Year 1

Key Days

Monday 

• Please bring in reading books daily.  We will aim to change Class reading books every Tuesday.  Your child will now receive two books.

Tuesday

• PE Day  - children to come in PE kits.
• Library day - the children should please bring their library books into school so that they can change them.

Wednesday

• PE - children to come in PE kit

Thursday

• Spelling Test
• Green Phonic Book - New sounds will be entered into your child's book.

Friday

Number facts test - The children are working towards gaining a sticker for their Number Passports.  They will revisit recalling the number bonds for 5.  They will progress further and will work on number bonds to 10, 15 and 20..

• Children should please bring water bottles to school every day - these should be clearly labelled with children's names. 
• Please ensure that all items of clothing are clearly labelled - hopefully this will help us to avoid things getting lost.  If you have written names in ink, please check labels regularly to ensure your child's name is clearly visible. 
• Reading records should be brought into school every day please. 
• Purple mash & Maths.co.uk  -  logins can be found in the front of reading records.

Spring in Year 1

English

This term, the children will begin their English learning with the beautiful story The Sky Garden by Linda Sarah and Fiona Lumbers. Through this text, they will explore writing in different ways, including creating story maps, keeping a diary in role, and learning to write clear, effective instructions. As part of our Talk for Writing work, they will also produce a short recount of the story. Later in the term, we will move on to the traditional tale Goldilocks, where the children will develop their skills further through character description, diary entries, letter writing, and simple narrative innovation.

Maths
This term in Maths, the children will be building their confidence with number and practical skills. They will learn to find a quarter of shapes, measure capacity using cups, and work with coins up to £2 as well as notes. We’ll also be practising counting in 2s, 5s and 10s, learning the days of the week and months of the year, and counting forwards and backwards to 100. The children will measure length and mass using balance scales and small weights, and begin simple multiplication and division through doubling and halving.

Geography
This term, the children will be learning about the United Kingdom. They will name and locate the four countries and their capital cities, explore what the terms city and capital city mean, and learn to recognise both the Union Jack and the individual country flags. The children will also discover some famous landmarks found in each capital city and practise locating key features on maps, including the town of Banks on the northern English coastline.

Science
In Science, the children will be learning about plants. They will identify and name a variety of common wild and garden plants, including both deciduous and evergreen trees. The children will also explore the basic structure of flowering plants and trees, learning to describe key parts such as the stem, roots, leaves and flowers.

Design & Technology (DT)
This term in Design Technology, the children will experiment with mechanisms such as sliders and levers to see how they create movement, and they will begin using key vocabulary linked to their projects.  They will start to develop their own simple design ideas and think about who their product is for.

Religious Education (RE)
In RE, the children will be learning about Muslim beliefs about creation and how these influence the way many Muslims care for the world. Through stories about the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), they will explore how his teachings encourage kindness and responsibility towards the natural world. The children will also reflect on their own beliefs and think about simple ways they can help look after the planet.

Homework

• Daily reading with an adult is encouraged.
  Please remember to initial your child’s reading record each time they read at home.

  All children are working towards our whole‑school reading reward, and we want everyone to have the chance to achieve it. To qualify, children need to read at least three times per week at home.

  Thank you for your support in helping to build confident, enthusiastic readers

• Daily Phonics practise using the sounds and words from their green phonic books.
• Number facts practise - number bonds to 5, 10,15 and 20. 
• All doubles and halves to 20.
• Spelling test words weekly.

• Phonics at Home

  We are working on Phases 3, 4 & 5 phonics. Click the links below to find pronunciations to support your child at home.

  Phase 3 - http://https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vU2vWZKS7rY

  Phase 4 - http://https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VR_IgfIgz10&t=66s

  Phase 5 - http://https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3S5sJw7MfI&t=18s

• Games and Activities

  Letters and Sounds – Free phonics resources for the Letters and Sounds programme (letters-and-sounds.com)

  Other Useful Websites

• Phonics Play - https://www.phonicsplay.co.uk/resources
• ICT Games - https://www.ictgames.com/
• https://www.topmarks.co.uk/maths-games
• Explorify for Science - https://explorify.wellcome.ac.

All year round uniform:

· Charcoal Grey or Black Trousers or Shorts

· Pale Blue or White Polo T-Shirt

· Royal Blue Round Neck Pullover

· Grey or Black Socks

· Black Shoes

Winter (September - April)

· Charcoal Grey Skirt/Pinafore/Smart Trousers

· Pale Blue or White Polo T-Shirt

· Royal Blue Cardigan or Round Neck Pullover

· White Socks/Grey Tights

· Black Shoes

Summer (April - September)

· Pale Blue and White Gingham Dress

· Pale Blue or White Polo T-Shirt

· Royal Blue Cardigan or Round Neck Pullover

Footwear:

Plain, black, smart, sturdy shoes. (Boots, trainers, pumps, thin fabric shoes, or high heels are not acceptable. For information, if you are unsure of the suitability of footwear, please ask a member of staff). Acceptable footwear is at the discretion of the Headteacher.

Outdoor Clothing:

Outdoor wear should be a warm coat, preferably with a hood. Scarves, gloves, and hats may be worn during cold weather but these should not be worn in the school buildings.

Bags and Belongings:

Every student should have a school reading bag for school equipment.

P.E. and Games Kit:

Child come dressed in their P.E. kit on the days they have P.E. lessons. Black shorts, pale blue T-shirts (with or without the school logo) and black plimsolls. Trainers can be worn for outdoor sport

In cold weather, children can bring a pair of plain royal blue jogging bottoms to wear over their PE clothes. A plain royal blue hoodie, sweatshirt, or tracksuit top is also acceptable (or school jumper or cardigan can be worn on top of the PE T-shirt).

- Tracksuits, sweatshirts, and hoodies should be plain and royal blue (not designer items with logos)

- Leggings are not part of the school uniform

Our official uniform can be ordered online from www.myclothing.com or bought from Whittakers Online or Uniform shop in Southport. https://www.whittakersschoolwear.co.uk/product-category/southport/banks-st-stephens-c-of-e-primary-school/

Learning Outdoors in the Forest:

Pupils learning in the forest may need a change of clothes – their teacher will advise. Children can bring a pair of black jogging bottoms, clean socks, a plain royal blue hoodie, sweatshirt, or tracksuit top, and trainers or wellies.

Swimming:

Girls:

One-piece swimming costume, towel, and swimming cap

Boys:

Swimming trunks or swimming shorts (no Bermuda shorts or PE shorts), towel, and swimming cap

Goggles for swimming (only allowed after parental permission form received by school)

Outdoor Sports:

Football boots – staff will notify when these are required.

Earrings:

Earrings are allowed in school but must be stud earrings and not hoops for safety reasons. Students are required to remove earrings before participating in physical education (PE) activities.

Jewellery and Hairstyles:

For health and safety reasons, we do not allow children to wear jewellery with the exception of a watch. If a student needs to wear a piece of jewellery for medical or religious reasons, it should be removed or covered up during physical activity or during practical learning. Jewellery worn for medical or religious reasons will only beallowed once approval has been sought and agreed in writing in advance. Hair should not obscure a student’s vision. Extreme hairstyles, gel, or colourings are not allowed. If parents are unsure as to the suitability of a hairstyle, they should check with the staff in school first. Long hair should always be tied back, especially during PE lessons or practical activities. Hair accessories should be small, plain, and blue. Make-up is not allowed at any time. Nail varnish or false nails are not allowed.

Autumn 2025/26

Spring 2026