Class 1 2026 - 2027
Welcome to Class 1
Class 1 is a mixed age class of Reception and Year 1 children.
The Class One Team
Mrs Gardiner - class teacher
supported by
Mr Duckworth, Mrs Brindle, Miss Hart, Mrs Moore, Mrs Stringfellow and Miss Hymers (teaching on Wednesday afternoons)
A very warm welcome to all of our children and families! We are so excited to begin this new school year together and to get to know each and every member of Class One. For some of our children, this will be their very first term in school, while others are returning, ready to take the next exciting step in their learning journey. There will be lots of fun and exciting learning opportunities ahead. We cannot wait to see the children grow in confidence, independence and curiosity as the year progresses.
We are always here to help
Starting a new school year is always an exciting time, but we understand that you may sometimes have questions or concerns. Please feel free to speak to any member of the Class One team at the door before or after school. We are always happy to listen, answer questions and work together to ensure that your child's time in school is happy and positive.
What we will be learning about this half term
English
This term we will be reading lots of wonderful stories, starting with Cave Baby by Julia Donaldson. All the children will develop their phonic knowledge in our daily phonics sessions, which will help them with both their reading and writing.
In Year 1, the children will respond in writing to the stories that we read. they will plan and write simple sentences, thinking carefully about their letter formation and spelling choices. They will be learning how to punctuate their sentences accurately using full stops, question marks and exclamation marks.
In Reception, the children will begin by responding to stories orally but as they learn more letters and sounds, they will begin to write some simple words as labels and captions.
Maths
In Year 1, the children will be building on their understanding of number and place value. They will also be adding and subtracting within 10.
In Reception, the children will be sorting, matching and comparing groups of objects as well as exploring patterns. Before half term, they will be learning about numbers up to 3.
The Wider Curriculum
In RE, we will all be learning about why Jesus was so special.
We will be finding out about materials and their properties in Science.
In Geography, we will learn more about our local area by using our fieldwork skills.
In Art, we will be learning about the artist James Rizzi and in PE we will be developing our fundamental movement skills by hopping, skipping, running and jumping, amongst other things!
It is certainly going to be a busy and exciting start to the year!
Useful Information
Coats
Please ensure that your child has a suitable coat with them every day as we will be making the most of our amazing outdoor space in all weathers.
Wellies
Thank you to everyone who has already sent a pair of wellies into school. The children will be using these when they access the outdoor area as part of their learning. If your child does not yet have a pair of wellies in school, please could you send a pair in as soon as possible.
Book Bags and Homework
Bookbags should be sent into school every day please as we will be listening to every child read regularrly.
Reading books are changed twice a week.
Homework will be sent home every Thursday to be completed and returned by the following Tuesday.
Home Reading
Reading really is the key to your child's learning. Please spend 5-10 minutes every day listening to your child read. It really does make a huge difference!
Snacks and Water Bottles
Please send your child to school with a water bottle every day.
Every day, all the children are provided with a piece of fruit for their snack. However, if you wish to send in a snack from home, please feel free to do do.
Please remember that we are a nut-free school.
Our Early Years Provision
At Bretherton Endowed C of E Primary School our key aim is to continue and extend the education which has begun at home and in pre-school provision to enable every child to develop an enthusiasm for learning throughout his/her lifetime.
Intent for the Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum
It is our intention at Bretherton Endowed C of E Primary School that children in the Early Years Foundation Stage feel happy, safe and secure. All children are valued as individuals. We aim to deliver a curriculum that provides memorable experiences and firm foundations for learning to enable every child to thrive. We endeavour to give children the Cultural Capital they need for the future by giving them the best start in life to enable them to fulfil their full potential and achieve future success.
To ensure the best outcomes for our children we offer a broad curriculum with a balance of adult led and child initiated activities. We provide a stimulating environment and exciting opportunities both indoors and outdoors to promote curiosity, problem solving and imagination. Our children are encouraged to be confident, resilient and independent.
We continually promote and develop social, personal and emotional skills to enable children to play and learn together. Throughout the curriculum language and communication skills are a key focus as we recognise these are crucial in children’s development, learning and progress.
To enable every child to thrive at Bretherton Endowed C of E Primary School we recognise the importance of forming positive relationships between children, staff and parents.
The Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum
We follow the guidance in Development Matters and the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage.
The framework sets out the seven areas of learning and development.
The three prime areas of learning that underpin everything in the early years are:
communication and language
physical development
personal, social and emotional development
The four specific areas of learning which help children to strengthen and apply the prime areas are:
literacy
mathematics
understanding the world
expressive arts and design
All of these seven areas are connected together.
In addition there are three characteristics of effective teaching and learning which weave through all the areas. These are:
playing and exploring – children investigate and experience things
active learning – children concentrate and keep on trying if they encounter difficulties, and enjoy achievements
creating and thinking critically , make links between ideas and develop strategies for doing things– children develop their own ideas
In planning and guiding what children learn we incorporate the seven areas of learning, take into account the different rates at which children develop and provide the opportunities to encourage the three characteristics of learning.
The Early Years Foundation Stage Profile
The EYFS profile is a statutory assessment at the end of the Early Years Foundation Stage. It is comprises of an assessment of the child’s attainment in relation to the seventeen Early Learning Goal descriptors from the seven areas of learning:
Personal, Social and Emotional Development
Making Relationships
Sense of Self
Understanding Emotions
Communication and Language
Listening and Attention
Understanding
Speaking
Physical Development
Moving and Handling
Health and Self Care
Literacy
Reading
Writing
Mathematics
Understanding the World
People and Communities
The World
Technology
Expressive Arts and Design
Creating with Materials
Being Imaginative and Expressive
We use our professional judgement to make these assessments based on the knowledge and understanding of what the child knows, understands and can do. These assessments are informal and based on day to day observations of the child. In addition, comments are added to describe how a child demonstrates the three characteristics of effective learning. The main purpose of this profile is to support a successful transition to Key Stage 1. It is also used to inform parents about their child’s development. Children are defined as having reached a Good Level of Development at the end of the EYFS if they have achieved at least the expected level for the Early Learning Goals in the three prime areas of learning and the specific areas of literacy and mathematics.
Phonics and Reading in Class 1
In EYFS and Year 1 we follow ‘Monster Phonics .’
We mainly use the Monster Phonics Reading Schemes.
Curriculum in Class 1
Year 1 children follow the National Curriculum Key Stage 1.
All Class 1 children follow a two year cycle of topics and the Jigsaw PSHE scheme of work . This is an engaging curriculum which offers a variety of experiences and opportunities for the children and is linked to the continuous provision we have in class.
We operate an open door policy at Bretherton Endowed Primary School. Please do come and see us if you have any queries, concerns or just as importantly if you are pleased with something your child has done.