Autumn Term 2 2026

Curriculum

We hope you all had a fantastic half term break. This half term, our topic is ‘Amazing Animals’, and the children will be embarking on an exciting journey to discover more about the animal kingdom.

In Science, the children will learn about different groups of animals, including mammals, amphibians, reptiles, fish and birds. They will explore the characteristics of each group and learn how animals can be classified according to their features.

Our class text this half term is The Tiger Who Came to Tea by Judith Kerr. In English, the children will use this much-loved story to inspire their writing. They will retell the story and write a set of instructions explaining how to make a cup of tea.

In Maths, the children will continue to develop their number knowledge through Place Value within 20, exploring numbers, counting, ordering and comparing quantities. They will also learn about 2D and 3D shapes, identifying, describing and sorting shapes according to their properties.

In PE, the children will develop their skills through invasion games, learning how to work as a team whilst practising attacking and defending techniques. They will also take part in gymnastics and dance, building confidence, coordination and creativity through movement.

In Art, the children will be inspired by the wonderful patterns found in animals. They will create their own animal-inspired artwork using drawing techniques.

Within Music, the children will learn about their voices and develop their singing skills. With Christmas just around the corner, they are especially looking forward to practising their Christmas carols and performing festive songs together.

We have a busy and exciting half term ahead and cannot wait to see all of the fantastic learning, creativity and enthusiasm that Year 1 will show as they explore our Amazing Animals topic!

PE Days

Both classes have PE on Mondays and Fridays.

Please make sure your child has the correct PE kit in school throughout the week, ready for their lessons. 

Reading

This half term, we will continue to encourage children to develop a love of reading through our Regular Readers initiative.

Please try to read with your child for a minimum of 5 minutes each day. To be classed as a regular reader, children should read at least three times each week.

Your child will have three books:

• An SFA phonics book that they are currently working on during phonics lessons.
• An additional reading book with a white sticker and step number.
• A free-choice book for them to enjoy.

Please also use the phonics packs provided to practise the GPCs and red words that your child has been learning during their phonics lessons.

Thank you for your continued support in encouraging a love of reading at home!

Homework

Spellings will be given out on a Monday, and children will be tested on these spellings the following Monday to monitor their progress.

Please support your child in reading for a minimum of 5 minutes each day, with at least three reading sessions each week.

Children should also regularly practise their Maths skills and number bonds on Numbots to help develop their confidence and fluency with number.