In Year 1, children make the transition from play based learning in Foundation Stage to more structured, independent learning in Year 1. Children continue to have access to many of the valuable learning resources used in Foundation Stage, including the outdoor classroom, as we aim to make learning as hands on and practical as possible. 

We value the importance of children having a positive attitude towards their learning. Children are encouraged to become confident and resilient learning who appreciate and become excited by learning that offers challenge.

Curriculum Overview:

Phonics & Reading:

In Year 1 we deliver a daily synthetic phonics session. We use the Letters and Sounds document for our planning. There are six overlapping phases, in Year 1 we build on the learning covered during phases 1 – 4 in Foundation and work on phase 5.

The purpose of phase 5 is to broaden children’s knowledge of sounds and how they are written for use in reading and spelling. Children learn new ways that sounds are written and also alternative pronunciations of written sounds. Spelling patterns are investigated and children begin to think about making sensible choices when choosing which spelling of a sound to use in words.

We regularly carry out individual phonics assessments with children to monitor and track progress.

Phonics screening check

In June all pupils in Year 1 will take part in the phonics screening check. This is a statutory check that was introduced by the government in 2012 to confirm if individual pupils have learnt phonic decoding to an appropriate level. The check consists of reading 40 real and nonsense words and usually takes around 5 minutes.

Pupils who do not reach the required standard at the end of Year 1 will receive extra support and will have the opportunity to retake the check in Year 2.

In Year 1 we work to develop children as confident and enthusiastic readers. During English lessons and story time we share a variety of high-quality texts. Our reading books are organised into coloured bookbands, children each have a book appropriate to their ability and in line with the phonic phase, they are working at. Each week children have a guided group read where they are supported to read a more challenging book.

English:

Throughout the year pupils develop their literacy skills through a variety of engaging topics. Pupils are taught and encouraged to become more confident at applying their reading, writing, and communication skills for different purposes. Literacy lessons provide many opportunities for children to express their ideas through speaking and listening activities. Drama is often used to explore a topic and allow children the opportunity to take on different roles.

Below is a list of the topics and themes covered in our year group

Our Toys

• Writing labels, lists, and captions.
• Reading and writing stories with familiar settings.
• Rhyme and rhythm.

Africa

• Reading and writing stories from a different culture.
• Writing instructions.

Once upon a time

• Traditional tales and fairy stories.
• Reading and writing recounts.

 Where the Wild Things Are

• Stories with imaginative settings.
• Fictional recounts.

 Under the Sea

• Reading and writing information texts.
• Poems on a theme. 

Maths:

In Year 1 we enjoy lots of practical activities to use and apply our learning in maths. Here are the different strands of learning and some of the key objectives we work towards achieving.

Number and Place Value

• Children extend their use of counting numbers to at least 100.
• They develop recognition of patterns in the number system including odd and even numbers and counting in ones, twos, fives, and tens.
• They begin to use place value to understand the relative size of numbers and to order two-digit numbers.

Addition and Subtraction

• In Year 1 mathematical symbols (+, - and =) are used to record addition and subtraction calculations.
• Children become confident at recalling number bonds for 10 (for example, 6+4, 3+7).
• Through practise of addition and subtraction, children learn number facts for numbers up to 20.

Multiplication and Division

• Through practical activities, the concepts of multiplication and division are introduced in Year 1.
• Children begin to recognise the symbols x and ÷.

Fractions

• Children learn to identify halves and quarters by solving practical problems.
• The idea of halves and quarters to the concept of sharing and grouping numbers.

Measurement

• Rulers, weighing scales, and jugs are all used to measure objects using common standard units of measurement.
• Children practise comparing length, weight, volume, and time using words such as longer/shorter, heavier than/light than, more/less, and quicker/slower.
• They begin to recognise and use language relating to dates, including days of the week, weeks,
• months and years
• Children are taught to tell the time to the hour and half past the hour.

Properties of Shape

• Children become familiar with a range of common 2D and 3D shapes.
• They learn to recognise these shapes in different orientations, sizes, and contexts.

Position and direction

• Children continue learning how to use positional language accurately, for example by describing if an object is opposite, next to in front of or behind another.
• Through practical activities they explore the difference between half, quarter and three-quarter turns using a clockwise direction.

Curriculum In Action: