Key Stage 1 Experience (age 5-7)

Maths and analytical problem solving are fundamental to our children’s educational development. We have devised our own cumulative programme based on a specialist scheme of work, enhanced by a range of bespoke resources such as Numicon, Unifix and our interactive Avocor screens to help model abstract concepts. In order to explain to parents in our teaching methods, and enable them to support their children’s learning at home, we hold a KS1 maths curriculum evening in the first half of the autumn term.

We build on the strong reading skills developed through the systematic, synthetic phonic approach in the Reception Cycle and follow several reading schemes to broaden the children’s reading experience. We continue to regularly send home reading books and, on a daily basis, a contact book to keep parents fully informed of progress. We want all children to develop a love of reading and thus augment our schemes to include a range of genres to cater for all children’s preferences.

The children receive daily English lessons which are book-based, varied in engaging activates and encourage writing for a range of purposes. Spelling and grammar skills are embedded within lessons to allow for purposeful learning. Cursive handwriting is introduced in Year 1 with handwriting practised regularly. Beyond reading and writing, we focus on the children’s speaking and listening skills so that they become strong communicators.

Supported by our strong ethos, which values the contribution of all individuals and promotes self-respect and respect for others, we teach and promote PSHE through a spiral curriculum, in which pupils revisit themes each year, with a deeper level of demand and learning as pupils progress through the school. Our KS1 programme of study focuses on the three core themes of ‘Relationships’ (autumn), ‘Living in the Wider World’ (spring) and ‘Health and Wellbeing’ (summer). Our objective is that pupils:

• Develop self-confidence, resilience and responsibility
• Understand and make good decisions about their physical health, mental wellbeing and safety
• Explore their feelings and develop empathy towards and an understanding of others
• Develop the ability to form healthy relationships and communicate with others effectively
• Appreciate the diversity of individuals, families and cultures
• Develop an understanding of their social and cultural traditions and the role they play as active citizens

Science is best learnt through practical activities, and therefore we provide many opportunities for pupils to carry out simple experiments. We introduce the concept of scientific procedure and encourage the children to make their own predictions, observe closely and draw conclusions. They learn to record their findings and develop investigation and problem solving skills. Our woodland area provides a perfect safe outdoor environment in which the children can pursue their own explorations and scientific learning.

In KS1, our highly skilled specialist peripatetic teachers build on the strong foundations and relationships they established in the Reception Cycle. They deepen and extend the children’s skills and knowledge in physical education, dance, music and French, and are also highly involved with supporting our topic-based approach to learning.

We are mindful of the children’s significant physical development during their time with us. We therefore provide a broad array of movement and sport activities, and emphasise establishing positive attitudes towards physical education. The children have several sessions each week encompassing gym, dance, individual sports and a variety of team games.

Music plays an integral role in our curriculum. The voice is every child’s first instrument, and singing is developed extensively by our Director of Music Miss Cechova, who also teaches weekly lessons in the theory and appreciation of music. Regular recorder lessons are introduced from Year 1 by a specialist teacher. In addition, KS1 pupils can sign up, for a reasonable additional charge, for optional individual piano, cello and violin tuition delivered by excellent peripatetic teachers. This is a popular service through which we arrange to take the pupils out of their timetabled schedule for weekly 30-minute lessons during school hours.

Two French lessons per week ensure that the children’s conversational skills and vocabulary continue to build at a steady pace throughout KS1. Learning culminates in a short French performance for parents at the end of Year 2, where the children can demonstrate the application of their four years of education in the language.

On an ongoing basis, our teachers monitor and assess the children’s progress. If this indicates a possible area of need they involve one or both of our Learning Support teachers to jointly consider potential intervention opportunities. Parents are kept abreast of any concerns and discussions. They can also establish direct contact with the Learning Support team.

In addition, the Learning Support team proactively supports the KS1 teachers in deepening learning in small groups, where required. We particularly make use of this additional resource in the summer term of Year 1 and the autumn term of Year 2, ahead of the 7+ entrance exams.