In Key Stage 1 we build on the learning of the Early Years Foundation Stage, to ensure that the children experience a smooth transition into Year 1. The Year 1 curriculum builds upon and extends the experiences that children have had in Reception. Learning through play continues to be an important part of the school day, and the children are gradually eased into more formal learning as the year goes on so that they remain motivated, enthused and independent learners. In line with our School Vision, we make our lessons practical and engaging throughout the Key Stage. Years 1 and 2 work closely together to deliver the National Curriculum for Key Stage 1. We have a thematic-based approach and make creative cross-curricular links through this theme.

Reading and Homework

Weekly homework is set in Maths and our pupils are expected to read five times a week as part of our ‘Kingston Rainbow Reading Scheme’.  Weekly spellings are also sent home.

Thematic Curriculum

We choose exciting and vibrant themes as a vehicle to teach the National Curriculum.  Recent themes have included:  People who help us and Dinosaurs.

We enrich our curriculum provision with lots of educational trips and visits linked to our theme.

Children have daily lessons in Mathematics and English in order to learn key skills, facts and concepts.

We teach maths through the White Rose Maths methods.  This method incorporates established research into a highly effective teaching approach. With its emphasis on teaching pupils to solve problems,  We use the White Rose Maths scheme of work with an emphasis on learning maths through using concrete materials, then progressing to pictorial representations of problems and finally moving onto abstract representations.  By spending time with concrete materials, pupils develop a more solid understanding of key concepts.  

The key areas covered in Maths are:

• Number
• Place value
• Addition and subtraction
• Multiplication and division
• Fractions
• Measurement
• Geometry – properties of shape
• Geometry – position and direction.

The genres covered in English are:

•  Letters
•  Instructions
•  Recount
•  Narrative
•  Information Texts
•  Poetry
Children in Key Stage 1 are assessed informally on an ongoing basis by class teachers. There is also a formal assessment in phonics at the end of Year 1.

At the end of this page there is an  example of the words that pupils will have to sound out in the Year 1 Phonics Test.  The test includes 'real words' and 'alien words':

Pupils’ writing levels are assessed twice a half term using our Kingston banding sheets.

Be prepared in Year 1

•  Have your homework, book bag, snack, and lunch every day;
• Take home letters to your parents!
• Be responsible for changing your reading book;
• Push yourself, work hard at home, do extra if you can.

Please see specific subject tabs for more information on our year 1 curriculum.