1. Welcome to year 1 We wish to work in partnership with our parents and carers to ensure your child is cared for, nurtured and realises their full potential.

2. OUR VALUES ROOTS Respect Open our minds Overcome challenges Thrive Hearts Take care Enjoy stones Speak kindly Achieve medals Aspire Trophy

3. How we use our values in the classroom and in the rest of the school If a child disregards one of our values, their name is moved onto the yellow leaf. If they continue to make the wrong choice,their name is moved onto the red leaf. If this continues they will be asked to sit on the reflection table and think why they are there before returning to join the rest of the class

4. Our expectations in Year 1 Correct uniform Come to school prepared Homework completed on time Reading journal in school everyday Read every day

5. How to communicate with us Parent Mail – ensure you are registered-the office can help you with this Home reading journal –any messages will be picked up in the morning. Call the office to make appointment. New Twitter / Facebook coming soon!

6. Protective Hands –Keeping your child safe ! To support keeping your child safe, they create their own protective hand. On this hand they write five people they can go to if they are worried or scared. They will include someone at home and people within the Great Linford school family. If children wish to speak in confidence, they can place their picture in our worry box which the class teacher will check daily and then ensure they speak to the child.

7. Our school uniform To engender a sense of belonging and family we expect your child to proudly wear the Great Linford School uniform. Grey, black or navy trousers, skirt or tailored shorts (no tracksuit bottoms). Girls can wear blue and white gingham or striped summer dresses. Blue or white polo shirt, shirt or blouse, plain or with school logo. Navy sweatshirt or cardigan, plain or with the school logo (no hooded tops). Navy or grey tights – no multi-colours. Navy, grey or white socks – no multi-colours. Black flat sensible safe shoes – no high heels and no trainers

8. Our PE Kit Please ensure your child has their kit in school on Tuesday and Wednesday. A change of clothes and footwear is needed for PE and games. This should consist of: navy blue T-shirt, navy blue shorts, plimsolls or training shoes for Games. Navy blue sweat shirts and jogging bottoms can be worn for outside PE in cold weather

9. Home Learning Your child will be given home learning a Wednesday and this needs to be returned the following Monday. Home learning will involve Maths one week, English the next and project based learning on the third week. Children will also be bringing spellings home to learn linked with phonics teaching. Reading with your child is the most important thing you can do. Please spend 10 minutes daily doing this. We will be rewarding children who read regularly with special certificates.

10. Our Projects Projects for the year Let’s Celebrate-party preparation Through the Window-walk around our local area Chocolate! Visit to Cadbury World How Does Your Garden Grow?-creating and planting Mr Mc Gregor’s garden Stand and Deliver!-Visit to Stoney Stratford The Lighthouse Keeper’s Lunch-Visit from the RLNI

11. What your children needs to know in year 1. The hand out in your pack “ The National Curriculum Guide for Parents” will give you an outline of what your child will cover in Maths, English and Science in year 1 Please look on the Great Linford web site to find out how we teach calculation to your children. This will help you support them in maths at home. There will be maths workshops you can attend later in the year. Reading-your child will need to know sounds and be able to segment sounds in words and blend them to read. This short video will help you.You can find these on Ruth Minskin web site ( Read, Write,Inc) work shops will be held during the year. They will also need to read a variety of texts and explain why they like or dislike them. They will be able to predict what happens next,recall what they have read and relate what they have read to their own experiences. Your child will take part in Phonics screening the week commencing 13 th June 2016

12. Your child’s progress. We will endeavour to keep you informed of your child’s progress during the year. There are two parents’ evenings 13 and 15 th October 1 st and 3 rd March If you have any concerns, please make an appointment to discuss these at the office.