Year 1

Welcome to Year 1!

Here you will find a vibrant and creative curriculum designed to spark curiosity and a love for learning. Our thematic approach links core subjects such as Literacy, Science and History to exciting topics, ensuring that every child is engaged and inspired throughout the academic year. Our goal is to foster a classroom where every child feels like a “hero”, whether they are saving the planet, exploring the moon, or mastering their phonics!

In Year 1, we allow children to explore their learning in a wide range of engaging and meaningful ways. Our topics are brought to life through hands-on activities, creative experiences, and opportunities for both independent and collaborative learning. Children explore their learning through role-play, construction, art, small world play, problem-solving challenges, and outdoor learning, helping them to deepen their understanding and develop key skills across the curriculum.

We begin the year by stepping into nature through the eyes of classic fairy tale characters. Our children are then empowered to become “planet protectors” by learning about sustainability and key figures such as Greta Thunberg. Later in the year, we rocket into history to learn about the incredible journeys of Mae Jemison and Neil Armstrong. We compare the past and present by exploring how toys have changed over generations and conduct a local history study celebrating the athletes and legacy of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. We finish the year by travelling to the seaside, exploring the human and physical geography of the UK coastline, and learning about ocean conservation.

Our writing is inspired by a “Power of Reading” (POR) approach. Using high-quality texts, children develop their skills through character descriptions, newspaper reports, biographies, and creative storytelling. We travel to the seaside with Clem and Crab, learn how we can conserve our environment with 10 Things I Can Do to Help My World, and journey into space with Whatever Next!. We place a strong emphasis on oracy, encouraging children to participate in debates, performance poetry, and role-play to build confidence in speaking and listening.

In Maths, our Year 1 journey focuses on building a deep understanding of numbers from 1–100. We explore addition and subtraction, geometry (shapes and patterns), measurement (length, mass, and volume), and introduce concepts such as fractions and money through hands-on learning.

Over the year, pupils develop their knowledge and skills across the wider curriculum. From building moving toys and rockets in Design Technology to working with clay and watercolours in Art, children are encouraged to express themselves creatively. In Computing, pupils begin their journey into coding using Scratch and Bee-Bots, while also learning vital e-safety skills. We also develop young scientists as children engage in ‘Observation Over Time’ and ‘Identifying and Classifying’.

We believe that experiences beyond the classroom are crucial in bringing learning to life. Throughout Year 1, pupils experience memorable trips and workshops such as The Ugly Duckling theatre production, a Chertsey Museum Toy Workshop, a Space Workshop, and a highlight of the Year 1 calendar — our seaside trip to Littlehampton.

Throughout Years 1–6, learning is focused on mastering the end-of-year objectives set out in the 2014 National Curriculum. In Years 1 and 2, children follow the Key Stage 1 programmes of study, and in Years 3, 4, 5 and 6 they follow the Key Stage 2 programmes. The National Curriculum for both key stages consists of the core subjects: Mathematics, English, Science, and Computing; and the foundation subjects: History, Geography, Design and Technology, Art and Design, Music, P.E., and RaWV (Religion and World Views).

We have ensured that the knowledge and skills pupils learn in Year 1 build on prior knowledge and prepare them for their next stage of learning. All learning can be found on the Curriculum Web (updated each half term) and in the Curriculum Overview for the entire academic year. Our Knowledge Organisers show the key knowledge children will be learning across our curriculum themes.