Buttercup, Bluebell and Daffodil Blog - Friday 3rd October 2025

Happy Friday Everybody!

This week in Key Stage 1 we have been learning the story 'Handa's Surprise'. We all came together for a very fun activity on Tuesday morning. We were exploring the different types of fruit that was in Handa's basket and writing a list of adjectives to describe them. This was then very helpful when we wrote our own version of the story. 

Harvest Festival

We are celebrating Harvest time in school and talking to the children about helping others. We would really appreciate any donations of tins, packets, jars or toiletries, so that we can send them to the local charity Hopeworx. Below is a message from Hopeworx:

The items collected from your harvest festival are donated to HOPEWORX who are based at Brook Road in Rayleigh, and they support families and individuals. For over 10 years this charity has supported local people in the Rochford District with food parcels to alleviate crisis situations. The number of people requiring this support has escalated over the last few years due to the rise in unemployment, rise in fuel prices and the overall cost of living. As well as providing food, the parcel also includes information on local services to help people work towards positive solutions.'

Homework

Year 1 - This week the children have been looking at number bonds to 10 using the 'part, part, whole' method. They understand this method and we are now working on the important skill of recognising ways to make 10. The children have a single worksheet rather than the books this week. It is double sided but should not take the children long to do. Please only spend 10 minutes or so on this at home. Homework is not supposed to be a laborious task!

Year 2 - This week the children have been learning to place objects into equal groups to support their understanding of division (which will come later in the year!). This should take no more than 10 minutes to complete and matches the learning in class this week.

If your child would like to extend their Maths knowledge further, there are a range of really nice Maths games on this website. We use them occasionally in school too!

https://www.topmarks.co.uk/search.aspx?Subject=16&AgeGroup=2

Spellings

New spelling sheets have been given to the children. Once again, please do not spend lots of time completing these, little and often is much better for the children's learning, and remember, we do not need the spelling sheets to come back into school. they are for you to keep and practise at home when you have the time!

Reading

The children have their new phonics reading books in their bags. You do not need to read all 3 books at home each week. The Animaphonics book is the one that the children practise with an adult each week in school. The colour band books are for additional reading practise should you wish to do so.

Thank you all so much for your support. Please remember, if you have any concerns or queries to either message via dojo or pop in and see us.

Have a lovely weekend!

The Key Stage 1 Team x

Buttercup, Bluebell and Daffodil Blog - 26th September 2025

Happy Friday everybody!

What a lovely week we have had! Please see the newsletter for details of the Science investigation that we carried out together this week. We have also been using puppets to retell the story 'Go Tell it to the Toucan', which was recorded, so that we could watch it together. 

Next week, we will be continue to retell stories and will be exploring the different fruit that Handa carried in her basket. In Maths, we will be learning more about 2D and 3D shapes and learning our number bonds to 10 and 20.

Spellings

This week the children are bringing home some spellings to practise at home. Please do not make this a laborious task! The children are familiar with the 'Look, say, cover, write, check' method of learning words in school. They need to look at the word, say the word, cover the word, write it once and check it before writing it again. We do not need the sheets back in school, they can be kept to read and practise at home. 

Maths Homework

This week, we would like you to look at pages 12 & 13.

For Year 1's this focuses on counting skills and comparing amounts. Developing accurate and reliable counting and then being able to say which of two or more amounts is more or less is an important aspect of the Year 1 curriculum. It is also important that the children understand that equal means the same as. There are also some games in the link below to help reinforce these ideas.

https://www.topmarks.co.uk/maths-games/5-7-years/counting

For Year 2's this focuses on the number line and making estimates as to where numbers lie on the number line. When doing this, it is important to firstly look at the numbers that we can see already on the number line - are they going up in 2's, 5's, 10's? From here, look at which 2 numbers the arrow is in between to work out a number that is more/less than the given numbers. The game below will help reinforce the ideas presented in the homework book:

https://mathsframe.co.uk/en/resources/resource/37/placing_numbers_on_a_number_line

Alternatively, you can draw out your own number lines, giving a starting point and an end point and asking your child to place numbers where they feel they would go between these numbers.

Don't forget to keep up all your fantastic efforts with your reading at home - it will make a huge impact on your child's reading development. Thank you!

Always remember to have your child's reading book and reading diary in school everyday! We need all books and reading records in school every Thursday so that we can change the children's books in time for the weekend.

If you have any issues or questions, please drop us a message via dojo or come down the steps to see us at the end of the day.

Have a lovely weekend!

The Key Stage 1 Team

Buttercup, Bluebell and Daffodil Blog - Friday 19th September 2025

Happy Friday everybody!

We have had another busy week in KS1 this week. In English we have been creating lists of items we would like in a 'fantasy bedroom', then drawing what it might look like and adding a caption to explain our pictures. In Science, we have continued to look at materials and their properties in preparation for some exciting activities over the next few weeks. Watch this space for more information about what we have been getting up to! 

Next week, we will be retelling stories using puppets that we have created ourselves and looking at 1 more and 1 less than numbers to 100 and partitioning numbers in our Maths lessons.

Maths Homework

This week, we would like you to look at pages 10 & 11.

For Year 1's this focuses on counting to 100. This will continue to build upon the work on tens and ones from last week. Remember - having a clear understanding of what digits represent in numbers is such an important aspect of our maths learning. Reinforce how 24 is represented by the digits 2 & 4 but 24 is actually a 20 and a 4. Explore the hundred square on page 10 and look for the patterns you can see there. There are also some games in the link below to help reinforce these ideas.

https://www.topmarks.co.uk/maths-games/5-7-years/counting

For Year 2's this focuses counting on in different steps. This looks at the patterns that are present in counting on in steps of different amounts and how even numbers always have even multiples but odd numbers alternate between odd and even multiples. The hundred square app below is really good for creating these steps and spotting patterns. Alternatively, practice writing out sequences of numbers, in particular, the 2's, 5's and 10's and discuss any patterns that you can see.

https://www.topmarks.co.uk/learning-to-count/paint-the-squares

Reading At Home

Reading regularly at home will make a huge impact on your child's reading development and learning across the whole curriculum. Please read each week as often as you can and jot it down in the reading diary. Is is also important to talk about a book when you have finished your reading. Which is your favourite part? Did you like this character? Why? 

Always remember to have your child's reading book and reading diary in school everyday! We need all books and reading records in school every Thursday so that we can change the children's books in time for the weekend.

If you have any issues or questions, please drop us a message via dojo or come down the steps to see us at the end of the day.

Have a lovely weeked!

The Key Stage 1 Team

Buttercup, Bluebell & Daffodil Blog - Friday 12th September 2024

Happy Friday!

This week in Key Stage 1 we have been busy learning our new routines and getting to know everybody in our classes. In English and Geography we have been looking at different types of homes and labelling their features. The children also went on a hunt for different materials that have been used around our school (see this weeks newsletter for photos). This was in preparation for our Science lessons next week when we will be sorting objects made from different materials. It's going to be another busy week of learning!

Roald Dahl Day

We had a lovely day celebrating the author Roald Dahl. The children that dressed up looked fabulous! We all enjoyed learning about his life and sharing his stories and rhymes.

 

Home Photographs

Thank you to everyone that has already sent a photograph of their home into us. If you haven't done this yet, please don't worry! We need them for Tuesday next week, so would be grateful for them by then. You can either send a photograph in with your child or you can send one electronically via Dojo messages to your child's class teacher

Maths Homework

This week, we would like you to look at pages 8 & 9.

For Year 1's this focuses on tens and ones. Understanding how 2-digit numbers are made up of tens and ones is fundamental to all the maths we do in Key Stage 1. Having a clear understanding of what digits represent in numbers is such an important aspect of our maths learning. Although we represent the number 12 with the digits 1 & 2, 12 is actually one 10 and 2 ones. Again, look at page 8 to understand the idea and then work through page 9. If you wish to extend your child's work in this, count objects and group these into tens so you can see how these larger numbers can be represented by tens and ones. There are also some games in the link below to help reinforce these ideas.

For Year 2's this focuses numbers to 100. Again, keep looking at these numbers in terms of their tens and ones - how is the number 24 different to 42? Look also at how each number can also be represented by words. When it comes to writing the words, encourage the children to be as accurate as possible in their spelling.

Place Value Games

Have a lovely weekend! 

Mrs O'Connor, Miss Langley, Mrs Holmes, Miss Bridges and Miss Smith

Buttercup, bluebell and Daffodil blog 5th September 2025

Happy Friday, everybody! 

Thank you for taking the time to read this blog - A new blog post will be posted every Friday containing information about what the children have been up to and what they will be doing in school the following week. It will also detail any reminders or special events coming up, as well as the Maths and English homework that has been set for each year group.

We have had a great first week back. It was so lovely to welcome the children back into school on Tuesday and to hear all of their holiday news!

The children have settled in so well and we are all very proud of how well the children have coped in their new classrooms and with new routines. Thank you so much for joining Dojo. I think you'll agree that it makes communication between parents and teachers so much quicker and easier. Please do not hesitate to use it to contact us if you need to or to send in photos of any special activities or achievements that the children have completed at home. We will also be starting 'Wow's' in Key Stage 1. (We know how you all like to use them as bribes from time to time! 😀) These can be in the form of the usual paper copy or via Dojo. 

Reminders

It is important that your child brings with them a water bottle and their reading diary and reading book every day please. The guided reading books are needed for the next group each week, so returning them is very important. 

Can you please ensure that all hats, cardigans, jumpers, coats etc. have the children's names in them? We have already had a number of children losing items and our lost property is mounting up! We would be grateful if you could do a quick check of the uniform this weekend please (including their PE kit). The children are far less likely to lose things that are labelled and it makes our life so much easier! 

**Don't forget that Monday is our PE day, so the children come to school in their school PE kit.**

Roald Dahl day is next Friday 12th September, The children can come to school dressed as a character from one of his stories, or they can bring in their favourite Roald Dahl story. It isn't necessary to spend lots of time and money on costumes and do not worry if your child does not wish to dress up to participate. We will be sharing the author's different rhymes and stories in our classes.      

Reading Books

Your child will have brought home 2 new reading books this week. This is to supplement extra reading practice alongside their Phonics Guided Reading books which will be coming home next Friday. Please write in your child's reading diary about any reading they have done as regularly as possible. Little and often helps your child's development so much! A quick note or a signature is all we need to see when we check if the children have read at home.

School Council Elections

Next week we will be holding elections in class to choose our class councillor, who will become part of the School Council. If your child wishes to stand they might like to make a poster or prepare a short speech which will help them make their case to the class! We will hold elections in the middle of next week and the results will be revealed in assembly on Friday!

Maths Homework

Today your child will be coming home with a maths homework book. This week, we would like both year groups to look at pages 6 & 7.

For Year 1's this focuses on numbers 1-20. Look through page 6 together with your child and practice counting the apples in the picture. Look at how the numbers can be represented by digits and words - both are important! Then let your child work through page 7, supporting them as needed. There is also a quiz on pages 2-5 which your child can do if they are super eager! There are further counting games on the website below to further extend these ideas:

Counting Games

For Year 2's this focuses on place value. Understanding how numbers can be broken down into tens and ones underpins all our work on addition and subtraction during Year 2. It is important that the children understand that 45 is not 4 & 5 but 40 & 5 as the 4 represents 4 tens. Let your child work through page 7, supporting them as needed. There is also a quiz on pages 2-5 which your child can do if they are super eager! There are further place value games on the website below to further extend these ideas:

Place Value Games

If you have any issues or questions, please, please come and see us at the end of the day or send us a Dojo message.

Have a wonderful weekend! 

Best wishes

Mrs O'Connor, Miss Langley, Mrs Holmes, Miss Bridges & Miss Smith

Tulip, Bluebell & Daffodil Blog - Friday 18th July 2025

 Happy Friday, everybody! It seems incredible that we are already at the end of the year - it has flown by! We have all absolutely loved working with all your children this year and it has been a privilege to watch them grow, learn and flourish as the year has progressed. We are all sure that they will continue to be just as fabulous as they move on to being Year 2's and 3's!

We would also like to give a massive thank you and good luck to Mrs Yuille who is leaving us. She has been an incredibly important member of our staff team here at Down Hall and will be greatly missed. Good luck out there Mrs Yuille!

Don't forget that we are celebrating the end of the term with a picnic on the field with parents and carers on Tuesday 22nd July. Much like the Sports Day arrangements, parents can collect their children from classes at 12:00pm to take them on to the field. At 1:00pm, the children will line up to return to class to collect their things and then will go home straight away.

HAVE A GREAT SUMMER HOLIDAY!!!

We will be available on ClassDojo up until lunchtime on Tuesday 22nd July and then again from Monday 1st September.

Remember: children return to school on Tuesday 2nd September.

All that remains is for everyone here in Key Stage 1 to wish you an amazing summer holiday. We would also like to give our heartfelt thanks for all your support and kind words over the year - it means so much to all of us!

Much love

Mrs Yuille, Mrs Holmes, Mr Jude & Miss Smith

Tulip, Bluebell & Daffodil Blog - Friday 11th July 2025

  Happy Friday, everybody! We are beginning to make preparations for all the children to be moving on to their new class as we wrap up our last 7 days in Year 1 or Year 2! There will be lots of things coming home so if you could put a named carrier bag in you child's normal bag this would be useful. Next week, we will be sending home the children's completed work books and their current books will come home on Monday 21st July.

Upcoming Events

• Friday 18th July - PTA Disco
• Monday 1st September - INSET Day
• Tuesday 2nd September - Children return to school

Reading Books

In preparation for next year, we will be collecting in all reading books on Wednesday 16th July. If you know you will be away before this date, please hand in your reading book before this date. We have already collected all Guided Reading books in today but if you can have a check at home to see if there are any books outstanding that would be much appreciated. 

We would encourage you all to take part in the summer reading scheme at the library during the holidays to help keep up your child's reading fluency during the 6 week break.

Have an amazing weekend!

Best wishes

Mr Jude, Mrs Yuille, Mrs Holmes & Miss Smith