We will listen to each child read every week in Guided Reading sessions and they will bring that same book home to read for the next week to consolidate their learning. It is very important for children to be reading at home, daily if possible, to give them the regular practice they need in order to make good progress. Ideally, we want the children to be confident in reading a book, before we change it, in order to secure their understanding of the words and content they have read. The children will also have a ‘Reading for Pleasure’ book, which you may share and enjoy with them.
Phonics
Phonics is a big focus in Year 1, as it was in Little Oaks, and we continue to progress through the Little Wandle program. We will start the year by recapping and then completing Phase 3 before moving on to Phases 4 and 5 through the year. We will have daily phonics sessions where we firstly revisit/consolidate learnt sounds, teach - then practice - new sounds before then having an opportunity to apply these skills e.g. through writing. later in the year. Children will engage with weekly phonics homework to support that week's learning.
In June - week beginning Monday 9th June 2025 - children will have a Phonics Screening Check. Although it is a statutory test, we administrate it very informally with the children - in a way they will have become familiar with - as they will have plenty of practice through the year.
To develop your child’s fluency and mental maths skills, we are introducing KIRFs (Key Instant Recall Facts) throughout school. KIRFS are a way of helping your child to learn by heart, key facts and information which they need to have instant recall of.
KIRFs are designed to support the development of mental maths skills that underpin much of the maths work in our school. They are particularly useful when calculating, adding, subtracting, multiplying or dividing. They contain number facts such as number bonds and times tables that need constant practise and rehearsal, so children can recall them quickly and accurately.
Instant recall of facts helps enormously with mental agility in maths lessons. When children move onto written calculations, knowing these key facts is very beneficial. For your child to become more efficient in recalling them easily, they need to be practised frequently and for short periods of time.
How can we access the KIRFs at home?
Each new term, children will focus on a Key Instant Recall Fact (KIRF) to practise and learn at home as well as at school. Each child will receive a KIRFs Knowledge Organiser to take home termly to outline what they will be learning which will hopefully help you to support them at home.