Year 1

It’s been a fantastic and busy first term in Ladybirds, filled with learning, laughter, and lots of new experiences.

Our term began with some brilliant story adventures in English. We loved reading Mini Rabbit Gets Lost and retelling the story in our own words, thinking about how Mini Rabbit might have felt along the way. Another class favourite was Nikhil and Jay Save the Day. We made thoughtful connections between the story and our own lives — chatting about Pancake Day, times we’ve forgotten something, and moments when things felt tricky but turned out okay in the end.

In maths, we’ve been exploring 2D and 3D shapes, spotting them all around our classroom and playground. We’ve also been practising counting forwards and backwards beyond 10, using number songs and games to help us along. The children can now confidently name the days of the week — and everyone has chosen their favourite!

Our young scientists have been busy investigating materials and their properties. We carried out tests to find out which materials would make the best coat — thinking carefully about which were warm, waterproof, and comfortable. The children came up with some very clever conclusions!

In Geography, we’ve been learning about human and physical features in our local area. We’re especially looking forward to our trip to the cathedral, where we’ll be able to spot these features in real life — the perfect way to bring our learning to life!

Music has been full of energy and rhythm. We’ve been listening to pop songs, learning about pulse and beat, and using our bodies to make sounds — clapping, clicking, and tapping — before playing along to a familiar tune with untuned instruments.

We also had a special visit from Woodgreen Animal Shelter, where we learned all about how to care for hamsters. The children were full of curiosity and asked brilliant questions about how to keep our furry friends happy and healthy.

It’s been such a wonderful start to Year 1 — full of enthusiasm, creativity, and curiosity. We can’t wait to see what exciting learning and adventures await us next term!

One of the most exciting moments this term was when we had a special visit from some ducklings! The children were absolutely thrilled to meet them and learn all about how they grow and change. We talked about what ducklings need to stay safe, warm, and healthy, and everyone had the chance to gently observe them up close. The class were so gentle and caring — it was wonderful to see their curiosity and kindness shine through as they asked thoughtful questions and shared what they had learned about animals and their life cycles.