Welcome to Apple Class! 

Meet your teacher - Miss Katie Crowhurst

I am delighted to be joining Botley School as the Year 1 class teacher and can’t wait to get to know the children and their families.

I love creating a classroom where children feel confident and excited to learn. Reading is one of my biggest passions, and I enjoy sharing stories that spark children’s imagination and curiosity. I believe books are a wonderful way to help children see themselves, learn about others and celebrate the diversity of the world around them. I love choosing stories that represent different backgrounds and experiences so that every child feels included, valued and that they belong.

Outside of school, I love animals, arts and crafts, running and spending quality time with friends and family. Sport has been a huge part of my life, and I have been fortunate to compete at an elite level alongside my studies. I love the confidence, teamwork and enjoyment that being active can bring, and I hope to encourage those same values in the classroom. I also have a visual impairment, which has never affected my ability to teach and support every child in the classroom, or stopped me from pursuing my goals. It has helped me to develop resilience, creativity and determination, qualities I hope to share with the children in my class.

I am really looking forward to the year ahead and to supporting your children as they begin their exciting Year 1 journey. 

katecrowhurst@botley.oxon.sch.uk

Our Learning

Curriculum Maps

Curriculum maps for the year will be shared here shortly.

Phonics

• About Phonics at Botley School
• Year 1 Phonics Screening Check

Phonics Open Morning and Writing Workshop March 2026

Please find below information from our recent Phonics Open Morning and Writing workshop:

What should I bring to school with me?

Please visit our Equipment Checklist page for more information.

When do I have PE?

Children will have two sessions of PE a week; dance/gym in the hall and an outside PE session. Please ensure that they have a suitable PE kit in school every day of the week.

When do I have Forest School?

Year 1 Forest School takes place on a Thursday afternoon in Terms 1, 3 and 5.

Additional Learning

Here are some links below that support our learning in school

Maths

• White Rose Maths Home Learning

English

Writing

• Instructions
• Recount
• Non-chronological report
• Persuasive writing
• Narrative writing

Reading

• The snail and the whale by Julia Donaldson
• Meerkat mail by Emily Gravett
• Pirates Love Underpants by Claire Freedman
• The suitcase by Chris Naylor Ballesteros
• The Three Little Pigs
• The Three Little Wolves and the Big Bad Pig
• Lost in the Toy Museum by David Lucas
• The Secret of Black Rock by Joe Todd-Stanton
• How to catch a star by Oliver Jeffers
• Katie in London by James Mayhew
• Katie in Scotland by James Mayhew
• Jack and the Beanstalk
• Finn MacCool and the Giants Causeway
• We're going on a bear hunt by Michael Rosen

Topic 

Our Geography topic this term is

Uk weather

Our History topic this term is

We are Britain

Our Science topic this term is

Plants and seasons

Homework

Homework will be provided through Homework books every Friday and will be expected back by the following Thursday.

Year 1 homework expectations

• 10 minutes daily reading and record it in your reading records
• A Maths activity 
• 10 spelling words
• Number bonds 

Stay Safe Online

Don't forget to stay safe online. Have a look at the activities with your Parents and Carers on our Online Safety page. 

Please make sure you carefully monitor your child's use of the Internet and check the appropriateness of websites. If you or your child has any concerns, you can report this to CEOP (Child Exploitation and Online Protection).

Useful Websites

            

Please remember that your children have personal logins to the following fantastic website:

• Purple Mash