Welcome to Year 1
I’m Miss Diakaki and I’m delighted to be teaching Year 1 this year. I have 16 years of experience in education and have been part of the St Francis school community for five years.
I love seeing children discover something new, share their ideas and grow in confidence. In our classroom, every child is valued and encouraged to be curious, ask questions and have a go. Whether we are enjoying a story, exploring a new idea or learning through practical activities, we celebrate each step of progress together. My aim is to help every child thrive and develop a lifelong love of learning.
Supporting your child’s learning this year will be Miss Qureshi. She has valuable experience in Year 1 and Early Years and has known many of our Year 1 children since they began their journey at St Francis. She will be supporting children who may need additional help; she will be leading small group interventions and looking after them at lunchtimes and playtimes.
We’re looking forward to a wonderful year of learning, exploring and growing together!
- Welcome
- Newsletters
- Curriculum
- Recommended Reads
- Useful Websites
- Our Learning Gallery
- Online Learning
- Google Classroom - Help and Guides
- Contact Your Teacher
- Messages and Letters to Parents
Welcome to Our Wonderful Year 1 Class
Your Class Teacher is Miss Peacock.
Supporting Miss Peacock in class is Miss Phillips, Miss Greenwood and Miss Diakaki.
Please have a look at our suggested reading lists for children in Year 1. These books are a range of bestselling picture books and longer texts to encourage both shared reading, individual reading and reading for pleasure.
https://www.booktrust.org.uk/booklists/g/great-books-guide-2019-for-children-6-to-7-years/
Please also look out for our book exchange box which will be popping up very soon in the playground!
Year 1 – Useful Learning Websites
Many academic resource websites are offering free access to support with home learning. Use the websites listed below, as you like, to support home learning.
Maths
https://www.topmarks.co.uk/maths-games/5-7-years/counting
https://www.mathshed.com/en-gb/
https://www.mathletics.com/uk/
https://whiterosemaths.com/homelearning/
English
https://www.pobble365.com/ – For writing inspiration
https://www.literacyshed.com/the-ks1-shed.html – Writing resources
https://www.phonicsplay.co.uk/
https://home.oxfordowl.co.uk/ – Includes free e-books for chidlren aged 3-7
Science
https://www.stem.org.uk/primary-science
https://www.glasgowsciencecentre.org/learn/gsc-at-home
https://www.instructables.com/Homeschool-STEAM-Projects-to-Make-at-Home/
W/E 10.10.25: Like the other classes, Year 1 were visited by Greg from The Mark 10 Mission to show us ways that we could worship God through prayer and Liturgy of the Word. The children were fantastic with their listening and eagerness to join in.
W/E 10.10.25: In outdoor PE the Year 1 children have been using the sports equipment to create and play their own games.
Look at how creative the Year 1 children have been in their weekly drumming and music lessons.
In computing, Year 1 were using the ‘Paint’ program to create different shapes and pictures.
October 2025: Year 1 were very busy in Design and Technology lessons making bird feeders. They then took them out into the school grounds to place them carefully where birds can reach them.
W/E 3.10.25: On Tuesdays and Thursdays the Year 1 children get very creative in their drumming and choir sessions. It is lovely to hear them produce beautiful music.
W/E 3.10.25: In their English lesson the Year 1 children have been learning about common and proper nouns. In this session they had to sort some correctly.
W/E 3.10.25: The Year 1 children are working very hard in their Maths lessons. Here they are learning to count back and to find the number that is ‘1 more’.
W/E 3.10.25: The Year 1 children have been using the Paint program in Computing to create beautiful pictures.
W/E 19.9.25: #Year1 have had a very musical week. Here are some pictures of them singing in the choir lessons, using the xylophones and singing songs with instruments.
Home Learning
| Website | Age Range | Content |
| www.classroomsecrets.co.uk | Early Years – Yr6 | Home learning packs covering English, phonics, maths and practical activities. |
| www.twinkl.co.uk | Early Years – Yr6 | Covers the whole curriculum |
| www.phonicsplay.co.uk | Early Years -Yr2 | Phonics games and activities |
| Early Years – Yr6 | Various activities and video links to many subjects | |
| www.spellingframe.co.uk | Yr1-Yr6 | Some free spelling games |
| www.primaryresources.co.uk | Yr1-Yr6 | A range of activities and worksheets for all subjects |
| www.teachingideas.co.uk | Early Years – Yr6 | A range of activities and worksheets for all subjects |
| www.topmarks.co.uk | Early Years – Yr6 | Wide range of subjects with lots of interactive online activities and games |
| www.crickweb.co.uk | Early Years – Yr6 | Free online education resources and games |
| www.primaryhomeworkhelp.co.uk/ | Yr1-Yr6 | Excellent website with a really wide range of subject coverage |
|
www.whiterosemaths.com/homelearning/
|
Yr1-Yr8 | Free resources and learning videos that link directly with our in school maths curriculum |
| https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAxW1XT0iEJo0TYlRfn6rYQ | Early Years – Yr6 | Body Coach – Online exercise videos to keep you active 9am live daily |
| https://www.oxfordowl.co.uk/for-home/ | Early Years – Yr6 | Free e-readers |
| https://corbettmathsprimary.com/ | Yr1 – Yr6 | Free maths resources |
| https://www.natgeokids.com/uk/teacher-category/primary-resources/ | Early Years – Yr6 | Lots of geography resources |
| https://www.tts-group.co.uk/home+learning+activities.html | Early Years – Yr6 | Free downloadable home learning activities |
| http://www.iseemaths.com/home-lessons/ | Yr1-Yr6 | Daily maths learning |
| https://www.mathswithmum.com | Yr1-Yr6 | Maths videos to help with children’s learning |
| https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCj0shfH3pzhrf3dOrSj_pRw | Early years – Yr2 | Phonics based video and dancing |
| https://hungrylittleminds.campaign.gov.uk/ | 0-5years | A government recommended website for Early Years |
| https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/75809/12-world-class-museums-you-can-visit-online | All the family | Virtual Tours of 12 museums around the world |
| https://www.stem.org.uk/primary-science | Yr1-Yr6 | Science activity ideas |
What is Google Classroom?
Google Classroom is a collaboration tool for teachers and pupils. Mrs Shaw has created an online classroom and invited your child to the class. As well as using Google Classroom to complete tasks within school – we will create and assign homework tasks via Google Classroom too! Your child has their own username and password – they can access Google Classroom via the internet on any device.
Sign in for the first time
1. Go to classroom.google.com and click Go to Classroom
2. Enter the email address for your Classroom account and click Next
3.Enter your password and click Next.
4. If there is a welcome message, review it and click Accept.
5. If you’re using a G Suite for Education account, click I’m A Student or I’m A Teacher.
Note: Users with personal Google Accounts won’t see this option.
6. Click Get Started.
