Year 1

Discover the challenges our Year 1 pupils enjoy

Leaving Reception behind and moving into Year 1 can feel like a big step for both children and their parents. Your child’s Year 1 teacher is there to make it easier for everyone. To ensure that the transition from the Early Years into Year 1 is smooth, we begin in September with a play-based approach to learning that feels familiar to our children. Our Year 1 pupils continue to enjoy access to an outdoor area, role-play, and sensory activities which develop fine and gross motor skills as well as much more. This allows them to explore, discover and develop in their own way.

Year 1 key information

Learning and curriculum

As the children begin their first year of the National Curriculum, your child’s day will become a little more structured than it was in Reception. They will take part in daily phonics, English and maths lessons as well as exploring foundation subjects such as history, geography, science and computing. We follow Read Write Inc Phonics to teach reading and writing.

They will do some whole class learning at desks, but they will also learn in a variety of ways in groups, on the carpet, inside and outside and using the rich resources available in our locality.

Year 1 Overview (PDF)

Assessments

Formative assessments are made throughout the year and summative assessments are completed at the end of each term or topic. This information will be shared with parents by your child’s teacher and their progress and targets discussed at our October and February Parents’ evenings. You will also receive a written report detailing their end of year outcomes in July.

The Year 1 phonics screening check, taken by all Year 1 pupils in early June, is a statutory assessment. The assessment is carried out 1:1 with the class teacher in a relaxed, calm environment. Children are familiar with the assessment, as they will have practised the skills necessary to decode unfamiliar words throughout Reception and Year 1. Teachers use the information to ensure that children are making sufficient progress with their phonic skills, as this is integral to supporting pupils to become fluent readers who can enjoy reading for pleasure and to learn. The results of the check will be included in your child’s summer term report.