Year 1 

🌟 Welcome to Year 1!

Hello and a warm welcome to our Year 1 class page!

We’re so excited to share this next step in your child’s learning journey. Year 1 is a time of growth, confidence-building and curiosity — and we can’t wait to explore it all together.

This page gives you an overview of life in Year 1, but for regular updates, messages, and classroom highlights, please check Seesaw and MCAS (My Child At School) – they’re our main ways of staying in touch throughout the year.

👩‍🏫 Meet the Team

Class Teacher: Miss Burrell
Teaching Assistant: Mrs Jones

We work together to create a calm, supportive and engaging classroom, where each child feels safe, happy and ready to learn. 

🧠 What to Expect in Year 1

Year 1 builds on the play-based learning from Reception, gradually introducing more structured activities while still encouraging creativity, exploration and discussion. Children develop key skills in:

• Reading and phonics – building fluency and comprehension

• Writing – using full sentences, punctuation and exciting vocabulary

• Maths – developing number sense, problem solving and reasoning

• Science, Geography, History and more through exciting, topic-based learning

We also focus on building confidence, friendships and independence — celebrating every step of progress.

📲 Staying Connected

To keep things simple and consistent, we share class updates and messages in two places:

• 🟢 Seesaw – for learning highlights, class activities and messages from the Year 1 team

• 🔵 MCAS (My Child At School) – for events, reminders, newsletters and whole-school communication

Please make sure you're connected to both platforms – if you need help setting them up, just let us know.

🧺 Helpful Reminders

A few practical things to help the year run smoothly:

• PE Days: Tuesdays and Wednesday – please send your child in wearing their PE kit

• Water Bottles & Weather-Ready Clothing: We go outside in all weathers – so a coat and labelled water bottle are essential

• Reading at Home: Please try to read daily at home and log this in your child’s reading record

💬 Questions or Concerns?

We’re always here to help. Whether you have a quick question or something more personal to discuss, please don’t hesitate to get in touch via Seesaw or through the school office.

Let’s work together to make Year 1 a happy, confident and exciting year for your child!

 Useful websites to support learning

• Reading: Free Reading Books
• Phonics: Phonics Play
• Maths and English Games
• Maths Games
• Maths: Topmarks
• Maths: ttrockstars
• Maths: Doodle Maths
• ESafety: think you know
• Seesaw

Phonics Screening – Further Practice
For those looking to support their child with additional phonics practice at home, please find a helpful presentation here:
Phonics Screening Presentation

 Contact Details

You can contact the Year 1 Teachers directly on Year1@chestnutparkschool.org.uk