St John XXIII Catholic Primary School

Class Teacher	Mrs Amy Cotton	Class Teacher	Mrs Matias
Learning Support Assistant	Miss Joanne Cottol	Learning Support Assistant	Miss Raquel Sayago
Learning Support Assistant	Miss Sarah Turfry	Learning Support Assistant	Miss Jumiah Adelekan

Welcome to Year 1 at St John XXIII Catholic Primary. This year marks a significant step in your child's educational journey as they transition from the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) to more structured learning. In Year 1, we build on the play-based learning foundation established in EYFS and gradually introduce more formal learning methods. Our aim is to create a nurturing environment that encourages curiosity and a love for learning, ensuring a smooth transition and successful continuation of your child’s educational development.

Religious Education

In Year 1, our Religious Education curriculum follows the six branches outlined in the Religious Education Directory (RED). Each branch is designed to help children explore and understand key aspects of the Catholic faith through engaging stories, activities, and reflections.

Autumn Term

• Branch 1: Creation and Covenant
  Children explore the story of creation and God's covenant with His people, learning about the beginning of the world and God's promises.

• Branch 2: Prophecy and Promise
  Pupils learn about the prophets who spoke of God's promises and the anticipation of the coming of Jesus, focusing on themes of hope and expectation.

Spring Term

• Branch 3: Galilee to Jerusalem
  This branch delves into the life and ministry of Jesus, from His teachings in Galilee to His journey to Jerusalem, highlighting His messages of love and salvation.

• Branch 4: Desert to Garden
  Children reflect on the journey from Lent to Easter, understanding the significance of Jesus' sacrifice and resurrection, and the hope it brings.

Summer Term

• Branch 5: To the Ends of the Earth
  Pupils learn about the spread of Jesus' teachings and the mission of the Church, understanding how the message of Jesus reaches all corners of the world.

• Branch 6: Dialogue and Encounter
  This branch encourages children to appreciate and respect different faiths and cultures, promoting dialogue and understanding in a diverse world.

Through these branches, Year 1 students embark on a journey of discovery, deepening their faith and understanding of the world around them.

✝️ Year 1 Religious Education Knowledge Organisers 📖

 

To support your child’s RE learning, each term we provide a Knowledge Organiser. These handy guides summarise key facts, vocabulary, Bible stories, and important concepts for each branch.

You can use the Knowledge Organiser at home to:

• Talk about stories and topics with your child.

• Practice key vocabulary and understand its meaning.

• Ask simple questions to encourage reflection and discussion.

• Reinforce learning from class in a fun, engaging way.

By revisiting the Knowledge Organiser regularly, children become more confident in their RE learning and develop a deeper understanding of their faith.

🙏  Supporting Religious Education Learning at Home ⛪  

 

To help your child explore their RE learning at home, we have provided links to videos and resources that support the six branches of the RED curriculum.  These resources include Bible stories, animations, and child-friendly videos that reflect the key themes of each branch.

You can use them to:

• Revisit stories and concepts discussed in class.

• Discuss key ideas and vocabulary with your child.

• Encourage reflection and prayer at home.

• Make learning fun and engaging with age-appropriate videos and activities.

Regularly exploring these resources at home will help your child deepen their understanding of the Catholic faith and connect classroom learning to everyday life.

📚 Branch 1: Creation and Covenant 🌎

Focus: God’s creation of the world and His covenant with His peopl

🔮 Branch 2: Prophecy and Promise ✨

Focus: Prophets and God’s promises leading to the coming of Jesus 

🕊 Branch 3: Galilee to Jerusalem 🚶‍♂️

Focus: Jesus’ life, ministry, and journey to Jerusalem

🌵 Branch 4: Desert to Garden 🌺

Focus: Lent, Easter, Jesus’ sacrifice and resurrection

🌍 Branch 5: To the Ends of the Earth ✈️

Focus: The spread of Jesus’ teachings and the mission of the Church

🤝 Branch 6: Dialogue and Encounter 💬

Focus: Appreciating and respecting different faiths and cultures

Online Learning Platforms

Accelerated Reader is a programme that helps children develop their reading skills and understanding of the books they read. Once your child has completed the Read Write Inc Phonics programme, they will begin bringing home Accelerated Reader books, which are carefully levelled and colour-stickered to match their reading ability.

• At home, your child can:

  • Read their Accelerated Reader book (or a book on myON, our online library).

  • Complete a short comprehension quiz online about the book they have read.

  • Track their progress and celebrate their achievements as they move through the levels.

  These quizzes check how well your child has understood their reading and help teachers to see the progress they are making. The more they read and quiz, the more confident and fluent they will become as readers.

myON is our online library, giving children access to a wide range of age-appropriate eBooks that can be read at home and in school. Each book is linked to the Accelerated Reader programme, which means children can quiz on the books they read in myON just like they do with their colour-stickered Accelerated Reader books.

Children can:

• Choose from thousands of digital books tailored to their reading level.

• Enjoy fiction and non-fiction texts to broaden their knowledge and interests.

• Take Accelerated Reader quizzes after reading to check their understanding.

myON helps children develop a love of reading by giving them choice and variety, while also supporting progress in comprehension.

 We encourage children to use these platforms regularly at home to build fluency and confidence in their reading skills.

Learning Overview

In Year 1, children build on the strong foundations from Early Years and begin their exciting journey through Key Stage 1. Our curriculum is broad and balanced, rooted in our Catholic faith, and enriched through engaging topics and high-quality texts from the Power of Reading programme, such as Beegu, Traction Man, and The Lonely Beast.

Across the year, children explore subjects including Religious Education, English, Maths, Science, Computing, Geography, History, Art, Design Technology, PE, Music, and PSHRE. They enjoy hands-on experiences and creative projects that deepen their learning and develop independence, curiosity, and confidence.

👇 You can view our full Year 1 Learning Overview below.

 

Power of Reading

 At the St John XXIII Catholic Primary School, we recognise language as a gift from God and a powerful tool for communication, reflection, and understanding. Through the study of high-quality texts, pupils are encouraged to develop empathy, critical thinking, and a deeper appreciation of diverse perspectives and values that reflect the Gospel message at the heart of our school. English provides opportunities for children to express their beliefs, explore moral themes, and use their voices with confidence and compassion, promoting truth, justice, and the common good. In doing so, we help pupils grow into kind, thoughtful individuals who use their God-given gifts to transform the world around them.

✨ Our Powerful Texts 📘

 

📚 Year 1 Power of Reading Knowledge Organisers ✏️

 

Our Power of Reading Knowledge Organisers are designed to help your child engage deeply with their reading and writing learning. They summarise key vocabulary, important story details, grammar points, and writing objectives for each book or unit.

You can use them at home to:

• Preview and discuss key vocabulary before reading sessions.

• Ask questions about the story to improve comprehension.

• Support writing tasks by encouraging your child to use new words, phrases, and sentence structures.

• Track progress by revisiting previous units and reinforcing learning.

By using these knowledge organisers regularly, you help your child build confidence, improve understanding, and develop stronger reading and writing skills in a structured and enjoyable way.

 Mathematics

The fundamental purpose of Maths is the pursuit of truth, reflecting the order and wisdom of God’s creation. The skills developed through Maths - creative, critical, and analytical thinking - enable learners to use their God-given talents to serve others. Exploring the beauty and harmony of mathematics helps learners engage with something greater than themselves, inspiring them to be forerunners, trailblazers, and inventors who contribute to the common good. Grounding learning in real-world contexts encourages responsible application of knowledge, reflecting Catholic values of stewardship and service.

🔢 Year 1 White Rose Maths 💰

 

In Year 1, we follow the White Rose Maths scheme to help children build a strong foundation in number, shape, measurement, and problem-solving. Throughout the year, pupils will explore concepts in a fun, engaging, and hands-on way, developing confidence and fluency in maths.

Key areas of learning include:

• Place Value: Understanding numbers to 100, counting, ordering, and comparing.

• Addition and Subtraction: Learning to add and subtract using objects, number lines, and mental strategies.

• Multiplication and Division: Introducing simple repeated addition and sharing.

• Fractions: Recognising and using simple fractions such as ½ and ¼.

• Measurement: Exploring length, height, weight, volume, money, and time.

• Geometry: Learning about 2D and 3D shapes, as well as position, direction, and movement.

• Problem-Solving and Reasoning: Applying maths to real-life contexts and developing critical thinking skills.

 👇 You can view our full Year 1 Mathematics Curriculum Overview below.

 

 

🗺️ Supporting Mathematics Learning at Home 🌍 

 

We have gathered a variety of resources for families to help children practise and enjoy maths at home. These include:

• Workbooks and worksheets to reinforce learning

• Videos and tutorials to explain key concepts

• Games and interactive apps for hands-on practice

Using these tools regularly will help your child build confidence, fluency, and a love of maths while supporting what they learn in class.

Useful websites

 Science

Through science, we recognise the world as God’s creation - a gift entrusted to us to explore and care for. Through scientific enquiry, children deepen their appreciation of the complexity and beauty of creation, learning that we are stewards of the Earth with a responsibility to use our knowledge wisely. The Plymouth Science scheme supports this by encouraging curiosity, critical thinking, and respect for life, all rooted in the dignity of the human person and the call to care for our common home.

🐛 Supporting Science Learning at Home 🌱

Useful websites

Parent Workshops