Welwyn St Mary's C of E Primary School

Welcome to Year 1

On this page you can find photos of our classroom and of the events in which we take part. You will also find links to our termly leaflets so you can see the sort of things we are learning. We hope that you enjoy following our progress this year!

Year 1 is a hands-on and engaging learning environment where we explore a wide variety of exciting topics. These include animals, our senses (including taste testing!) plants, houses and homes (including Victorian homes), the UK, the seaside, football, gymnastics and creative themes such as colour mixing and pattern making inspired by the artists Yayoi Kusama and Mondrian. Building on the continuous provision approach from Reception, we ensure learning remains engaging and includes plenty of child-led opportunities.

In English, we dive into a wide range of texts, including fiction, poetry, instructional writing, and non-fiction. While exploring these texts, we develop key writing skills such as using capital letters, finger spaces, writing on the line, and adding full stops. Our carefully planned lessons ensure that writing tasks are both challenging and interesting, sparking curiosity and creativity.

In Maths, we focus on building strong number fluency through regular “sticky learning” activities that revisit and reinforce key concepts. Year 1 learners develop skills in number bonds to 10 and beyond, addition, subtraction, shape, and even begin exploring multiplication and division in a fun and accessible way.

Year 1 is a fun, happy, and nurturing space where we explore, learn, and grow together!