Year 1

1FH

A welcome message from Miss Fletcher -Hurley

Hello and welcome to Year 1FH! I am so excited to be your child’s teacher as we embark on an exciting journey of learning throughout the year.
This will be my fifth year teaching at St John Vianney, and I absolutely love it. Before I became a teacher, I worked at Blackpool Zoo and also as a Police Officer. 1FH will be supported by Miss Roberts, who has been working in KS1 for a while and has lots of experience, especially in phonics. She has a caring nature and always puts the children’s needs at the heart of everything she does.
This will be my third year teaching Year 1 at SJV, having previously taught in Year 3 for a couple of years. In Year 1, our aim is to ensure that the children experience a smooth transition from the Foundation Stage to Key Stage One. At SJV, our Year 1 curriculum builds upon and extends the experiences that children have had in Reception and the Early Learning Goals.
Learning through play will continue to be an important part of the school day, and the children will gradually be eased into more formal learning as the year goes on, so that they remain motivated, enthusiastic, and eager learners.
In 1FH, our classroom is a place for your child to grow—but most importantly, it’s a space where children can discover, be creative, and enjoy learning. During our time in Year 1, we will be on a journey together. Our classroom is not only a safe space but also a positive and engaging environment.
I am very passionate about music and drama, and I hope to share this passion with my class. I want the children to grow in confidence, begin discovering their own passions, and find the learning methods that work best for them.
I am very excited to get to know each and every one of the children in 1FH and to build positive relationships with them. I will work alongside you to support your child in all aspects of the curriculum.
It is going to be a very busy but amazing year, and I cannot wait to see each child grow and begin to achieve their full potential!

1W

A welcome message from Mr Walsh

Welcome to a new and exciting school year!! I am thrilled to be your child’s Year 1 teacher, and I can’t wait to embark on this incredible journey of learning and growth together.   I live in Preston with my wife and my two daughters, Eva aged 15 and Nora age 13  and at the start of my teaching career would you believe that I had a full head of hair! I have been at St John Vianney for 20 years now and I definitely feel part of the furniture – I’m sure I should get a medal for being here that long! I have taught in all 3 Key Stages  -Reception through to Year 5 in my teaching career at St John Vianney.  I have previously taught Year 1 many moons ago but then I was in Year 2 for 7 years then I have come down a year. Year 1 is a brilliant year as the amount of progress the children make is amazing, especially in English. Both handwriting and in phonics, as we have the statutory  Phonics Screening check (PSC) which is always in June. Please encourage your child to read with fluidity, allowing words to flow effortlessly from page to mind. A steady pace not only enhances comprehension but also enables your child to immerse themselves fully in the worlds created by authors. Presentation in books is also a big factor in Year 1 and our expectations are very high -the correct formation of letters and their size is fundamental. I have no doubt we will have lots of fun along the way aswell as great trips planned -a trip to a science museum in Liverpool for one! Our teaching assistant is Mrs Palmer who has been at St John Vianney for many years now and is the creative one in the classroom -her art skills for displays are out of this world!

Our classroom will be a place where curiosity thrives, and discussions are rich with thought-provoking questions. I am committed to providing endless opportunities for each of your children to flourish, explore, and discover their unique strengths and talents. Building positive relationships is at the heart of what I do and through fostering these relationships -I will work alongside you to support your children in all areas of school life so they reach their full potential, there are boundless opportunities awaiting us, and together, we will embark on a journey of exploration and growth!

Any questions you may have please contact the office or see me on the door.