What a wonderful week we have had! Take a look at all the exciting learning and activities our Year 1 children have been up to… 😊

Maths

This week in Maths, we have been using number lines to help us solve addition and subtraction calculations. For subtraction, we circled the first number on the number line and carefully counted backwards to find the answer. When adding, we started by circling the biggest number and then counted on the smaller number. The children worked very hard and showed great focus while using this method. Take a look at our wonderful learning!

Next week: We will continue with addition and subtraction we will look at word problems and inverses.

Fact of the Week

Each week, we will share a key maths fact. This week, we are learning:

Addition Facts:

• 7 + 3 = 10

• 3 + 7 = 10

Related Subtraction Facts:

• 10 − 7 = 3

• 10 − 3 = 7

Read, Write Inc. (RWI)

This week, the children have shown great enthusiasm as we revisited previously taught sounds and strengthened their phonics reading skills. It has been wonderful to see their engagement in learning!

We have focused on several key areas, including identifying “special friends,” which are groups of letters that make a single sound. The children have also been practising Fred Talk, blending, and segmenting words, which are essential skills for reading. Additionally, they have been reading green words and learning some red (tricky) words.

To support your child’s learning at home, you can help by spotting “special friends” in everyday words, blending sounds together to read full words, and practising regularly for an extra boost. We have also been concentrating on handwriting, ensuring that the children are using capital letters correctly, forming letters carefully, and placing full stops to complete sentences.

Reading at Home

• Children will bring home two books each week:

  1. RWI Home Book – should be read three times a week for fluency. Changed every Monday by an adult.

  2. Book with coloured sticker – children can change independently, ideally in the morning.

• Please ensure reading folders are placed in the trays at school.

• Encourage your child to read at home and record it in their reading record.

• Certificates are awarded weekly to celebrate reading achievements, and every 20 reads earns a special certificate!

If you have any questions, please speak to your child’s class teacher

Home Learning

This week we would love for you to take photos or draw the birds you see in your garden during the BirdWatch.

This week, the whole school is took part in the Big Schools' BirdWatch to collect data for the RSPB. We are inviting you to take part at home too. Here's what you need to do:

1. ‎Choose an hour between 23 and 25 January 2026

2, Only record the birds that land in your garden

3. Record the highest number of each bird species you see at any one time

4. Sign up online and submit your results to the RSPB. Here's the link: Big Garden Birdwatch

Miss Isaac, who is Chilton's science leader, would love to see any photos of you doing this and also know any particularly interesting birds you saw. Feel free to send her an email: carol.isaac@chiltonprimary.co.uk

If you are fan of being out in nature and would like to show off your photography skills, you might be interested in the competition outlined below:

Bird Wise East Kent and Thanet Coast Project have teamed up to host a photography competition. There is a category for under 18s with the winner and runner up having their work displayed in Margate, Whitstable and Ramsgate. The deadline is midnight on Sunday 15^th February. Please go to their website for more information: Photography Competition | Bird Wise East Kent

Thematic

This week in our learning, we have been exploring the work of Edward Jenner and learning about germs. We discovered why Edward Jenner was such a brilliant scientist by noticing what was happening in the world around him and asking important questions. The children enjoyed learning the story of how he observed that milkmaids caught cowpox but did not become ill with smallpox. We learnt how this discovery helped him create a vaccination, which stopped the spread of the disease and saved thousands of lives.

On Thursday, we learnt all about the Eatwell Plate. We explored the different food groups and discussed why it is important to eat the right proportions from each section to help us stay healthy. We also learnt what exercise is and talked about the different types of exercise humans can do. The children enjoyed dancing to music with glow sticks and noticed the effect this had on their heart rates. We discussed other ways we can exercise outside of school, such as swimming, and learnt why exercise is so important for our bodies. Have a look at us having a go at dancing with glow sticks in school!

Today, we learnt about the importance of being hygienic when handling food and using different cooking methods. We discussed why it is important to follow good hygiene practices around food and during cooking. Chloe, one of our amazing cooks in the kitchen, came to speak to us and taught us how to keep ourselves safe and healthy when preparing food. We learnt a lot from Chloe and will make sure we use good hygiene practices when we prepare a dish later on this term.

Art Competition

​Additional Information

Forest school is now on a Thursday afternoon, please can children bring in wellington boots for this and if they wish to play on the field they would also need wellingtons. Their wellingtons are kept in their locker and can get muddy so please provide a suitable bag for these to be put into their locker.

PE is on a Tuesday afternoon please can children wear a plain white t-shirt, or our new Chilton PE t-shirts, black or navy bottoms and a plain black or blue sweatshirt.

Read at 3! This is where we would love to invite you into our classrooms and read with your child for the full 15 minutes. This will happen every Friday there after this term.

Please can we ask your child has their name in their coats, cardigans, jumpers etc.

Key dates

Friday 6th February – NSPCC number day (Reception and KS1 children to come in dressed in number themed clothes/KS2 to come in dressed as a Times Table Rock Star) 

Friday 6th February – KS2 Countdown assembly at 9am (parents of year group house winners to be invited) Tuesday 10th February – Tuesday 10th February -  Safer internet day 

Friday 13th February – Non-school uniform day 

Friday 13th February - Chilton Fundraisers Winter Disco 

Friday 13th February – Last day of term. School finishes at usual time

 

If you would like to contact us, please feel free to email, alternatively we are available to catch at the end of the day or the start of the day by the door.

Team Ocean - Eloise.hall@chiltonprimary.co.uk

Team Sky - Poppy.winchcombe@chiltonprimary.co.uk and Elaine.howard@chiltonprimary.co.uk ( On a Wednesday)

Have a restful weekend and we will see you all on Monday!

Miss Hall, Mrs Winchcombe and Mrs Howard