Our Learning
SPRING TERM 2026
Our Topic: This half term, our topic is ‘Toy town’. During our topic we will be discussing the question ‘How have toys changed over the years?’ and ‘What is great about Redditch?’
Over the term we will be learning about toys from the past and how these compare with our families. In History, we will be investigating how toys have changed over time and when toys were invented. We will be comparing toys from the past in our own lives and sharing what toys we like to play with. We will also be finding out about what toys our family member played with when they were young, so get ready to share your favourite toys parents and grandparents!
In Geography, we will be continuing to find out about our local area. This time we will be exploring landmarks in Redditch such as Forge Mill, Arrow Valley Lake. Morton Stanley Park and Redditch Palace theatre. We have already been on a walk around our local school area and used ariel maps to map out different landmarks. This term, we will explore further and hopefully even have a walk to Morton Stanley park! We will also be placing Redditch on a map of the United Kingdom and learn and locate the countries England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
English:
This term we will focus on retelling familiar stories and innovating these texts to write our own narratives about toys. We have been using the text- Dogger by Shirley Hughes. The children will be describing their own favourite toys and writing character descriptions for their teddies. We will then be retelling the story explaining how the characters in the text feel and why. We can’t wait to write our own texts about our missing toys!
After half term, we will be using the text Funnybones to explore recount writing about our local area and finding out more about landmarks in Redditch. We will write our own journey stories in the style of Janet & Allan Ahlberg.
Maths:
This term we will focus on numbers to 20 and then up to 50.
In lessons we will be focusing on counting, developing a strong understanding of each number and using objects and pictorial representations to represent numbers.
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PSHE
This half term. we will explore the topics: Dreams and Goals: In this topic we will: learn how to set goals and how to set stepping stones to achieve these goals. We will also look at how we can work well with others and how to face new challenges and how to overcome these.
Healthy Me: In this topic we will: understand the difference between healthy and unhealthy choices. We will know how to keep ourselves clean and healthy and discuss how to stay safe when crossing the road.
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AUTUMN TERM 2025
Our overarching topic for this term is 'Who am I?'. This will allow the Year 1 team to really get to know the children's individual personalities and ensure they feel a sense of belonging here at Vaynor.
English
In English, the children have been using actions to learn and retell the story 'The Gingerbread Man'. We have been using our phonic knowledge to spell keywords and write simple sentences with finger spaces and full stops.
Our continuous provision activities have also linked to our Gingerbread Man topic.
Every day the children take part in handwriting lesson where they practice the correct letter formation and the placement of the letters on the line. Here are some examples for when you practice at home:
Maths
Our Maths focus this term will be 'Numbers to 10'. This will include: representing single-digit numbers, ordering and sequencing and counting in different steps. We have lots of fun this term and use practical resources to support our learning. In Autumn 2, we will be moving on to addition and subtraction and using our place value knowledge to support our calculations.
Art
In Art, the children have been exploring the artwork of Richard Stone. We the children will practice their sketching skills to add detail using dots, dashes and different lines to add facial features.
Spelling
This year we will not be sending spelling lists to learn at home. Instead, we will be looking at Year 1 common exception words through our daily phonics sessions and learning to spell these in class. The children will have the opportunity to play with these words, put them into sentences, spot them when reading and spell them daily. How many of these tricky words can your child read already? Have a go at spotting these words in your home reading books.
PSHE
This term, we will be starting ‘Jigsaw’ in PSHE, which is a mindful approach to PSHE which brings togethers Personal, Social, Health Education, emotional literacy, social skills and spiritual development. Each half term will involve learning about a ‘jigsaw’ which is a theme. The two themes being explored during Autumn term are ‘Being Me in My World’ and ‘Celebrating Difference’.