KS1 Curriculum

In Key Stage 1, we gradually take the children from the play-based curriculum of the Foundation Stage towards a readiness for the Junior School at the end of Year 2.  There is a big emphasis on building the main skills of phonics, reading, writing and number through focused and personalised teaching to develop children’s self-confidence and self-esteem, and so prepares them for future challenges.  We firmly believe in active learning.  In a maths lesson, you will probably see and hear us singing, chanting, dancing and keeping fit as we learn to count in ones, twos, fives and tens, or learn our number facts.  You may see us writing the answers to calculations on whiteboards, in the air, on each other’s backs:  anything to get the children active and learning.

Science, history, geography, RE, design technology, art and PSHE (personal, social, health and economic education) are usually taught through topic work which is geared towards children’s interests, and there are always memorable and lively activities designed to draw the children in to a deeper understanding.  How about learning about Florence Nightingale by taking part in your very own Crimean War?  Or learning about how to defend a castle at the same time as learning about measurement, by having an arrow-making and throwing competition or a cabbage throwing competition?  Or finding out so much about bees and flowers that you amaze the experts at your local nature reserve?  Just a few of the things our children have done in the past.

Physical Education is an important part of the curriculum, with a real drive towards the skills children will need to take part in sport in the future, as well as helping children to understand the need to be as fit and healthy as possible. Computing has a key role to play in preparing children for an ever increasing digital world.

Last, but by no means least, music and drama enrich our lives, and our children regularly have opportunities to write, learn and perform for themselves and for others.  They never cease to amaze us by what they can do if given the chance!