Year One | RCPA NEW

Puffins and Kittiwakes News

W/B 16th March 2026

What a lovely week it has been in Year 1! The sunnier weather has lifted everyone’s spirits, and the children have enjoyed lots of bright, cheerful days of learning both inside and outside the classroom.

In phonics, we focused on the sounds ‘air’ and ‘are’, and the children have worked hard to recognise these sounds in words and use them in their writing. They enjoyed reading activities, games and partner tasks that helped them build confidence using these new sounds.

In maths, we explored measuring with rulers. The children had great fun measuring objects around the classroom and comparing their lengths and heights. They also completed their length and height assessments and showed fantastic concentration and effort throughout.

Science has been especially exciting this week as we planted cress and beans in both cotton wool and soil. The children made predictions about where they thought the plants would grow best and talked about what plants need to stay healthy. Everyone is now eagerly watching and waiting to see which seeds will sprout first!

In DT, the children have been designing their own enclosures. They explored different joining materials and thought carefully about which ones would make their structures strong and secure. Their imaginative designs have been wonderful to see.

In English, we began learning about the different parts of a letter using the story Grandma Bird as our inspiration. The children enjoyed looking at examples of letters and thinking about greetings, messages and how to sign off properly. They are looking forward to writing their own letters soon.

In history, we learned about how cars have changed over time. The children were especially interested in Henry Ford and how he made cars cheaper so more people could afford them. This led to some brilliant discussions and questions about transport then and now.

Well done, Year 1, for a fantastic week of learning. We’re looking forward to even more exciting adventures next week!

W/B 9th March 2026

What an exciting week we’ve had in Year 1 as we celebrated Science Week! The children have been bubbling with curiosity and enthusiasm as they explored the world around them. Our phonics learning focused on the sounds aw, or and au, and the children impressed us with how confidently they applied these in their reading and writing. We also practised our new red words water, wash and anybody, and the class enjoyed spotting them in books and using them in their own sentences.

In English, we continued our work on traditional tales by rewriting Little Red Riding Hood, but with our own imaginative twists. The children created brand‑new characters and used brilliant adjectives to bring their stories to life. It has been wonderful to see their creativity growing each day.

For Design and Technology, we explored different ways of joining materials. The children investigated, tested and then used a variety of techniques as they assembled, joined and combined different pieces. There was plenty of teamwork, problem-solving and proud smiles as their creations came together.

Our Science Week adventures continued outside as we went on a Forest School plant hunt. The children searched for signs of spring, discovering new leaves, plants and even some curious insects along the way. They were fantastic nature detectives, showing real excitement as they shared their findings.

In PSHE, we have been thinking carefully about friendship and how to work and play well together. The children have been practising kind words, teamwork and understanding each other’s feelings—skills that help make our classroom such a positive place to be.

In Maths, we explored height and length, learning how to compare objects and understand the difference between the two. The children enjoyed lots of hands-on activities and used great mathematical language to describe what they found.

It has been a busy, joyful and wonderfully scientific week in Year 1. We’re so proud of everything the children have achieved!

W/B 2nd March 2026

What an exciting week we’ve had in Year 1! We loved all the World Book Day outfits. Thank you all so much for your support.

In phonics, we worked hard on our split digraphs: i-e, o-u, and u-e. The children did a brilliant job spotting these sounds in words, practising reading them, and having a go at using them in their own sentences. Their confidence is really starting to shine through as they recognise these tricky patterns.

In English, we’ve been diving into the world of Little Red Riding Hood. The children loved exploring the character of the Big Bad Wolf and came up with some fantastic describing words to show what he looks like and how he behaves. We then began planning our own version of the story, thinking about what exciting changes we could make. The ideas have ranged from funny to imaginative—and everything in between!

In maths, we have been exploring numbers from 20 to 50 using number lines. The class worked together to practise counting forwards and backwards, plotting numbers in the right place, and thinking carefully about the order and patterns within this number range. It’s been wonderful to see their number confidence grow.

Our history learning took us out of this world as we discovered the story of space travel. The children were fascinated to learn about the first animals sent into space and the brave people who followed. They asked brilliant questions and were amazed to find out how much space exploration has changed over time.

In DT, we explored different types of structures and enclosures. After discussing real-life examples, the children got creative and designed their own models. Using a range of materials, they worked carefully to build sturdy and imaginative structures, showing great teamwork and problem solving along the way.

It’s been a busy and fantastic week full of learning, creativity and curiosity. We can’t wait to see what next week brings!

W/B 23rd February 2026

We’ve had a brilliant start to the term, full of learning, exploring, and lots of fun. The children have settled back beautifully, and it has been wonderful to see their enthusiasm for every activity.

This week in phonics, we focused on the sounds tious, cious, and tion. The children worked hard to spot these sounds in words and use them confidently in their reading and writing. We were so impressed by how quickly they picked them up!

In maths, we explored numbers to 50. We practised counting forwards and backwards, grouping numbers into 10s and 1s, and using equipment to build numbers. Everyone showed great determination.

In English, our new story this term is Little Red Riding Hood. We have been busy writing sentences using adjectives to describe the characters and settings. We even went for a walk around our Forest School to collect exciting vocabulary to bring our writing to life. The children loved spotting things they could use in their stories—it was amazing!

In science, our focus was learning to identify and describe the basic structure of common flowering plants, including trees. We looked carefully at roots, stems, leaves, and flowers, and talked about how each part helps a plant survive. The children asked fantastic questions and showed brilliant curiosity.

In history, we explored transport old and new. The children compared vehicles from the past with the ones we use today and noticed how much things have changed. They especially enjoyed spotting which forms of transport looked the most unusual!

It has truly been an amazing first week back, and we are so proud of the effort, enthusiasm, and kindness the children have shown. We can’t wait to see what next week brings!

W/B 9th February 2026

What a fantastic week we have had in Year 1! The children have been busy learning new phonics sounds, exploring exciting maths ideas, getting creative in art, and even making something magical in writing.

In phonics, we practised the sounds ear, au, and ure, and learnt our new red words: I’m, there, and any. The children enjoyed spotting these in sentences and practising them in games and reading activities.

In maths, we worked on subtracting by finding the difference, solving missing number problems, and using what we know to find related facts. The children used number lines, cubes, and great reasoning skills to explain their thinking. We were very impressed with how confidently they worked through each challenge.

Our writing lessons were full of excitement as the teacher read a set of instructions on how to make Unicorn Poop. The children followed the steps carefully to make their own sparkly creations, which they absolutely loved. Afterwards, they independently wrote their own instructions for their hot task, focusing on using bossy verbs, time words, and clear numbered steps.

In art, the children explored colour by creating simple still-life compositions using objects such as toys, balls, kites, umbrellas, geometric shapes, and bowls. They experimented with primary and secondary colours and thought carefully about how to place objects to make an interesting picture. The results were bright, bold, and beautiful.

It has been a wonderful week full of creativity, curiosity, and hard work. We are very proud of everything the children have achieved. Well done, Year 1! Have a great half term break.

W/B 2nd February 2026

We’ve had a wonderfully busy week in Year 1, filled with new learning, bright ideas, and lots of hard work. In phonics, we learned three new Red Words: tall, one, and brother. We also explored the sounds oa, ew, and ire, practising reading and writing them in different words. It has also been a big week of phonics assessments, and every child has shown fantastic effort. We are so proud of how confidently they approached their tasks and how much progress they are showing.

In English, we continued developing our instruction‑writing skills. The children have been learning how to make their instructions clearer and more interesting by using rhetorical questions, adjectives to describe actions, imperative verbs, and conjunctions. They have enjoyed experimenting with these features and discovering how they help to make instructions more detailed and engaging.

In maths, we focused on doubles, near doubles, and adding and subtracting within 20. The children have been practising how to use known doubles facts to help them solve other calculations and are becoming more confident in explaining their thinking and choosing the best strategy for each problem.

In art, we learned about the brushwork of famous artists Cézanne and Van Gogh. We explored how they used thick paint (impasto), loose and expressive brush marks, and bold ranges of colour. The children loved experimenting with their own brushwork, inspired by the techniques they observed.

It has been a joyful and hard‑working week in Year 1, and we can’t wait to continue building on this learning next week!

W/B 26th January 2026

We have had a very busy and exciting week in Year 1 and have been learning lots of new things across the curriculum.

In Art, we explored colour, shape and different types of marks. We cut up orange, green and purple paper and arranged the pieces carefully in our sketchbooks. We talked about the colours we chose, the shapes we made and the marks we created. We also wrote notes about the colours we used and how we made our marks. Our sketchbooks look bright and creative.

In Phonics, we have been practising the sounds er, ow and ai. We also learned some tricky red words: their, were and who. The children worked hard to read and spell these words in their reading and writing.

In Maths, we have been learning all about number bonds and addition. We can use number bonds within 10 to help us add within 20, add by counting on within 20, and systematically find and make number bonds to 20. The children showed great focus and confidence when working with numbers.

In English, we followed instructions to make a magical wand and learned about the key features of instructional writing. We can identify what instructions need, use an adjective to write an exciting heading, and include bullet points and adjectives in a list. The children produced some clear and well‑organised instructions.

We are very proud of all the hard work Year 1 has done this week

W/B 19th January 2026

We’ve had a busy and fun time in Year 1! In Phonics, we’ve been learning the sounds aw, are, and ur, practising reading and writing words with these sounds.

In writing, the children planned and wrote their own stories based on Wombat Goes Walkabout, changing the wombat into a British animal. They worked hard to sequence their ideas and add detail.

In Art, we mixed primary colours to make secondary colours, and in Maths we estimated numbers to 20 on a number line and practised finding one more and one less.

In PE, the children developed their weather dances, counting and moving in beats of 8. In Geography, we identified urban areas of the UK, and in Science we learned about the properties of everyday materials, enjoying a game of Materials Bingo.

W/B 12th January 2026

We’ve had a fantastic week of learning in Year 1! The children have been working hard to understand numbers 17, 18, and 19, and have now moved on to number 20. They practised finding 1 more and 1 less than any number within 20, which helps build strong number sense.

In English, we explored feelings adjectives to make our sentences more effective and expressive. We also learned how to use the conjunction ‘and’ to join two sentences together. Our phonics focus was on the split digraph sounds: i-e, o-e, u-e.

In Art, the children enjoyed painting with red, blue, and yellow. First, they created a block colour background, then added different marks using one or two colours. They experimented with different tools to scratch into wet paint, creating amazing textures and patterns.

In Dance, we learned to move to the beat of 8 while dancing to represent different types of weather. The children loved expressing themselves through movement!

In Geography, we built on previous learning by creating a map of the UK, labelling the countries, and adding their capital cities.

Science was all about materials this week. We went on a material hunt around the school, making a tally of different materials we found. Great observational skills on display! In PSHE, our learning intentions were to set simple goals and to tell others about something we do well.

W/B 5th January 2026

Happy New Year and welcome back! We’ve had such a wonderful start to the term, and the children have settled back into learning brilliantly after the Christmas break.

In phonics, we explored the sounds ea, oi, and a-e. The children enjoyed practicing reading and writing words with these sounds and even tried using them in their own sentences.

In maths, we worked on making 10 in lots of different ways, counted forwards and backwards, and learned all about the numbers 11, 12, and 13. We used number lines and fun activities to help us understand these concepts.

Our English lessons were based on the story Wombat Goes Walkabout. The children loved learning about Australian animals and used adjectives to describe them and the beautiful Australian setting. We also talked about the characters and events in the story.

In geography, we discovered the countries that make up the UK and found them on a map. In science, we handled different materials and investigated what objects are made from.

PE was lots of fun! We moved to music inspired by the weather and counted in beats of eight. It was a great way to get active and creative.

It’s been a fantastic first week back, and we’re excited for all the learning ahead.

W/B 24th November 2025
This week we had lots of fun in DT making a fruit salad for our friends! We chopped, cut and peeled various delicious fruit and thought carefully about what our friend might like to eat. We then tasted each other's fruit salad and rated them on appearance and taste.

W/B 17th November

This week in Maths we have been using a number line to subtract. We have discussed which number we need to start with and how many jumps we then need to do to find the answer. We have even come up with number stories to match our subtraction number sentences using the words First, Then and Now.

W/B 10th November 2025

This week we experienced a 'train ride' in the playground. We used our senses of sight and hearing to observe our surroundings, ready for our final write in English next week!

We will be using full stops, capital letters and finger spaces to write sentences about our 'train ride' experience based on the book 'The Train Ride' by June Crebbin. In Phonics, we have been learning the split digraphs i-e, o-e and u-e. Please use the links from last week's blog (below) to practice these.

W/B 3rd November 2025

This week in Year 1 we have started learning Set 3 sounds in Phonics. The children have really impressed us with their enthusiasm, especially for the split digraph a-e which looks a little different to previous sounds we have learnt!

Please continue to use the links at the bottom of the page to practise any Set 2 sounds your child is unsure of; This is really important in making sure they keep up!

Below are the links to Set 3 sounds we will be learning:

Ea - http://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/X9JxF45m/3Fb7U6cN

Oi - http://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/Rtw6mlqV/PNwfcMmZ

A-e - http://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/OzBbmUTt/5tifv1Zq

I-e - http://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/mNnUa4C0/VebP3mG2

O-e - http://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/mDVf756G/uJFQ1F0p

U-e - http://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/sz7PaExV/eZnrCHtv

Aw - http://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/I3Sm3RSY/T0tL1AWk

Are - http://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/A9HynlJA/JA1uIMZy

Ur - http://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/QkQg9jCw/ZOl7hCMi

Er - http://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/rcCSnI3Z/l2Hl5c9D

Ow - http://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/aLRHqzv3/5fyUwYxz

Ai - http://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/v8CeR1Cq/XtePfhow

Oa - http://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/TanXkYJ6/jo6WQXfE

Ew - http://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/Ho0zgjGN/cJh8HbkZ

Ire - http://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/LVn9gH5M/uA7HCvVs

Ear - http://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/euQiMkz6/EgQBgHQX

Ure - http://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/UiSPVWpV/7tuAlKwW

W/B 13th October 2025

What a brilliant week we’ve had in Year 1! The children looked fantastic for their school photos—lots of smiles and smart outfits. In phonics, we focused on the red words to, go, and me, and practiced reading sentences like “Shall we go for a swim?” and “Your mum is on the swing.” We also recapped the sounds ar, ou and air, using Fred Talk and picture cards to help us blend and read new words.

In maths, we introduced the part-whole cherry model to help us understand how numbers can be split in different ways. The children enjoyed using drawings and objects to show how a whole number can be made up of different parts. It was great to see their confidence grow as they explored numbers in new ways.

We also went on a local walk to explore the area around our school. The children used simple field sketches to record what they saw and learned to identify human and physical features in our environment. It was a lovely way to bring our geography learning to life.

In PE, we’ve been working on skipping and combination jumps using individual ropes. The children practiced turning the rope from their wrists and keeping their bodies upright. We’ve also been focusing on encouraging each other, taking our time, and not giving up when things get tricky—great resilience, Year 1!

W/B 6th October 2025

In phonics, we explored the sounds wh, kn, and ph. The children practiced Fred Talk, spotted special friends in words, and read both green and nonsense words with growing confidence. We also worked on spelling using Fred Fingers and wrote sentences like “The wheels are black” and “The knight knocks on the door.” We’ve been highlighting our focus sounds in pink to help us spot them more easily.

In maths, we consolidated our understanding of number lines up to 10. Children practiced identifying numbers that are greater than, less than, 1 more, and 1 less. We used dice games, fingers, and problem-solving questions to deepen our understanding. Some children even created their own number lines outside using chalk—great teamwork and creativity!

Handwriting lessons focused on capital letters F, G, H, I, J, and later K–O. We experimented with water-soluble pens and mark-making, adding water to explore texture and flow. The children are becoming more confident in their letter formation.

In Geography, we learned about human and physical features. We asked, “Where is my school?” and identified features like rivers, forests, hills, shops, houses, and offices. We now know that human features are man-made, while physical features exist naturally.

PE was full of movement and coordination! We practiced combination jumps and dribbling a ball with our feet. The children learned to bend their knees, keep their heads up, and use different parts of their feet. We also focused on teamwork and perseverance—well done, everyone!

In PSHE, we discussed choices and consequences. We sang songs, shared ideas, and talked about how our actions affect others. Children wrote their thoughts on whiteboards, which we’ve added to our floor book.

Keep up the fantastic work, Year 1

W/B 29th September 2025

It has been another great week across Year 1. Children have been well settled in their routines and there has been lots of progress made. It has been lovely to see how much children have enjoyed lots of new learning!

This week, we explored the sounds ir, ou, and oy through Fred Talk, word spotting, and phonics sentences. Children practiced spelling with Fred Fingers and read both green and nonsense words.

In maths, we compared and ordered numbers using number tracks, cubes, and objects, reinforcing greater than, less than, and equal to. Handwriting focused on forming letters x, z, v, and w, and we used them in words like fox and zip.

In PE, we practiced jumping, hopping, and skipping, focusing on balance and coordination. Geography activities helped us learn how to give directions using left and right, and in science, we explored sounds and ordered them by volume. We also enjoyed storybook reading groups, IT, music, and a joyful Harvest Celebration Assembly.

To finish the week, we revisited everything we’ve learned, especially our phonics and number work. The children showed great focus and teamwork throughout—well done everyone

W/B 22nd September 2025

What a fantastic week we've had in Year 1! The classrooms have been buzzing with excitement, creativity, and curiosity as we explored new sounds, built our writing muscles, and even met a real-life author!

This week, we’ve been diving into the sounds ar, or, and air. The children have been spotting these sounds in words, using Fred Talk to decode them, and writing sentences with our red words like your, said, be, and you. We’ve been using Fred Fingers to help us spell.

On Wednesday, we had a magical visit from a children’s author! The children joined a draw-along session, asked brilliant questions, and created their own illustrations. It was a truly inspiring experience that brought books to life. Thank you to everyone who helped make it happen!

In art, the children began exploring patterns and shapes. We’re collecting shells for next week’s creative project—thank you in advance to anyone who can help!

This week’s focus in maths was on comparing amounts and numbers using fewer, more, and same. We used cubes to build different amounts and practiced using stem sentences to explain our thinking. On Friday, we took our learning outside with giant chalk crocodile symbols to compare numbers—who knew maths could be so active?

In Geography, we mapped our route to school and labelled key features. In Science, we explored different smells—some lovely, some not so lovely! The children were fascinated and had lots of giggles.