Welcome to Caterpillar class!

A very warm welcome to Year 1!

We are very much looking forward to teaching your children this year. Year one is the first stage in Key Stage one so it may seem a little different at first, but we are sure that the children will settle in quickly.

Our topic for term 1 is West Malling

For the first term in Year One, the children will be studying West Malling. We will be learning about historical and notable events in our local area and setting out on our own trip around our market town, with more information to follow about this.

We will be using texts including The Very Hungry Caterpillar and Little Red Riding Hood to produce a range of writing and embed learning. We will teach writing using the Talk for Writing structure, which involves building vocabulary, acting, verbal retelling, story mapping, developing and creating and finally independent writing. This is a really fun and inclusive way to build stamina both mentally and physically when writing. Our RE topic this term will be God's great plan where we read the creation story.

Staff

We are fortunate to have a great team at More Park. Mrs Champkins will be in the classroom on a Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Mrs Bale will be in the classroom on a Thursday and Friday. We will also have the support of Mrs de la Hoyde and Miss Hamer.

Uniform

Please ensure that all uniform, PE kits and coats are labelled. This makes it easier for the children to find their belongings independently and helps return lost uniform quickly. PE kits need to be in school every day and will be returned at the end of the term. PE will take place every Friday afternoon and the children will visit Forest school on a Wednesday afternoon during Term 1.

Drink and snack

Please send in a named water bottle daily and these will be returned daily. Please send them in filled and they will be replenished when necessary during the day. Please ensure lunch boxes are named as well as some of the children have the same lunch boxes. A fruit snack for morning break time is provided at school.

Reading

Please send book bags into school every day. Book bags will be collected in on Thursday and returned with new books every Friday. We will send four books for your child to read over the course of the week, including two Little Wandle books and two sharing books (selected by the children). Children are expected to read a minimum of five times a week and we encourage you to ask questions alongside, to support their understanding of the text. Please sign and comment in the reading record, each time that you read with your child, to inform us of how your child is getting on with their reading at home and to ensure that the books are changed weekly.