TRRS: https://ttrockstars.com/

Rewards

In Squirrels, we always give lots of stickers out for great work and super behaviour, and the children can then put them on their own individual sticker charts. When the children reach 20 stickers, they can choose a prize out of the prize box and then begin a new sticker chart. We also reward children every week by choosing a superstar who has worked particularly hard, and they will then recieve a certificate in assembly. We select one child every week who has shown one of our core values (Respect, Responsibility or Resilience) and they are then able to go and have hot chocolate with the headteacher. Attendence is very important here at Abingdon, so we do Beat the Bell twice per half term, as an incentive for the children to be in school on time every day. 

Contact / Class Dojo

At Abingdon, we use Class Dojo which is embedded within every year group. We use Class Dojo to engage with parents by sharing photos and videos of exciting moments we have in the classroom and around school. It is also an effective way for parents and teachers to communicate, via the app. 

email: chelsea.cleary@abingdon.stockport.sch.uk