Year 1 Friday Blog - 16th January

Date: 15th Jan 2026 @ 7:41pm

Dear parents,

Welcome to the Year 1 Friday blog!

Each week you will find out what we have been doing in class, our weekly spellings, reminders and lots more!

Every Friday, the blog will be shared with the class to recap our learning and make them aware of their homework.

Moving to online homework has allowed us to become a more eco friendly school.

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SInce returning after Christmas, we have seen an increase in the number of toys, putty/slime and large keyrings being brought into school. Please do not allow the children to bring in toys from home as they can cause upset within the classroom. We also ask that there is only one keyring on a bag due to storage.

Thank you for your support with this.

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Reading books will continue to be changed on a Tuesday. Please spend time reading both books throughout the week to help your child progress and become a fluent reader.

Reading is one of the most important skills for children to master as it unlocks their imagination and allows them to access the rest of the curriculum.

Question prompts can be found in reading books, on coloured book marks and in reading records. Asking questions improves key comprehension skills. If your child is struggling to read a word, encourage them to use their phonics fingers to segment and sound it out. Can they spot any digraphs? (2 letters, 1 sound). Once they have segmented the word, ask them to blend it together.

Please write a note in your child's reading record book when a book has been completed and sign the relevant parent signature box. This allows for an easy change as we know if the book has been read.

The children will have the opportunity to change their library books each Thursday. Please spend time sharing these stories at home and asking about their choices.

Spellings

A spelling overview for the half term can be found in the files section of the class page and in book bags.

To help practise their weekly spellings, the children now have access to spelling frame. This is an online platform for Key Stage 1 with interactive games and spellings tests for the children to use. I am able to see how the children are performing throughout the week and there is a leader board to keep track of their points.

Please click on the image below to be directed to the website. Individual log in details have been stuck on the inside cover of reading reacords.

English

This week we have started our new English topic, traditional tales.

We have been looking at the key features of lots of diffent stories.

RE - A visit from Prags

On Wednesday we had a fantastic time in our dance workshop with Prags. The children loved wearing the colourful outfits.

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Lots more photos can be found in our gallery.

PE

In PE we have been worknig hard on our throwing and catching. We have also been practising our fundamental movements.

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Art

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We are now proud to be a 'My Happy Mind' school. Throughout the year groups, we have been using My Happy Mind to learn about our brains and how they help us to regulate our emotions. Each Monday the children complete a section of their journal, reflecting on their strengths and character. We have been meeting lots of fun characters along the way, used Happy Breathing techniques and sang some catchy songs. Our current favourite is 'Happy Breathing'

Inside the front cover of your child's reading record book, you will find a QR code and password to access these fantastic resources at home. Ask your child about Team H-A-P and you will be amazed by their new vocabulary. Amygdala is a tricky word to say!

PE will take place on a Monday and a Thursday this half term.

Safety in PE

We would like to remind all parents that for the safety of all children and following guidance from Chorley SSP, jewellery is not to be worn during PE. This includes earrings, bracelets and watches. All children will be asked to remove their jewellery at the start of every PE lesson. This will ensure their own safety during the lesson and the safety of others. If a child is unable to take out their own earrings, adults in school will not be able to do it for them. This will mean they will have to take another role in the lesson such as observing, coaching or officiating.

For this reason, if your child is not confident taking out earrings, please do not put them in on our PE days. This year, our PE lessons are on Wednesday and Thursday, however we may also have extra lessons on other days throughout the year.

Thank you for your support in keeping our children safe.

End of Day Routine

Children will only be allowed to go home with adults listed on the safeguarding form, unless school has been contacted to state otherwise.
Children will be dismissed one at a time. Please let the adult on the gate know who you are picking up and they will then call the child.
We kindly request that all children are dismissed prior to teachers/ Teaching Assistants being approached by parents.
Should any child need to come back into the classroom, we will allow them back into the room after all of the children have been dismissed.