14.3.2025

Such a lot of fantastic practical measuring this week! I wonder if your child can tell you that we measure mass in grams and kilograms? We have also begun to look at capacity. This week the children have loved using Topmarks to consolidate measuring in cm. This game is free and it has really helped the children measure more accurately. They have also been getting some extra practice with their phonics, using the free Phonics Play games. I was surprised that so few children had not been playing this game at home. It was mentioned in the Autumn report and is a free invaluable resource that really helps with reading alien words. This week we have had two visitors in school. On Wednesday a lovely lady from the Dog's Trust came and spoke to the class and reminded them how to give dogs space and be safe. Today the children enjoyed a very exciting assembly on how to be safe online. I cannot wait to share with you the fabulous stories the Year one children are in the middle of writing. There, I am leaving you all on a cliffhanger!

7.3.2025

This week has been so busy, I hardly know where to begin. Year 1 began the week with a local author coming in to talk to the children. Amanda read some of her animal stories and the children loved the characters and learned some useful environmental lesson as well! All of Year 1 have worked so hard to make their Sharing Assembly the best it could be. We were delighted that so many parents were able to come and share as well. The children recited a poem, sang songs, reviewed some of their favourite books and shared some of the valuable learning that takes place every day. I was so very proud of them all. Somehow we have managed to squeeze in lots of measuring this week. I wonder if your child can show you how to measure accurately, using a cm ruler? We have also described settings of stories, using adjectives. Finally this week, the children have all dressed up for World Book Day. I am glad the Spring weather has shone on the week. Lets hope it continues for the weekend!

14.2.2025

A very busy week in Year One! On Wednesday Year One, along with the whole school took part in a Multi faith day. Year One joined Reception children for a Zoom call with a lovely lady from Neasden Temple. She told us all about how Hindus pray and showed us around the beautiful temple building. We then talked about how some of us pray and when this happens. The whole school joined together to share what they had learned during the day. 

In English the children have looked at the features of Non fiction texts and then written information pages about a toy of their choosing. The results of these pages are impressive!

Year One have put together our Sharing Assembly and are really looking forward to sharing this with parents and friends on March 6th.

Everyone has worked so hard this half term. Have a wonderful half term break and I look forward to seeing you all on February 24th.

Mrs Sugden

7.2.2025

This week Year One have written their own story based on the Lost Toys in the Museum. I am delighted that every child was able to complete some independent writing and many of the children were attempting simple and compound sentences. We have looked at debugging simple computer programs and we enjoyed spotting the mistakes in the algorithms we explored. We have looked at the artist Kandinsky and recreated one of his famous circle paintings. The children have really loved having the chance to mix their own shades and tones of colours.

31.1.2025

Year One have been looking at the features of Newspaper writing and having a go at writing their own newspaper reports. They have used our story of the Lost Toys in the Museum as the basis of their reports. We are covering at least 2 different graphemes a day at the moment and the children have been using these new letter patterns in their own writing. Every day Year One children complete a dictation sentence which gives them all the opportunity to practice new graphemes. To reinforce these we also use these graphemes in our handwriting lessons. All of the children are working to improve their letter formation so that it becomes more consistent and starting and ending places for the letters are in the correct places. In Maths Year One are now using larger numbers, some of us all the way to 100! We are ensuring that we all understand the place value of two digit numbers. I am pleased that everyone can collect concrete apparatus to support their learning. 

17.1.2025

This week we have looked at how Mark Rothko used colour in his paintings. Everyone had a really good try to emulate his style and these are some of the best examples. In R.E. we are examining what people of faith believe is God's job. We listened to a Jewish story which showed that God made promises to Abraham and Sarah and he kept his promise. Then we made a promise ring that was unbroken. In English this week we have learned how to write a compound sentence.

" 2 simple sentences with and or but joining in the middle". The children have been writing some super simple and compound sentences.

Please remember our P.E days are Tuesday and Wednesday and the rest of the week they should appear in full school uniform. Ties and proper shirts, please. No polo shirts. 

We have talked a great deal this week about learning behaviours and the part each one of us has to play in making our brains grow. "Mrs Sugden cannot just pour the learning into our heads!"

I wonder if we can remember this next week?

10.1.2025

Despite the dark mornings and icy weather, Year 1 have been very busy. We have learned that an algorithm is a set of instructions and we had great fun setting algorithms to dress someone up in clothes. We have discovered the artist Mondrian and had a fantastic go at creating collages in the style of Mondrian. Every day we have our phonics lesson but once a week the children read with a partner. The partner will point to each word and the sentences are read 3 times. Can I remind you that all children should read at least 4 times at home, every week. The children will continue to receive 5 extra minutes break time as a reward. A select few parents were trying to get away with writing 4x read. I'm afraid this cannot count. We will be continuing  to test spellings every Wednesday. 

7.1.2025

Happy New Year! The children have brought their smiles back for the first day of term! Just to let you know that this term the children will need P.E. Kit on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. New home learning grids will be sent home this evening and new reading books. ELS books will be given out on Friday, after our class reading lesson.

Yes we are all full of coughs and colds. Yes we are all very tired. However, Christmas is definitely here and the children have had a joyous week. I am so proud of all the children who sung their hearts out in the nativity play. They all loved the pantomime and showed impeccable Larchfield Values. They have danced and partied their way through Thursday. To top it all Father Christmas cam and said all the children are on the good list in Year One! 

Thank you to the many parents who have come and expressed their thanks for the term. This is the best present that we can receive. I must also say thank you for the beautiful cards and gifts.

Make the most of your family time and I wish you all a wonderful Christmas and New Year.

love 

Mrs Sugden

29.11.2024

Another week has flown by with everyone in Year 1 working very hard. In Maths we have focused on 2D and 3D shape. I wonder how many shape your child can identify? We have begun to explore the properties of 3D shapes and discussed how we could sort them. There was lots of problem solving going on as we tried to make 3D patterns. As part of our History unit we wrote diary entries as though we were Guy Fawkes. We used our English skills as we identified and included the features of diary writing. We used History skills as we recorded some of the key events from the time. We have also been singing and playing our instruments in rehearsing our Christmas show.

22.11.2024

Exciting News!! Year 1 have had another visit from the reading fairy!! She gave us another book to go and find in the reading corner and remarked on the wonderful Queen's Hat stories the children have written. Shelby drew her some pictures back. I am sure she will pop in when it is quiet and collect them. The children are continuing to learn all about the Gunpowder Plot and every child was involved in some role play linked with this unit. In Maths we are looking at deciding if the question or symbol is asking us to add or subtract, using number lines to support us. There has been some super maths this week! 

The children have talked once more about why we have rules and what we should do to encourage us to keep them. I am pleased they could link these with our school values and every child earned at least 5 minutes Golden Time this week. The photo shows 2 of our boys who made up their own game using the magnetix. What a wonderful example of cooperative play and taking care of our equipment.

15.11.2024

Year 1 have finished the week painting the background of our portraits of Guy Fawkes. They had great fun adding fireworks to a black background. In Maths we have continued exploring the concept of subtraction by using the crossing out method. It has been fascinating listening to their subtraction stories. I wonder if they could tell you one as it is a really good way of ensuring the concept is secure.

I have sent home the harder to read and spell words that are on the website. Hopefully these hard copies will enable you to support your child in learning to spell all of these words. We will do another check in after the Christmas holidays to see how many your child can spell. I have also sent home the end of year expectations in writing and Mathematics. This information is designed to help you support your child at home. 

We are beginning to learn our Nativity songs for our show, Hey Ewe. Year 1 will be the choir and so it is important that we can sing all the songs really well.

8.11.2024

The darker days are definitely here but the sun is shining in Year 1! The children have been so busy beginning our History unit on Guy Fawkes. We all logged on to the computers which was a really big challenge! Any extra practice children can get with logging into a computer and typing their name would be gratefully received. It was very pleasing to see that 15/26 children had read 4 or more times this week!

In Maths we played a great game to improve our number bonds. Perhaps you can play this at home?

Grab 10 items that can fit into your hand. Dried pasta is ideal.

Put some in one hand and ask count.

Ask your child to tell you how many are hidden in the closed hand.

Repeat with different numbers.

It was wonderful to meet so many of you and share your child's progress. Working together we can make a difference to your child's learning potential.

Thank you to the many people who brought in money to raise much needed funds for the British Legion. I know that the children will come in very smart on Monday, with shiny shoes as we pause respectfully to honour those who have died in preserving peace.

24.10.2024

Our first half term has flown by and I hope that you all enjoy a restful break. We have so much to look forward to in the coming months. This week it has been National Week, at Larchfield Primary. 

Key knowledge covered this week...

We live in the United Kingdom.

England has a capital city, London

Scotland has a capital city, Edinburgh

Wales has a capital city, Cardiff

Northern Ireland has a capital city, Belfast.

London is close to Maidenhead. London has many different landmarks. I wonder if your child can list 3 of them for you? We have talked about different ways to travel around London. We made scones and talked about the tradition of Afternoon Tea, at the Ritz or at Fortnums. 

We acted out the story of the Little Red Hen and discussed how England has rules to make life for everyone fair. Today was the biggest challenge. The children were told to design and make a bridge that could go over the River Thames and be able to hold 5 cars. We had a fantastic day designing, making, testing and evaluating our designs. I am sure your child will enjoy showing you their models and explaining how they work.

Have a wonderful half term break!

11.10.2024

Wow!! 17 children have read their reading book four times or more this week. I am so proud of each and every one of you. I am sure we can get to 26 next week!!

The children have been very busy this week learning the part whole method in maths. I wonder if your child can explain it to you? We had a super amount of donations for the Harvest line up and the children really enjoyed participating in this activity.  All of the children have written Paddington stories this week and their use of phonics to help them write words correctly is improving.

27.9.2024

The children and I have enjoyed a sweet end to the week by tasting some of the delicious cakes sold in aid of Macmillan. It is heartening to see more children receive awards for reading their ELS reading book four times this week. I am ever hopeful for a class photo before too long. Early reading skills are vital so that your child can engage with the full Year One curriculum as well as develop their love of reading. Please, please hear your child read every night.

This week we also began our weekly mental arithmetic challenges. These will come home for you to see. In order to move up a level the children must score 100% and it must be completed within 2 minutes. I was very impressed at how well everyone attempted their first challenge.

We are completing daily handwriting lessons in order to check for correct hand positions and to explicitly teach the correct formation of the letters. Once letters are formed correctly the handwriting process is so much quicker.

In Maths we are looking at comparing numbers using the vocabulary, " less than and greater than". I wonder if your child can show you the signs for these?

I hope the sun shines a little this weekend!

20.9.2024

Another very busy week has flown by. Some children earned extra playtime and certificates for reading their ELS book four times. I wonder if 26 children will get read their book four times in the coming week? Year 1 have been thinking about the word ' Creation' We had a lovely afternoon creating pictures made of natural things, creating lego models, creating stick patterns and planting bulbs to create a Spring garden. We brought our maths learning outside. This week we have been learning about one more and one less using number lines. Look at the fun we had when we jumped along the number lines outside! 

Please can I remind you that reading folders need to be in school every day. I am endeavouring to hear your child read as often as I can and I need their reading book in school order to do this. We change all the books every Friday and I nned the old one back. It is on Friday morning that I look and check who has read their ELS book 4 times. 

Spelling tests are every Wednesday.

13.9.2024

Our first full week in Year One and every child has worked hard and has had some good fun. We loved showing so many Mums and Dads our phonics and hope that you have been robot talking at home. Today we have brought home our first ELS book. This needs to be read four times and all books will be changed next Friday. The other reading book is a chance to share a book with your child. Please ensure the book folders come into school every day as we will take every opportunity to hear your child read in school.

10.9.2024

Tomorrow your child will bring home their first spelling list. These words are based around phonics work that has been undertaken in school. There will be opportunities to learn how to spell these words in school but it is vital that they also practice at home. Please send the sheets back to school next Wednesday so that I can see that they have been completed. Little and often is best. I will also send home a handwriting sheet to practice on. Please use the bubbles to help with the formation and you will need to sit with your child as this is completed. Any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at pick up times or via the ask the teacher email. I will test the spellings next Wednesday.

6.9.2024

It has only been two days but Year 1 have certainly made the most of their time. We have written simple sentences, counted to 10, completed 2 phonics sessions, painted pictures, made boats out of lego and stickle bricks and begun to use the ipads once more to support our mathematical knowledge. We are all very excited about beginning our work on Paddington next week. 

Reminders

Please make sure your child is wearing a tie.

Please make sure your child has a waterproof coat.

Please ensure your child has a water bottle.

P.E days are Tuesday and Friday.

We are very excited that so many parents are coming to watch our Phonics lesson next week! There are 2 sessions. 9 am and 2.45 pm, next Thursday 12th September.

3.9.2024

Are you excited? I am very excited and cannot wait to see all of the new Year One children! Don't forget to make sure all your uniform is named and that you get a good nights sleep on Wednesday. I hope that you have done a piece of Home Learning. Please bring it into school so that we can share and celebrate your work.

Mrs Sugden