Writing Task
Our writing task on Monday 3rd November will be all about Autumn, which has been our focus in Science this half term.
The key questions we have explored are:
What is Autumn?
What is the weather like in Autumn?
What events happen during Autumn?
During the task, children will use their knowledge from our Science lessons to write about this season. They will also have a word mat available to support their writing.
Please take some time to discuss these questions with your child and encourage them to think of some sentences they could include in their writing.
You can start by talking about what happens during autumn and how it fits into the seasons of the year.
Discussion ideas:
It comes after summer and before winter.
The weather starts to get cooler.
Leaves change colour and fall off the trees.
Example sentences:
Autumn is one of the four seasons.
In autumn, the leaves on the trees turn red, orange and yellow.
Autumn comes after summer and before winter.
Talk about how the weather changes and what we might wear.
Discussion ideas:
It can be windy, rainy, and sometimes sunny.
The days get shorter and darker earlier.
People wear coats and boots to stay warm.
Example sentences:
The weather in autumn is cool and sometimes wet.
It often rains, and the wind blows the leaves off the trees.
I wear my warm coat and wellies when I go outside.
Discuss festivals, celebrations, and changes in nature.
Discussion ideas:
Harvest time and Bonfire Night.
Animals gather food or get ready to hibernate.
People pick apples and pumpkins.
Example sentences:
In autumn, we celebrate Harvest Festival and give thanks for our food.
On Bonfire Night, we watch fireworks light up the sky.
Phonics
Repeated practice of spelling helps children move their new learning into long-term memory. In Year 1 especially, it’s important to find time to practise and embed spelling outside of phonics lessons. Please keep sessions short and fun!
Graphemes:
All phase 3 graphemes (check your child is confident with them)
Ask your child to:
Decodable words: (this week our focus has been longer words and plurals)
vanish, lightning, earring, queens, chairs, chains, poison, coats, fights, cooks, fishes, boxes, fizzes
Ask your child to:
Read the words.
Add the sound buttons (dots and dashes).
Write the words.
Remember to sound out and segment each word before spelling it.
Tricky words:
they, all, by, my, are, sure, pure
Ask your child to:
Read the words.
Circle the tricky part.
Write the words.
Remember to sound out and segment each word before spelling, thinking carefully about the tricky bit.
Additional dictation:
We had a visit to see the queen.
You need to put on coats and boots to go into the garden.
My fox is quick as lightning!
Challenge your child to apply their phonic knowledge in short dictated sentences.
Model and check the correct spelling of the sentence together.
Handwriting
We are learning the Little Wandle rhymes to help with letter formation, following the Little Wandle sequence. Please practise the three focus letters with your child and help them learn the rhyme for each one. The handwriting is on the document section below. If you would like handwriting sheets, these can be found in the phonics section of the website under Phase 2 (Letter Formation Sheets – Autumn 1).
Maths Task
Basic Skills:
π Counting forwards and backwards in 10s from any given number (this will be our last week with this focus before we move onto something different next half term)
This can be practised verbally with your child.
Short, regular practice works best (e.g. 5 minutes, 3–4 times per week).
If your child finds it tricky, using a 100 square is absolutely fine.
If your child is confident with 10s please move onto 2s and 5s.
π Adding numbers to 10
For number bonds to 10, we are aiming for automatic recall.
Please check whether your child knows the number bonds to 10 quickly.
You can do this verbally by asking:
“4 and what makes 10?”
“3 and what makes 10?”
We will also be practising these in lessons, so the children should be familiar.
If you are confident your child knows their number bonds to and within 10 with automatic recall then please move onto number bonds to 20
It’s been fantastic to see that so many of you have been on Numbots during the holidays! Numbots will continue throughout the year, and I may set weekly challenges. Please try to complete this little but often.
π Certificates will be handed out every Friday.
Head to the Challenge section and click on the Subtracting tab. There is a challenge to try this week:
π§© Subtract 0, 1 and 2
See if you can show off your super number skills! π I’ll be keeping an eye on your progress through my account, and I can’t wait to see how you get on.
Good luck, Number Ninjas!
Any questions about homework please ask a member of the Year 1 team.
Writing Task
Our writing task on Monday will be comparing toys from the past and the present, which links to our current History topic.
Please take a few minutes to discuss this with your child before Monday. You could talk about:
What toys you or other family members played with when you were younger.
How toys have changed over time (e.g. materials, technology, how they move, how they look).
Which toys are your child’s favourites today and why.
During the writing session, Year 1 will have pictures of toys from the past and present to help them with their ideas.
Some example sentences they might write are:
Toys in the past were made of wood, but toys now are made of plastic.
Old toys didn’t need batteries, but new toys can move and make sounds.
Toys in the past were hand-made. Toys now are made in factories.
Old toys looked simple. New toys are colourful and bright.
Old toys had to be pushed or pulled. New toys can move by themselves.
In the past, toys did not make sounds. Now some toys can talk or play music.
Children used to play with wind-up toys. Today we have remote-control toys.
I think old toys are special because they were made by hand.
I like new toys because they can move and light up.
Old toys are quieter, but new toys are more exciting.
Toys from the past were simple, but still fun.
Phonics
Please see document section below for this weeks phonics.
Repeated practice of spelling helps children move their new learning into long-term memory. In Year 1 especially, it’s important to find time to practise and embed spelling outside of phonics lessons. The weekly spelling sheets below are designed to support this. Please keep sessions short and fun!
Graphemes
Ask your child to:
Decodable words
Ask your child to:
Read the words.
Add the sound buttons (dots and dashes).
Write the words.
Remember to sound out and segment each word before spelling it.
Tricky words
Ask your child to:
Read the words.
Circle the tricky part.
Write the words.
Remember to sound out and segment each word before spelling, thinking carefully about the tricky bit.
Additional dictation
Challenge your child to apply their phonic knowledge in short dictated sentences.
Model and check the correct spelling of the sentence together.
Handwriting
We are learning the Little Wandle rhymes to help with letter formation, following the Little Wandle sequence. Please practise the three focus letters with your child and help them learn the rhyme for each one. The handwriting is included on the same document as the phonics sheet. If you would like handwriting sheets, these can be found in the phonics section of the website under Phase 2 (Letter Formation Sheets – Autumn 1).
Maths Task
Basic Skills:
π Counting forwards and backwards in 10s from any given number
This can be practised verbally with your child.
Short, regular practice works best (e.g. 5 minutes, 3–4 times per week).
If your child finds it tricky, using a 100 square is absolutely fine.
If your child is confident with 10s please move onto 2s and 5s.
π Adding numbers to 10
For number bonds t0 10, we are aiming for automatic recall.
Please check whether your child knows the number bonds to 10 quickly.
You can do this verbally by asking:
“4 and what makes 10?”
“3 and what makes 10?”
We will also be practising these in lessons, so the children should be familiar.
It’s been fantastic to see that so many of you have been on Numbots during the holidays! Numbots will continue throughout the year, and I may set weekly challenges. Please try to complete this little but often.
π Certificates will be handed out every Friday.
Head to the Challenge section and click on the Subtracting tab. There is a challenge to try this week:
π§© Subtracting within 10
See if you can show off your super number skills! π I’ll be keeping an eye on your progress through my account, and I can’t wait to see how you get on.
Good luck, Number Ninjas!
Any questions about homework please ask a member of the Year 1 team.
Writing Task
Please see the assessment document underneath for information about the writing assessment on Monday 13th October. I have attached a PowerPoint and the sequence pictures to support.
Phonics
Please see document section below for this weeks phonics.
Repeated practice of spelling helps children move their new learning into long-term memory. In Year 1 especially, it’s important to find time to practise and embed spelling outside of phonics lessons. The weekly spelling sheets below are designed to support this. Please keep sessions short and fun!
Graphemes
Ask your child to:
Decodable words
Ask your child to:
Read the words.
Add the sound buttons (dots and dashes).
Write the words.
Remember to sound out and segment each word before spelling it.
Tricky words
Ask your child to:
Read the words.
Circle the tricky part.
Write the words.
Remember to sound out and segment each word before spelling, thinking carefully about the tricky bit.
Additional dictation
Challenge your child to apply their phonic knowledge in short dictated sentences.
Model and check the correct spelling of the sentence together.
Handwriting
We are learning the Little Wandle rhymes to help with letter formation, following the Little Wandle sequence. Please practise the three focus letters with your child and help them learn the rhyme for each one. The handwriting is included on the same document as the phonics sheet. If you would like handwriting sheets, these can be found in the phonics section of the website under Phase 2 (Letter Formation Sheets – Autumn 1).
Maths Task
Please see the assessment document below for information on next weeks maths assessment.
It’s been fantastic to see that so many of you have been on Numbots during the holidays! Numbots will continue throughout the year, and I may set weekly challenges. Please try to complete this little but often.
π Certificates will be handed out every Friday.
There is no Numbot Challenge this week.
Any questions about homework please ask a member of the Year 1 team.
PLEASE NOTE - I know it feels like there’s a lot more homework this week compared to the first few weeks. Please just do what works best for your family and set realistic expectations for yourself and your child. If you’re only able to complete one thing, please make sure it’s the reading—that’s the most important.
EXTRA - Harvest Song
On Tuesday 7th October Year 1 will be performing their Harvest Song.
I’ve attached the song in the documents section below. If you have time to practice it at home, that would be really helpful. The children are expected to sing the whole song, but they’ve also been split into their house groups, with each group performing actions for one verse (hopefully they’ll be able to show you at home!).
Writing Task
There will be no writing task next week due to Harvest Festival rehearsal and performance.
Phonics
Please see document section below for this weeks phonics (I am not sure why air is on the grapheme section twice!)
Repeated practice of spelling helps children move their new learning into long-term memory. In Year 1 especially, it’s important to find time to practise and embed spelling outside of phonics lessons. The weekly spelling sheets below are designed to support this. Please keep sessions short and fun!
Graphemes
Ask your child to:
Decodable words
Ask your child to:
Read the words.
Add the sound buttons (dots and dashes).
Write the words.
Remember to sound out and segment each word before spelling it.
Tricky words
Ask your child to:
Read the words.
Circle the tricky part.
Write the words.
Remember to sound out and segment each word before spelling, thinking carefully about the tricky bit.
Additional dictation
Challenge your child to apply their phonic knowledge in short dictated sentences.
Model and check the correct spelling of the sentence together.
Handwriting
We are learning the Little Wandle rhymes to help with letter formation, following the Little Wandle sequence. Please practise the three focus letters with your child and help them learn the rhyme for each one. The handwriting is included on the same document as the phonics sheet. If you would like handwriting sheets, these can be found in the phonics section of the website under Phase 2 (Letter Formation Sheets – Autumn 1).
Maths Task
Basic Skills:
π Counting forwards and backwards in 10s from any given number
This can be practised verbally with your child.
Short, regular practice works best (e.g. 5 minutes, 3–4 times per week).
If your child finds it tricky, using a 100 square is absolutely fine.
If your child is confident with 10s please move onto 2s and 5s.
π Adding numbers within 10
For number bonds within 10, we are aiming for automatic recall.
Please check whether your child knows the number bonds to 6 and 7 quickly.
You can do this verbally by asking:
“4 and what makes 6?”
“3 and what makes 7?”
We will also be practising these in lessons, so the children should be familiar.
It’s been fantastic to see that so many of you have been on Numbots during the holidays! Numbots will continue throughout the year, and I may set weekly challenges. Please try to complete this little but often.
π Certificates will be handed out every Friday.
Head to the Challenge section and click on the Adding tab. There is a challenge to try this week:
π§© Adding 8 and 9
See if you can show off your super number skills! π I’ll be keeping an eye on your progress through my account, and I can’t wait to see how you get on.
Good luck, Number Ninjas!
Any questions about homework please ask a member of the Year 1 team.
PLEASE NOTE - I know it feels like there’s a lot more homework this week compared to the first few weeks. Please just do what works best for your family and set realistic expectations for yourself and your child. If you’re only able to complete one thing, please make sure it’s the reading—that’s the most important.
EXTRA - Harvest Song
On Tuesday 7th October Year 1 will be performing their Harvest Song.
I’ve attached the song in the documents section below. If you have time to practice it at home, that would be really helpful. The children are expected to sing the whole song, but they’ve also been split into their house groups, with each group performing actions for one verse (hopefully they’ll be able to show you at home!).
Writing Task
On Monday 29th September, Year 1 will be retelling the story of 'The Lost Son'.
Year 1 have been learning the story in their RE lessons. I’ve attached the PowerPoint in the documents section below. During their writing activity, the children will have sequencing pictures to help them. Please ensure your child is confident with thinking of a sentence for the pictures
COMPLETION DATE: 29.09.25
Phonics
Please see document section below for this weeks phonics.
Repeated practice of spelling helps children move their new learning into long-term memory. In Year 1 especially, it’s important to find time to practise and embed spelling outside of phonics lessons. The weekly spelling sheets below are designed to support this. Please keep sessions short and fun!
Graphemes
Ask your child to:
Decodable words
Ask your child to:
Read the words.
Add the sound buttons (dots and dashes).
Write the words.
Remember to sound out and segment each word before spelling it.
Tricky words
Ask your child to:
Read the words.
Circle the tricky part.
Write the words.
Remember to sound out and segment each word before spelling, thinking carefully about the tricky bit.
Additional dictation
Challenge your child to apply their phonic knowledge in short dictated sentences.
Model and check the correct spelling of the sentence together.
Handwriting
We are learning the Little Wandle rhymes to help with letter formation, following the Little Wandle sequence. Please practise the three focus letters with your child and help them learn the rhyme for each one. The handwriting is included on the same document as the phonics sheet. If you would like handwriting sheets, these can be found in the phonics section of the website under Phase 2 (Letter Formation Sheets – Autumn 1).
Maths Task
Basic Skills:
π Counting forwards and backwards in 10s from any given number
This can be practised verbally with your child.
Short, regular practice works best (e.g. 5 minutes, 3–4 times per week).
If your child finds it tricky, using a 100 square is absolutely fine.
If your child is confident with 10s please move onto 2s and 5s.
π Adding numbers within 10
For number bonds within 10, we are aiming for automatic recall.
Please check whether your child knows the number bonds to 4 and 5 quickly.
You can do this verbally by asking:
“4 and what makes 0?”
“3and what makes 5?”
We will also be practising these in lessons, so the children should be familiar.
It’s been fantastic to see that so many of you have been on Numbots during the holidays! Numbots will continue throughout the year, and I may set weekly challenges. Please try to complete this little but often.
π Certificates will be handed out every Friday.
Head to the Challenge section and click on the Adding tab. There is a challenge to try this week:
π§© Near Doubles
See if you can show off your super number skills! π I’ll be keeping an eye on your progress through my account, and I can’t wait to see how you get on.
Good luck, Number Ninjas!
Any questions about homework please ask a member of the Year 1 team.
Writing Task
On Monday 22nd September, Year 1 will be describing pictures using their five senses.
Please take a look at the pictures in the document section below with your child. Together, talk about what they might see, hear, smell, taste, and feel. Some senses may be trickier than others, but encourage your child to use their imagination and come up with creative ideas.
Sight (What can you see?)
What colours, shapes, or patterns are there?
Is it big or small? Bright or dark?
Sound (What can you hear?)
Would it be noisy or quiet?
What kinds of sounds might it make (crackling, splashing, buzzing)?
Smell (What can you smell?)
Does it smell nice or not nice?
Is it sweet, fresh, smoky, stinky?
Taste (What might it taste like?)
If it’s food, is it sweet, sour, salty, spicy?
If it’s not food, let them use imagination (e.g., “It might taste dusty like paper”).
Touch (What does it feel like?)
Is it soft, rough, smooth, sticky, hot, cold?
Would it be comfortable to hold or not?
COMPLETION DATE: 22.09.25
Maths Task
The maths focus for homework in Year 1 will be arithmetic and basic number skills. By the end of the year, children should be confident with:
π’ One more and one less to 100
π’ Number bonds to and within 20
π’ Doubles (up to double 12)
π’ Halves (up to half of 24)
π’ Counting in 2s, 5s and 10s forwards and backwards from any given number
We will have a specific focus each half term which will be shared with you for homework.
π Counting forwards and backwards in 10s from any given number
This can be practised verbally with your child.
Short, regular practice works best (e.g. 5 minutes, 3–4 times per week).
If your child finds it tricky, using a 100 square is absolutely fine.
If your child is confident with 10s please move onto 2s and 5s.
π Adding numbers within 10
For number bonds within 10, we are aiming for automatic recall.
Please check whether your child knows the number bonds to 9 and 10 quickly.
You can do this verbally by asking:
“5 and what makes 9?”
“4 and what makes 9?”
We will also be practising these in lessons, so the children should be familiar.
It’s been fantastic to see that so many of you have been on Numbots during the holidays! Numbots will continue throughout the year, and I may set weekly challenges. Please try to complete this little but often.
π Certificates will be handed out every Friday.
Head to the Challenge section and click on the Adding tab. There are two challenges to try this week:
π§© Doubles
See if you can complete both and show off your super number skills! π I’ll be keeping an eye on your progress through my account, and I can’t wait to see how you get on.
Good luck, Number Ninjas!
Any questions about homework please ask a member of the Year 1 team.
Writing Task
On Monday 15th September, Year 1 will be learning to describe how the monsters feel using the conjunction because. To help prepare, please rehearse some sentences with your child at home so they feel confident for their writing on Monday.
I have attached a document with some ideas to support you. We will also practise making sentences together as a class before the children begin their writing.
A good way to practise:
Say the feeling word first (happy, sad, angry, excited, scared, tired).
Ask “Why?” together – let your child come up with a reason.
Help them join the two ideas with because.
COMPLETION DATE: 15.09.25
Maths Task
The maths focus for homework in Year 1 will be arithmetic and basic number skills. By the end of the year, children should be confident with:
π’ One more and one less to 100
π’ Number bonds to and within 20
π’ Doubles (up to double 12)
π’ Halves (up to half of 24)
π’ Counting in 2s, 5s and 10s forwards and backwards from any given number
We will have a specific focus each half term which will be shared with you for homework.
π Counting forwards and backwards in 10s from any given number
This can be practised verbally with your child.
Short, regular practice works best (e.g. 5 minutes, 3–4 times per week).
If your child finds it tricky, using a 100 square is absolutely fine.
If your child is confident with 10s please move onto 2s and 5s.
π Adding numbers within 10
For number bonds within 10, we are aiming for automatic recall.
Please check whether your child knows the number bonds to 7 and 8 quickly.
You can do this verbally by asking:
“5 and what makes 6?”
“4 and what makes 6?”
We will also be practising these in lessons, so the children should be familiar.
It’s been fantastic to see that so many of you have been on Numbots during the holidays! Numbots will continue throughout the year, and I may set weekly challenges. Please try to complete this little but often.
π Certificates will be handed out every Friday.
Head to the Challenge section and click on the Adding tab. There are two challenges to try this week:
π§© Adding within 10
π’ Adding to 10
See if you can complete both and show off your super number skills! π I’ll be keeping an eye on your progress through my account, and I can’t wait to see how you get on.
Good luck, Number Ninjas!
Any questions about homework please ask a member of the Year 1 team.
Writing Task
On Monday 8th September, Year 1 will be doing a writing task. The children will be describing what they can see in the pictures (see document section below). The pictures are all focussed on toys, which is also our history topic for this half term.
To help prepare, please spend some time with your child looking closely at the pictures and talking about what they can see. This will help them to rehearse some sentences before writing in class.
Here are some ideas for talking together:
Compare – Which toys look old? Which look new? Which toy would you like to play with? Why?
We will also be discussing the pictures in class, but rehearsing some sentences at home will give the children a head start.
COMPLETION DATE: 08.09.25
Maths Task
The maths focus for homework in Year 1 will be arithmetic and basic number skills. By the end of the year, children should be confident with:
π’ One more and one less to 100
π’ Number bonds to and within 20
π’ Doubles (up to double 12)
π’ Halves (up to half of 24)
π’ Counting in 2s, 5s and 10s forwards and backwards from any given number
We will have a specific focus each half term which will be shared with you for homework.
π Counting forwards and backwards in 10s from any given number
This can be practised verbally with your child.
Short, regular practice works best (e.g. 5 minutes, 3–4 times per week).
If your child finds it tricky, using a 100 square is absolutely fine.
π Adding numbers within 10
For number bonds within 10, we are aiming for automatic recall.
Please check whether your child knows the number bonds to 5 and 6 quickly.
You can do this verbally by asking:
“5 and what makes 6?”
“4 and what makes 6?”
We will also be practising these in lessons, so the children should be familiar.
It’s been fantastic to see that so many of you have been on Numbots during the holidays! Numbots will continue throughout the year, and I may set weekly challenges. Please try to complete this little but often.
π Certificates will be handed out every Friday.
Any questions about homework please ask a member of the Year 1 team.