Hill 1
We’re delighted to share the wonderful learning experiences our Year 1 children will enjoy this year. The year ahead promises to be exciting and enriching, filled with creativity, curiosity, and plenty of new discoveries. Supporting the children in their learning journey are Mrs Beard (Class Teacher), along with Miss Fisher and Mrs. Hussain (Teaching Assistants).
Hill Heroes
In Hill 1, we are proud to be Hill Heroes! We always try our best, show kindness, and look after one another. Being a Hill Hero means showing curiosity in our learning, resilience when things are tricky, and respect for everyone around us. Together, we make our classroom a happy and inspiring place to learn and grow.
Autumn 2
We hope you all had a lovely half-term break and are ready for another exciting half-term of learning. Our new topics will take us on lots of adventures in reading, science, geography, and more. Here’s what we’ll be covering this term:
English – The Tiger Who Came to Tea
This term, we’ll be reading the much-loved story The Tiger Who Came to Tea by Judith Kerr. The children will explore story structure, characters, and settings. We’ll retell the story through drama and sequencing activities, and the children will write their own versions featuring a surprise visitor! Along the way, we’ll continue practising sentence punctuation, capital letters, and using “and” to join ideas.
Maths – Numbers to 20
In maths, we’ll deepen our understanding of numbers up to 20. We’ll focus on counting, comparing, ordering, and representing numbers in different ways. The children will also begin using addition and subtraction within 20, using objects, number lines, and pictures to support their understanding. We’ll continue to work on number bonds and using maths vocabulary to explain our reasoning.
Science – Materials and Their Properties
Our science topic will explore everyday materials. The children will investigate different materials (wood, plastic, metal, fabric, glass) and their properties, describing how they feel and what they are used for. We’ll carry out simple tests to find out which materials are best for purposes — such as which makes the best raincoat or bridge!
Geography – What is Special About Accrington?
In geography, we’ll focus on our local area, Accrington. The children will learn to name landmarks, find key places on a map, and talk about what makes our town special. We’ll look at the human and physical features of Accrington.
Art – Colour and Line (inspired by Van Gogh)
In art, we’ll explore how artists use colour and line to bring their work to life. The children will experiment with different media to create texture and movement in their pictures. We’ll study the work of Vincent Van Gogh, particularly his use of bold brushstrokes and vivid colours, and use this as inspiration for our own artwork.
PSHRE – Families and Friendships
Our PSHE lessons will focus on understanding that families come in all shapes and sizes, and what it means to be a good friend. We’ll talk about kindness, respect, and how to support one another in school and at home.
RE – Christianity
In RE, the children will learn about who Jesus was and why he is special to Christians. We’ll explore stories from the Bible that show Jesus’ kindness and teachings and discuss what we can learn from them.
RAISE assembly dates-
11/11/25 - Mohammad Ali
18/11/25 - Omar
25/11/25 - Heena
2/12/25 - Saad
9/12/25 - Adam
16/12/25 - Iqra
We’re looking forward to another fantastic half-term full of curiosity, creativity, and fun learning experiences. Thank you for your continued support — it really makes a difference!
Learning at home - How you can help
Reading at home is the most important thing you can do to support your children's learning at home.
Please continue to read with your child every night. Just 10 minutes of reading together makes an enormous difference to their progress and confidence.
Don’t forget to record this in your child’s reading diary so we can celebrate their achievements in school!
Parental support is important because it can:
Boost confidence and enjoyment in learning
Reinforce what your child is learning at school
Help develop good learning habits and curiosity
Give your child extra practice in areas they find tricky
The websites below are free, easy to use, and parent-friendly, making it simple to support your child’s learning at home.
Hit the Button https://www.topmarks.co.uk/maths-games/hit-the-button
A fun, fast-paced maths game that helps your child practise number bonds, times tables, doubling and halving. Great for building confidence with numbers.
Oxford Owl – Year 1 at Primary School https://home.oxfordowl.co.uk/at-school/year-1-at-primary-school/Shows what children learn in Year 1 and gives practical tips and resources for reading, phonics, and maths.
Phonics Playhttps://www.phonicsplay.co.uk/Interactive games to help children practise phonics and early reading skills. Very easy for parents to set up and play together.