What will the children do in class during the first few weeks? 

Play

Children will take part in structured and unstructured play activities, many of which will be similar to those they have experienced at nursery.  This will ensure a smooth transition from nursery to primary one.  Not all children in a class are ready to start formal learning at the same time; because of this children will be taught in groups.  Once all the children have started, the teacher will form initial groups based on evidence gathered during the phased entry.

Literacy

Your child will participate in a phonics programme (learning about letters and the sounds they make) which we believe gives the children a solid foundation on which to build their literacy skills.  You will hear more information about this at our curriculum meeting in September.  We will assess your child's phonological awareness and begin to work on areas highlighted in this screener. 

Numeracy

Children will continue to understand that maths is everywhere.  Everything you see and do has an element of mathematical learning for children. Children can see numbers everywhere-cars, buses, doors, road signs, books, electrical equipment and remote controls.

Children learn about maths through play and experiencing everyday situations.  This gives them an understanding of,

• Time - school time, tea time, bath time bed time

• Matching and Sorting - laying the table, sorting washing

• Shape - discussing the environment, windows, doors, fences, road markings

• Ordering - getting dressed, lining up toys, progression of days

• Counting - How many apples do we need?  How many trees can you see?

• Predicting - Is this bag too heavy?  Will this float or sink?

• Space and Position - jigsaws

• Weight and Volume - filling, pouring, baking

• Measuring - How many steps? How many hands?  cubes, links

A lot of mathematical and numeracy concepts are taught through play with lots of emphasis is placed on mental agility and understanding number through visuals. As Maths is often very abstract we try to use as many concrete materials as possible.  One of these is Numicon,  a very useful resource for visuals of numbers. 

Health and Wellbeing

Health & wellbeing is central to all we do at New Machar School.  We focus on many linked learning activities during P1 focusing on:

Mental, Emotional, Social & Physical Wellbeing

Planning for choices & changes

Physical Education, Physical Activities and Sport

Food and Health,

Substance Misuse

Relationships, Sexual Health & Parenthood.

Children will cover all 8 areas of the curriculum. We will cover more of this during our Curriculum Evening in September. 

Children will also have contexts for learning.  These are the same for the whole school.  In the 2023-2024 session these will be:

Foos yer Doos? 

To Newmachar and Beyond

The Amazing Arts

Keeping Our World Beautiful

Your Choice

Happy and Healthy

New Machar Novels

Far Yi Gan? 

What can you do to support the work being done in class? 

Your child will begin learning to read and recognise numbers and symbols.  Here are some things you can do to help your child with reading:

• Say, sing and read traditional nursery rhymes

• Encourage your child to try to read things when out and about

• Visit the local library

• Show enthusiasm for books and make time to read every day

• Talk to your child about his/her school day and anything they may bring home

• Play with your child and listen to what they’ve got to tell you

Your child will begin learning to read and recognise numbers and symbols.  Here are some things you can do to help your child with reading:

• Say, sing and read traditional nursery rhymes

• Encourage your child to try to read things when out and about

• Visit the local library

• Show enthusiasm for books and make time to read every day

• Talk to your child about his/her school day and anything they may bring home

• Play with your child and listen to what they’ve got to tell you