Year 1: Blog items
Year 1 - Beech non-uniform day
Date: 21st May 2026 @ 10:28am
Today, the children in Year 1 came to school wearing their own clothes to help raise money for Cash for Kids.
Everyone looked fantastic in their colourful outfits, and it was wonderful to see the children supporting such an important cause. Through their donations and enthusiasm, Year 1 helped to make a difference to children and families who need extra support.
A huge thank you to all of our families for their kindness and generosity. Well done, Year 1!
Date: 21st May 2026 @ 7:35am
Today we swapped our uniforms for our own clothes, all in support of Cash for Kids. It was a simple change that made a big difference—bringing colour, personality, and plenty of smiles into our day.
By donating to take part, we’ve helped raise money for children and families who need it most. It’s amazing how something as small as wearing our favourite outfits can come together to create real impact.
A huge thank you to everyone who got involved—you’ve made today both fun and meaningful!
Date: 21st May 2026 @ 7:18am
We had a fantastic time at our Sports Day, enjoying the chance to show off all the skills we’ve been learning in PE. It was a day full of energy, teamwork, and plenty of friendly competition!
The running races were a real highlight, with everyone giving their best effort and cheering each other on as we sprinted to the finish line. There were also some exciting skill-based activities, including cup stacking and speed bounce, where we tested our coordination, speed, and concentration.
One of the most popular activities was the game of domes and dishes, which had everyone moving quickly and thinking strategically as we worked together in teams. We also took part in a variety of throwing games, aiming for accuracy and improving our technique.
Overall, Sports Day was a brilliant opportunity to celebrate our progress in PE, have fun with our friends, and enjoy being active together. We are very proud of everyone’s effort and enthusiasm—what a great day!
Date: 19th May 2026 @ 7:17am
In Music this term, we have been having lots of fun exploring improvisation! We’ve been learning how to make up our own musical ideas and experiment with different rhythms and sounds, which has helped us to become more confident performers.
One of our favourite activities has been playing the glockenspiels along to the song Getting Dressed. We practised keeping in time with the music and then had the chance to create our own musical patterns to fit with the song. It was exciting to hear how everyone came up with something different!
We have really enjoyed using our creativity and working together to make music. Well done, everyone! 🎵
Year 1 - Retelling of the story Zog.
Date: 15th May 2026 @ 7:59pm
In Reading into Writing this week, we discussed and then wrote a retelling of the story Zog. We used the sequencing words First, Next, Then and Finally to help structure our writing. We also included adjectives to add description and used conjunctions such as and and because to extend our sentences.
Date: 15th May 2026 @ 7:51pm
Date: 14th May 2026 @ 3:48pm
This week, we have been learning about grouping and sharing, which are key early maths skills.
The children explored how to:
- Make equal groups from a number (for example, putting 12 objects into groups of 3)
- Share amounts fairly between a number of groups or people (for example, sharing 10 items between 2 people)
Through these activities, the children are beginning to understand the early ideas of multiplication (grouping) and division (sharing) in a practical, hands-on way.
You can support this learning at home by:
- Encouraging your child to group toys, snacks, or objects into equal sets
- Asking simple questions like, “Can we share these equally?” or “How many are in each group?”
It has been lovely to see the children building confidence using numbers in real-life situations!
Date: 14th May 2026 @ 3:44pm
Date: 8th May 2026 @ 8:14am
This week in Reading into Writing, we explored different question types and practised writing questions from the point of view of characters in the story. This helped us to understand the sequence of events, consider how the characters were feeling, and think more deeply about the roles of Zog and Princess Pearl. The children shared thoughtful ideas and enjoyed stepping into the characters’ shoes.
Year 1 - Recognise equal groups
Date: 8th May 2026 @ 8:08am
This week in Maths, Year 1 have been learning about equal and unequal groups. The children sorted a range of images by counting how many groups there were and how many objects were in each group, helping them decide whether the groups were equal or unequal. They worked carefully to compare quantities and explain their thinking using mathematical language by understanding the terms of odd and even.
Date: 7th May 2026 @ 8:14am
- What their god or goddess would represent
- What special powers or qualities they might have
- Which objects or symbols would help to show these qualities
Date: 7th May 2026 @ 7:15am
This week in Year One, the children have been learning all about arrays as part of their maths lessons. An array is a way of organising objects into neat rows and columns, which helps children begin to understand multiplication.
The children used pictorial representations to make their own arrays using drawings and counters. Together, we talked about how many objects were in each row, how many rows there were, and how many there were altogether. This helped the children clearly see how groups are made.
Once they were confident, the children practised writing a repeated addition sentence to match their array (for example, 3 + 3 + 3).
The children worked thoughtfully and showed great enthusiasm—well done, Year One!
Date: 30th Apr 2026 @ 4:43pm
Today, in maths we practically used counters and numicon to count forwards and backwards in 2s. This allowed us to understand in each group it is a group of 2. We discussed that they are even numbers. When working with our partner we used the stem sentence ‘__ groups of 2 are equal to __.’
Date: 30th Apr 2026 @ 4:34pm
This week in maths we have been using a number line to understand numbers within 50. This developed our understanding of place value when understanding the tens and ones to help understand the order of numbers to know what comes before and next.
Date: 29th Apr 2026 @ 7:06am
Date: 29th Apr 2026 @ 7:02am
Date: 23rd Apr 2026 @ 7:24pm
This half term in Year One, we have been exploring digital painting and learning how technology can be used as a creative tool in art. The children have enjoyed discovering how drawing programmes on tablets can help them create pictures in exciting new ways, while still using many of the same skills they practise in traditional art lessons.
We began by learning how to use simple digital drawing tools to create self-portraits. The children experimented with different brushes, colours and line styles, and learned how to undo mistakes and try again. This helped to build confidence and encouraged them to explore and take creative risks, just as they would when drawing with pencils and crayons.
Next, we explored shape and colour by creating artwork inspired by Piet Mondrian. Using the drawing programmes, the children practised drawing straight lines and shapes before filling them with bold primary colours using the fill tool. This activity helped the children understand how digital tools can support the creative process by making some tasks quicker, while still requiring careful decision-making and imagination.
Finally, we explored pointillism by creating artwork both on paper and on tablets. The children used small dots to build up their pictures and then compared the two methods. We discussed which approach they preferred and why. Some children enjoyed the hands-on feel of paint and paper, while others liked how quickly they could work digitally and how easy it was to change colours and edit their designs.
Date: 23rd Apr 2026 @ 4:51pm
Year One had an absolutely fantastic trip to the zoo, and what a memorable day it was! From the moment we arrived, the children were full of excitement and curiosity as we explored the amazing world of animals together.
We were lucky enough to see a wide range of animals, including red pandas, gorillas, orangutans and elephants, as well as many more. One of the highlights was spotting some of the animals’ offspring. The children loved observing how the babies were similar to their parents, as well as noticing the differences too. These observations led to some brilliant discussions about how animals grow and change.
Throughout the day, we talked about the animals’ environments and thought carefully about what they need to survive, including the types of food they eat and how their habitats support them. The children asked thoughtful questions and made excellent links to their learning back in the classroom.
The children’s behaviour was exceptional, and they represented the school beautifully. We are incredibly proud of each and every one of you — well done, Year One, and thank you for such a wonderful day to remember!
Year 1 - Partition into tens and ones
Date: 22nd Apr 2026 @ 8:21pm
Today, we used base 10 and the part-part-whole model to explore partitioning numbers into tens and ones. First, we built each number using base 10, before partitioning it into two parts: one part showing the tens and one part showing the ones. This helped us understand the value of each digit.
Date: 21st Apr 2026 @ 4:58pm
In Year One, maths is all about making learning practical, engaging, and meaningful. One of the most enjoyable topics for our children is measuring capacity, and this week we explored it using something very familiar: cups.
To begin with, the children investigated how much different containers could hold. Using identical cups as a non‑standard unit of measurement, they poured water and counted carefully, discovering how many cups were needed to fill each container. This hands‑on approach helped them understand that capacity is about how much a container can hold, not how big it looks.
Date: 16th Apr 2026 @ 8:44pm
What an amazing day our Year 1 children had on their brilliant trip at Blackpool Zoo! From the moment we arrived, the excitement on the children’s faces said it all. The day was filled with fun, learning, and lots of smiles.
One of the highlights was taking part in the Habitat Workshop, where the children discussed the different habitats and discovered how animals live and survive in their natural homes. They were fascinated by the facts they learned and loved getting the chance to see and touch the different objects.
We also enjoyed walking around the zoo and seeing a wide variety of animals. The children were especially amazed by the elephant talk, where we learned about how elephants are cared for, what they eat, and how intelligent they are. Watching them up close was a truly unforgettable experience.
Another favourite part of the day was the sea lion show. The children couldn’t stop laughing and clapping as the sea lions performed their tricks and showed off their skills.
It was a busy and exciting day, full of wonderful memories that we will treasure for a long time. By the end of the trip, everyone was happily tired, but it was definitely a day to remember!
Date: 16th Apr 2026 @ 2:22pm
This half term in Year One, we have begun reading How to Catch a Star. The children have already shown great enjoyment and enthusiasm for the story.
So far, we have been retelling the story in our storytelling corner, using props and role play to help bring it to life. We have also been sequencing the story by matching sentences to the correct parts, helping the children to develop their understanding of beginning, middle and end. The children have enjoyed retelling the story in their own words, sharing their ideas and interpretations with confidence.
We are looking forward to continuing our learning and exploring the story further over the coming weeks.
Date: 16th Apr 2026 @ 2:20pm
This half term term in Year One, we have been exploring digital painting and learning how technology can be used as a creative art tool. The children have enjoyed discovering how drawing programmes on tablets can help them create pictures in exciting new ways, while still using many of the skills they practise in traditional art lessons.
We began by learning how to use simple drawing tools to create digital self‑portraits. The children explored using different brushes, colours and lines, and learned how to undo mistakes and try again. This helped to build confidence and encouraged them to experiment freely, just as they would when drawing with pencils and crayons.
Next, we explored shape and colour by creating artwork inspired by Piet Mondrian. Using the drawing programmes, the children practised drawing straight lines and shapes, then quickly filling them with bold primary colours using the fill tool. This activity helped the children understand how digital tools can make some processes faster, while still requiring careful choices and creativity.
Finally, we explored pointillism by creating artwork both on paper and on tablets. The children used small dots to build up pictures and then compared the two methods. We talked about which one they preferred and why. Some children enjoyed the tactile feel of paint and paper, while others liked how quickly they could work digitally and easily change colours.
Year 1 - Groups of tens and ones.
Date: 15th Apr 2026 @ 8:44pm
This week, in maths we used base 10 to understand place value of tens and ones within 2-digit numbers. We used the stem sentence ‘there are ___ tens and ___ ones. Altogether there is___. We looked at how tens are grouped to understand the place value.
Year 1 - Maths - Counting from 20 to 50.
Date: 1st Apr 2026 @ 6:36pm
Today in Maths, we began learning to count from 20 to 50. We matched each number to the correct pictorial tens frame, helping us to recognise numbers visually and understand their value. We used the stem sentences: “The number that comes before ___ is ___" and “The number that comes after ___ is ___.” This supported us in developing confidence when ordering numbers. We also explored place value, recognising that numbers are made up of tens and ones, which helped us to deepen our understanding of how numbers are structured.
