YEAR ONE – some useful notes
Year One Teachers: Miss Kingston and Miss Willis
Year One Teaching Assistants:
Mrs Goodman (Monday and Tuesday) and Miss Hodson (all week) – 1AK
Mrs Chapman (Thursday and Friday) and Mrs Jennings (Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday) – 1HW
Reading
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We will endeavour to listen to your child read twice a week at school. The children will also
be involved in guided reading under the instruction of the teachers throughout the year.
We would be grateful if you could listen to your child read each night. However, if your child
is reluctant or too tired to read do not worry, instead please let us know via the yellow homeschool liaison book.
As the reading books become thicker it will be unlikely that a whole book will be read at school
as takes place in Reception. It will be common for your child to read 4/5 pages at school and
a similar amount or more at home.
Please make a comment about your child’s reading in the yellow book each night and let us
know what page was reached or whether the book was completed.
Although we may not listen to your child read their home reader everyday, book-bags should
be brought in for messages and to allow us to change books if necessary.
Messages for the teacher can either be paper-clipped into the yellow book or emailed.
Spellings
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In Year 1 we have a weekly spelling ‘test’ based on the phonics previously covered by the
children. We try to keep it quite low-key so as not to stress or upset the children. It will be
completed in the back of their small green/blue spelling book.
Spellings will go home on a Wednesday and our ‘test’ will take place the following Wednesday.
We feel it is best to do little and often. Short bursts every night is much more effective than a
long session on Monday night! The children should practise writing the words out on a scrap
piece of paper by breaking the word down and sounding out the individual sounds. Flashcards
may prove useful. The LOOK, COVER, WRITE, CHECK method is also suitable for children of this
age.
Handwriting
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The pencil should be held between the thumb and forefinger with the pencil resting on the
end of the middle finger (frog on a log!). Pencil grips may be used to assist with this. Correct
pencil grip is especially essential for left-handers and paper should be at a slight angle to the
child’s body. Guidance mats may be useful.
In Year 1 we introduce the Hawford cursive handwriting style. All lower case letters join. All
words starting with a lower-case letter join up from the line. Please see the attached example.
Homework
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We feel that reading and spelling is enough for the children to deal with at this time in the
school year.
There may be occasional tasks sent home of a ‘can you find out’ nature, but these should not
become a stressful experience for either child or parent.
Later in the year, if we feel that extra reinforcement would be beneficial we will let you know.
There are lots of educational websites which reinforce much of the numeracy and phonic work
we do.
Clothing
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It is vital that the children have wellington boots, tracksuits, trainers and coats in school at all
times. Please ensure ALL items (even socks!!) are clearly named.
Games/PE
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Games takes place on Friday afternoon – kit should be brought into school.
PE takes place on Monday for 1AK and Tuesday for 1HW – kit should be worn into school.
Please see the attached kit list for the required clothes on these days.
BOYS - If you feel your child needs to have football/rugby boots we would be very grateful if
you could try to buy the Velcro type as opposed to the laces, it makes life so much easier for
us. Don’t worry if you have already bought laced boots, please don’t go out and buy a second
pair!
House-points/Rewards
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Children can earn house-points for good work, effort and behaviour.
The children have been placed into one of the school’s four houses and the points that they
earn go towards a running total.
Children can also earn stickers and certificates for good work and behaviour.
Clubs
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Year 1 children will be offered a number of different clubs after school during the year.
Appropriate clothing for these clubs may be put in a bag on the peg and the children will
change shortly before 3.30pm.
Before the club they will be given a snack and drink from the hatch.
The children can be picked up directly from the club, please ensure the teacher in charge has
ticked your child off their list. Any remaining children will then be taken to late club.
If you have any questions that have not been covered please do not hesitate to contact your child’s
teacher who will be happy to help.
Thank you,
Anna Kingston and Helen Willis
Life at Hawford is always busy! We thought it would be useful to know when your child will
need the various items of kit.
Tracksuit bottoms, wellington boots, fleece and navy waterproofs need to be in school AT
ALL TIMES throughout the year.
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Book bag containing reading book and home/school liaison book.
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1AK– come into school in their PE kit (navy shorts, school navy t-shirt,
school tracksuit top, white socks, tracksuit bottoms and trainers). Bring
in swimming kit.
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Book bag containing reading book and home/school liaison book.
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1HW– come into school in their PE kit (navy shorts, school navy t-shirt,
school tracksuit top, white socks, tracksuit bottoms and trainers). Bring
in swimming kit.
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Book bag containing reading book and home/school liaison book.
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Spelling books for test
Thursday
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Book bag containing reading book and home/school liaison book.
Friday
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Book bag containing reading book and home/school liaison book.
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1AK and 1HW – bring in Games kit (navy shorts, school navy t-shirt,
tracksuit top and bottoms, navy rugby socks and trainers. Boys may
bring rugby or football boots.) In colder weather please provide your
child with plenty of warm clothing – hat, scarf, gloves, layers etc, as
they will be going outside!
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Please could you ensure that ALL items of clothing that are brought into school are clearly
named. Thank you.