Welcome to Year 1

In Year One, the children make the transition from the foundation stage into Key Stage One. The curriculum widens and deepens and the learning expectations build on the learning from Reception. They are ready for the next step in their education and have the skills and knowledge needed to Dream, Believe and Achieve whatever their hearts desire.

The school values are further embedded. Staff model how to be positive, kind, respectful and proud. Children learn how to be successful thrpugh these values.

During Year 1, children develop their oracy skills by discussing topics with their peers and asking questions if necessary. They build their reading fluency by putting their developing phonic skills and knowledge into practice regularly. Reading is crucial in Year 1 as it lays the foundation for future academic success. In Year 1, children are developing foundational literacy skills, including phonics, vocabulary, and comprehension, which are vital for their overall development and learning. In Writing, children will learn to write in complete sentences after orally rehearsing them first. In Maths, children build number knowledge and calculation skills to enable problem solving strategies to develop.

Science is important in Year 1 because it ignites children's natural curiosity about the world around them and helps them develop essential skills like observation, questioning, and problem-solving. It lays the foundation for understanding the world through different scientific disciplines. Through hands-on activities and exploration, children learn to ask questions, make predictions, and communicate their findings, fostering a sense of excitement and wonder about the natural world.

Children with identified special educational needs are included in our calm and caring classrooms as far as possible. Class teachers are responsible for their learning and development, social and emotional development and well-being.

Children develop social and emotional skills through our weekly PSHE lessons and assemblies. Children's social, moral, spiritual and cultural education is developed through assemblies, In RE and PSHE and through carefully planned humanities lessons which reflect all children in the school. Children can see themselves reflected through stories, toys, resources and displays.

Year 1 is a crucial year in a child's educational journey, marking the transition from the play-based learning of the Early Years Foundation Stage to the more formal structure of the National Curriculum. It's a time of significant development, where children build upon foundational skills and learn to adapt to increased independence and more structured lessons.