Garswood Primary
and Nursery School- Home
- Classes
- Parents
- Admissions
- Garswood Reception Induction
- Attendance, Timings and School Holiday Dates
- Newsletters
- Breakfast/ Afterschool Club
- Special Education Needs
- Lunch menu and recipes
- Wellbeing and Mental Health
- Recommended Reading
- Early Help for Families
- Cost of Living Support
- Water Safety
- Uniform
- Dyslexia Awareness
- Garswood SEND Coffee Afternoon
- Parental Feedback
- Children
- Garswood's School Council
- Garswood's Extra Curricular
- Garswood Child Governors
- Great times at Garswood
- Garswood Houses - Democracy!
- GIST for kids - stay safe!
- Sport at Garswood
- Garswood
- Curriculum
- Curriculum Maps
- Garswood Art Curriculum
- Garswood Computing Curriculum
- Design and Technology Curriculum
- English Curriculum Map
- Geography Curriculum Map
- History Curriculum Map
- Mathematics Curriculum Map
- MFL Curriculum Map
- Music Curriculum Map
- PE Curriculum Map
- PSHE and SRE Curriculum Map
- RE Currciulum Map
- Science Curriculum Map
- Online Safety Curriculum Map
- Forest School Curriculum Map
- Garswood Maths Curriculum
- Garswood Computing Curriculum
- Phonics Curriculm
- Forest Schools
- Funky Fingers and Dough Disco
- Relationships, Sex and Health Education
- Our Promise
- Garswood Online Safety 'The GIST'
- Promoting Equality and Diversity in our School and 'No Outsiders'
- Teaching and Learning Policy
- Curriculum Maps
- Nursery Provision
- Our classes
- Contact
Student Login
Year 1
Welcome to our Year 1 family!
This year marks a magical transition as our young explorers cross the sturdy bridge from Reception into the world of Key Stage 1. At Garswood Primary, we have meticulously designed a curriculum quest that celebrates what your child already knows while layering on new, exciting discoveries. Our classroom is a sanctuary—a safe, happy, and vibrant space where prior knowledge is a superpower and every step forward is a victory to be celebrated.
Class Teacher
Mrs. L. Meehan
The class teacher in Year One is Mrs. Meehan for four days and Mrs. Rollason for one day each week. The teaching assistant is Mrs. Finegan. Miss Martin is our midday supervisor.
The Year 1 curriculum has been carefully thought out and planned so that lessons follow a sequence which builds on prior knowledge and prepares children for future learning. Children are given regular opportunities to revisit learning and recall important knowledge, facts and skills.
The children will quickly build on their phonic knowledge from Reception and develop their reading skills further throughout Year 1.
Class Teacher
Mrs. L. Rollason
Teaching Assistant
Mrs. S. Finegan
Midday Supervisor
Miss. M. Martin
Special Moments in Our Week:
Our week is peppered with highlights like "Mastering Number" sessions to sharpen mental agility and our active PE afternoons. Every Friday, we gather for our Merit Assembly, a special ceremony where we shine a light on the hard work and kind hearts of our pupils.
These daily habits build the stamina our children need to tackle the exciting subjects waiting for them in our wider curriculum.
The Magic of Learning:
Phonics, Reading, and Beyond. If the curriculum is a kingdom, Phonics and Reading are the golden keys.
We use the Little Wandle Letters and Sounds scheme to ensure every child becomes a fluent, confident reader who can unlock the secrets of any book they find.
A typical day in Year 1
u8.40 - 9.00am - Morning activities
u9.00 - 9.15am - Assembly
u9.20 - 9.50am - Phonics
u9.50 -10.45am - English/ handwriting
u10.44 -11.00am - Break time
u11.00 -11.45am - Maths
u11.45 - 12.45pm - Lunchtime
u12.45 - 1.00pm - Mastering number
u1.00 - 2.00pm - Lesson
u2.00 - 3.00pm - Lesson
u3.00 - 3.15pm - Story time
Important Bits & Bobs:
Independence is a major goal in Year 1. Having the right kit ready helps your child feel "set for success" from the moment they walk through the door.
Back-to-School Checklist
[ ] Labels: Every jumper, fleece, and PE shoe must be clearly named!
[ ] Water Bottle: Labelled and containing water only.
[ ] PE Kits: Indoor and outdoor kits should stay in school until the end of term.
[ ] The "One Keyring" Rule: To keep our cloakrooms tidy and accessible, please limit book bags to one small keyring.
[ ] Forest School Kit: Brought in a separate bag (plus a spare carrier) only on FS days.
[ ] Jewellery: No earrings; only sensible watches are permitted.
Learning beyond our classroom
In Year 1 we love taking the children's learning beyond the classroom and go on many trips and visits throughout the year, as well as welcoming outside visitors into the classroom to extend our experiences.
These range from learning about the local area by walking around Garswood to having a visitors into school to help us learn about local history.
We also visit the Zoo to learn about the differences between animals and humans. Year 1 have the opportunity to take part in Forest School sessions for a term led by Mrs Meehan who is a trained Forest School Leader.
Phonics & The Screening Check:
A Parent’s Guide - What is Phonics?
It is the method of teaching children to recognize the sounds (phonemes) that letters (graphemes) make. We teach them to "crunch" sounds together to read and "segment" them to spell.
What is the Phonics Screening Check?
In June, Year 1 children nationwide participate in this check. It is not a reading test. It is simply a way to confirm that your child has mastered decoding to an age-appropriate standard.
What are those "Imaginary Creatures"?
The check includes 40 words—some real, some "nonsense" (pseudo-words). We teach children to look for the imaginary creature next to a word; this signals it is a nonsense word. This ensures they are using their actual decoding skills rather than just guessing based on words they’ve memorised!
The Reading and Writing Recipe:
The Three School Reads: We read in groups at least 3 times a week, focusing on Decoding (reading the words), Prosody (reading with expression), and Comprehension (understanding the story).
The Shared Book: This is a book for enjoyment. Making this a special "cuddle time" at home is the best way to foster a lifelong love of stories.
Handwriting Magic: We use Little Wandle Handwriting rhymes to help letters sit neatly on the line. We focus on correct formation now so they are ready for joined-up writing in Year 2.
Our Curriculum:
Our curriculum map is a diverse journey that takes learning "beyond the classroom," connecting classroom facts to the real world through visitors and voyages.
History & Geography
We begin with our own roots, taking a Garswood Local Walk to spot human and physical features. We then expand our horizons to the city, visiting the Lowry Art Gallery and the National Football Museum to study local legends like Lily Parr and the Steve Prescott Foundation.
Science & Nature
Young scientists will investigate the Seasons, the secret life of Plants (deciduous vs. evergreen), and the animal kingdom. These studies are brought to life with trips to Chester Zoo and Blackpool Zoo to see our subjects in the flesh!
Forest School
Led by our trained leader, Mrs Meehan, Forest School is where the "magic" happens. For one term, children head into the wild to build shelters, master knots, and experience the freedom to take risks—whether that’s tree climbing or cooking on an open fire. It’s an essential time for building resilience and confidence.
Home Learning & Staying in Touch:
We view parents as our vital partners. Our "Open Door" policy means we are always here to chat, support, and celebrate your child’s progress with you. Homework is issued on Friday and should be returned by Wednesday:
Reading: Record school and shared books on your sheet.
Phonics: Use the weekly sheet to reinforce the sounds and sentences we’ve mastered in class.
Maths & Spellings: Tasks focused on the previous week's work to keep those skills "sharp." Spellings are tested every Friday.
Useful Links for Parents
Garswood Primary Website – News, dates, and galleries.
Topmarks Spelling & Grammar – Note: While the URL says 7-11 years, we use this for our specific Year 1 interactive games!
White Rose 1-Minute Maths App – Perfect for quick daily practice.
Stay Connected Follow our daily adventures on Instagram: @garswoodprimaryschool For direct messages to Mrs Meehan and Mrs Rollason, please use the Seesaw app.
We are a team, and together, we will help your child reach their full potential!