Year 1
Friday 7th November 2025
Phonics/English
Last week we sent home a phonics workbook (Phase 5 - Workbook 1). This week the children will need to complete pages 11 and 12 in their phonics workbook.
Maths
This week the children have been learning about positional language using ordinal numbers (1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th / first, second, third, fourth, fifth).
On post-it notes or pieces of paper, support your child to write the numerals 1 to 5.
1
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
Next, explain that when we talk about a position – for example, children queuing up in a line – we say that the child in position 1 (the front of the line) is 1st; the child in position 2 is 2nd; position 3 is 3rd, and so on. Use the image below when discussing this. Now, help your child to change their numeral into an ordinal number by adding ‘st’ ‘nd’ ‘rd’ ‘th’ (you could also write each as a word too if your child wants).
1st
first | 2nd
second | 3rd
third | 4th
fourth | 5th
fifth |
Finally, ask your child to get 5 of their toys and to line them up in a queue with a clear starting point for first position (e.g. line them up at the door). Can your child use the pieces of paper they made with ordinal numbers to label the position of each toy?
Reading
The children will read three times a week with a teacher and have been given a reading book or an e-book to practise reading at home. Please ensure that these books are returned to their bags after reading at home, so that they can be re-read in school and used with other children. Please encourage your children to read other books and record in reading logs.
REMINDER
Please provide a photograph of your child as a baby and as a toddler (2-3 year old) by Friday 7th November.
The photographs will be stuck into their books so if you do not have a copy please email the photographs to the school office at admin@stalbans.cheshire.sch.uk
Friday 17th October 2025
Phonics/English
Last week we sent home a phonics workbook (Phase 5 - Workbook 1). This week the children will need to complete pages 9 and 10 in their phonics workbook.
Maths
This week the children can practise writing subtraction number sentences and representing them in a part-part-whole model. Perhaps roll a die to generate two values. Write these as the two parts in a part-part-whole model and then work out what the whole (total value) is. Now write a number sentence to show this information. For example, if you roll 4 and 3, the number sentence would become 7-4=3 or 7-3=4.
Reading
The children will read three times a week with a teacher and have been given a reading book or an e-book to practise reading at home. Please ensure that these books are returned to their bags after reading at home, so that they can be re-read in school and used with other children. Please encourage your children to read other books and record in reading logs.
SCIENCE
On Monday, we will be doing a Science lesson on the season of autumn. If you are out on a walk over the weekend, please look out for signs of autumn and bring some in if it is possible (eg. colourful leaves, conkers, helicopter seeds, acorns, berries, pinecones etc).
Friday 10th October 2025
Phonics/English
Last week we sent home a phonics workbook (Phase 5 - Workbook 1). This week the children will need to complete pages 7 and 8 in their phonics workbook.
Maths
This week the children can practise writing addition number sentences and representing them in a part-part-whole model. Perhaps roll a die to generate two values. Write these as the two parts in a part-part-whole model and then work out what the whole (total value) is. Now write a number sentence to show this information. For example, if you roll 4 and 3, the number sentence would become 4+3=7 or 3+4=7.
Reading
The children will read three times a week with a teacher and have been given a reading book or an e-book to practise reading at home. Please ensure that these books are returned to their bags after reading at home, so that they can be re-read in school and used with other children. Please encourage your children to read other books and record in reading logs.
Friday 3rd October 2025
Phonics/English
This week we are sending home a phonics workbook (Phase 5 - Workbook 1). Each week we will list the pages to be completed by the children. This week the children will need to complete pages 5 and 6. These are the skills they have been learning this week.
Maths
The children also have a short Maths activity. This week can the children practise their number bonds to 10 using the Numicon frames: https://mathsbot.com/manipulatives/numberFrame
Select one of the ten frame, and then see how many different values can be put together to make the same amount/shape using the 'rotate' button to fit them together. Say your number bond sentence aloud eg, "Six and four makes ten".
Reading
The children will read three times a week with a teacher and have been given a reading book or an e-book to practise reading at home. Please ensure that these books are returned to their bags after reading at home, so that they can be re-read in school and used with other children. Please encourage your children to read other books and record in reading logs.
Friday 26th September 2025
Phonics/English
In English, we have been reading the story 'Old Bear' and discussed what old toys (or belongings) we have had for a long time. For example, old teddies, blankets/comforters, family heirlooms or photographs. Please can you take a picture or bring one of these things for us to share as a class on Monday 29th September. If you would like to take a picture, please email to admin@stalbans.cheshire.sch.uk with the subject - FAO Year 1.
Maths
This week we have been learning about one less and one more than a given number. We have also learnt how to order numbers from smallest to greatest. Please use a dice (or dice app) to generate 3 numbers and make a note of these. Can you order them from smallest to greatest?
Reading
The children will read three times a week with a teacher and have been given a reading book or an e-book to practise reading at home. Please ensure that these books are returned to their bags after reading at home, so that they can be re-read in school and used with other children. Please encourage your children to read other books and record in reading logs.
Friday 19th September 2025
Phonics/English
In Phonics lessons, the children learn 'harder to read and spell words' which are words that cannot be sounded out. Please use the attachment below to practise these words with your child.
Maths
This week the children have started to learn about 'fewer than' and 'more than'. Please can you ask children the following questions (for any children who may struggle please use real objects to show them visually):
Is 7 more than 3?
Is 10 less than 6?
Is 4 more than 7?
Is 9 less than 8?
Reading
The children will read three times a week with a teacher and have been given a reading book or an e-book to practise reading at home. Please ensure that these books are returned to their bags after reading at home, so that they can be re-read in school and used with other children. Please encourage your children to read other books and record in reading logs.
Friday 12th September 2025
Phonics/English
The children have been working hard to remember their phase three and phase two phonemes. Each child has been given a sound mat to practise these at home each night before reading their book (electronic copy below). Please help your child to build their confidence with the recall of these sounds.
Maths
The children will also have a short Maths activity. This week can the children practise writing numerals to ten correctly. If they find this tricky, for example write in reverse, perhaps they can copy the numerals below an example done by an adult.
Reading
The children will read three times a week with a teacher and have been given a reading book or an e-book to practise reading at home. Please ensure that these books are returned to their bags after reading at home, so that they can be re-read in school and used with other children. Please encourage your children to read other books and record in reading logs.