Welcome to Squirrel Class!

We want to start off by saying a huge WELCOME to Year 1/2! 

In Squirrels this year, the children will begin to make the transition from play-based learning, towards a more structured learning style. As the children enhance 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, particulary up to the Christmas period. This is because we recognise and appreciate that the children still require the freedom of child-led learning opportunities for their personal development, cognition and understanding, as well as continuing to develop their social skills and important life skills too.

In a mixed class, your child will be taught the curriuclum objectives for their corresponding age group and will not miss out on lessons or opportunities that other children their age will have. Your children will be taught and challenged in the same way children in non-mixed classes will be and our expectations will correlate to your child's age group.

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

Meet the Team

Hello, I'm Miss Rowley! My favourite subjects are PE, PSHE and reading and my favourite foods are pizza, burgers, brownies and strawberries! YUM! My favourite books are the Harry Potter Series and I also LOVE the films!

Our TA this year is Miss Green and in our classroom we are also joined by Mrs Walker!

Creative Curriculum

Autumn Term

Dungeons and Dragons

During this topic, pupils will develop their awareness of the past by comparing Elizabeth I with Elizabeth II. We will look at significant events beyond living memory such as The Great Fire of London, and understand what life was like during those times. We will also identify famous landmarks in London, both past and present. As a class, we will study a variety of different texts linked to this exciting topic, and explore interesting, medieval things such as castles, dragons, knights and princesses. In Science, we will investigate the topic of Animals, including Humans, as well as exploring rubbings and prints in Art. 

Spring Term

The Secret Garden

 In the Spring Term, we will be looking at the local area of Reddish, with a focus on making maps and plotting routes using keys and symbols. We will look at how the area has changed over time and identify significant individuals, places and historical events. We will also look at new local artist called Kate Kelly, who designs 3D artwork of plants and animals as think will link to our Science topic of Plants. 

Summer Term

Going on Safari! 

Our final topic in the Summer Term will be all about the comparison between a Non-European country (a country in Africa) and our local area. With a focus on human and physical geography, weather patterns, and locational knowledge of countries and oceans, pupils will develop their geographical and fieldwork skills. We will also look at significant individuals who have shaped Africa such as Nelson Mandela.

Important information for parents 

The children will have PE twice a week, once with the class teacher and once with the PE coaches. The children will have PE on Mondays and Tuesdays. The children should come to school already in their PE kits, which they will stay in all day. PE kits must be a white t-shirt, black shorts/joggers/leggings and trainers/pumps. 

Newsletter and Programme of Study

Please click the link below to view the Autumn newsletter.

Newsletter - Autumn Term

Autumn Term Knowledge Organiser

Please click the link below to view the Autumn Term knowledge organiser.

Year 1/2 Statutory Spellings

Below is a list of spellings children in Year 1/2 should know how to read and write by the end of the year. Please practice these with your child where possible. They wil be sent out throughout the year as weekly spelling practice and repeated to help with memory retention. 

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 

Rewards

In Squirrels, we have a recognition board with all of the children's names. Each child must work hard to achieve our weekly class target, in order to recieve a treat at the end of the week. In Year 1/2, we always give lots of stickers out for great work and super behaviour as well as having our Star of the Day. Children can be selected as our Star of the Day by demonstarting good behaviour, having a great attitude to their learning, being a good classmate to their peers or doing something FANTASTIC!

Contact / Class Dojo

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

Here is a QR code with a link to our Class Dojo Page: