Welcome to Year 1!

At Sandal Primary School, we have two Year 1 classes. Sunflower is taught by Mrs Hancock, our EYFS and KS1 Lead, and Rose is taught by Mr Rawling.

We are lucky to have a wonderful team of teaching assistants who support the children throughout the week. Miss Bates works in Sunflower class, Mrs Royle works in Rose class and Mrs McNicholas works across both classes to support the children’s learning.

Our Year 1 team is friendly, enthusiastic and passionate about helping every child learn, grow and succeed. We want every child to feel happy, valued and confident, knowing they belong and have the support they need to flourish. Through our school motto, Nurture Grow Succeed, we aim to help every child develop a love of learning and the confidence to be the best they can be.

We believe that learning through play continues to be an important part of Year 1. Our classrooms provide opportunities for children to explore, create, investigate and put their learning into practice. Through our classroom provision, children develop important skills such as communication, sharing, problem-solving, imagination and independence. We encourage children to be curious, try new things and take pride in their achievements, while showing kindness and respect to others. We provide a balance of purposeful play and more formal teaching to support every child as they make the transition from Reception into Year 1.

Throughout the year, we have lots of exciting learning experiences planned as part of our creative and engaging curriculum. Each half-term, we explore a different topic that brings learning to life, encourages children to ask questions and supports them in developing their knowledge and skills across the National Curriculum.

Our Year 1 topics

• Autumn 1: Once Upon a Time

• Autumn 2: Me in My World

• Spring 1: Is There Anybody There?

• Spring 2: Sensing Seasons

• Summer 1: Ready, Steady, GROW!

• Summer 2: Wonders of the World

Our aim is to make Year 1 a happy, exciting and memorable year for every child. We want all children to feel a strong sense of belonging, grow in confidence and develop the curiosity, kindness and resilience they need to flourish. We look forward to being part of their journey. 

If you have any questions or would like to speak to a member of the Year 1 team, please email office@sandalprimaryschool.co.uk. A member of the team will get back to you within five working days.

The Year 1 Team