Hello! My name is Miss Bannister, and I’m the Year 1 class teacher at St Mary’s, as well as the Phonics and Early Readers Co-ordinator.

I have a real passion for teaching early literacy and phonics, and I love seeing children develop confidence in their reading and writing. I also enjoy teaching Art—it’s a wonderful way for children to express their creativity!

Outside the classroom, one of my favourite things to do is spend time in the garden. I find it so relaxing to care for my plants while listening to music or an audiobook. I especially enjoy planting seeds and watching them grow into beautiful flowers. Tulips are my favourite flower because of their simple elegance, and I also adore Sweet Peas for the lovely scent they bring to my garden in spring and summer.

Family is very important to me. My family lives in Ireland, so I treasure the school holidays when I can visit and spend quality time with them. Being apart during the term makes me even more dedicated to my work here at St Mary’s.

A few fun facts about me:
🌿 My favourite colour is green
🐘 My favourite animal is the elephant

Thank you for taking the time to get to know a little bit about me. I’m looking forward to a wonderful year with Year 1!

My favourite article from the UNCRC:

My favourite Right is Article 24, having access to health, water, food and a safe environment. Children have the right to the best health care possible, clean water to drink, healthy food and a clean and safe environment to live in. All adults and children should have information about how to stay safe and healthy. I like this article because these things are so important for ensuring children grow up healthy. I feel St Mary's is a safe place to be and something I like to make sure all children in my classroom feel when they are here in 1B.