Welcome to Year 1
Inspired to learn, explore and achieve
"Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I will learn.” - Benjamin Franklin
Our Ethos
In Year 1, we aim to inspire a love of learning while developing independence, curiosity and confidence. Our curriculum builds on the child-initiated learning experiences of EYFS and supports children as they transition into more structured learning.
We value children’s ideas, interests and curiosity and encourage them to take an active role in their learning. Classrooms are stimulating learning environments where children are encouraged to ask questions, explore ideas and develop independence.
Our Year 1 and Year 2 classes are organised as mixed-age classes. This means that children may be taught in a class with a mix of Year 1 and Year 2 pupils, or at times in a class made up of a single year group, depending on cohort organisation.
The curriculum is carefully planned over a two-year cycle to ensure full coverage of the National Curriculum. This means that all children access the same high-quality learning, with knowledge and skills building progressively over time, regardless of the class they are in.
Our Ethos
In Year 1, we aim to inspire a love of learning while developing independence, curiosity and confidence. Our curriculum builds on the child-initiated learning experiences of EYFS and supports children as they transition into more structured learning.
We value children’s ideas, interests and curiosity and encourage them to take an active role in their learning. Classrooms are stimulating learning environments where children are encouraged to ask questions, explore ideas and develop independence.
Our Year 1 and Year 2 classes are organised as mixed-age classes. This means that children may be taught in a class with a mix of Year 1 and Year 2 pupils, or at times in a class made up of a single year group, depending on cohort organisation.
The curriculum is carefully planned over a two-year cycle to ensure full coverage of the National Curriculum. This means that all children access the same high-quality learning, with knowledge and skills building progressively over time, regardless of the class they are in.
Creative Learning
Our Year 1 curriculum builds on the play-based ethos of the Early Years. Through carefully planned provision and creative learning opportunities, children can practise new skills, explore ideas and consolidate their learning through repetition and collaborative play.
These opportunities help develop communication, problem-solving and social skills while supporting children to become confident and independent learners.
Our Year 1 curriculum builds on the play-based ethos of the Early Years. Through carefully planned provision and creative learning opportunities, children can practise new skills, explore ideas and consolidate their learning through repetition and collaborative play.
These opportunities help develop communication, problem-solving and social skills while supporting children to become confident and independent learners.
Phonics
Phonics is the cornerstone of all our learning in Year 1. Children take part in daily phonics lessons using the Little Wandle programme, which provides fun, fast-paced sessions to develop decoding and early reading skills.
If a child has gaps in their phonic knowledge, they will take part in Daily Keep Up sessions with a trained member of staff to ensure they remain confident and successful in their learning.
Phonics is the cornerstone of all our learning in Year 1. Children take part in daily phonics lessons using the Little Wandle programme, which provides fun, fast-paced sessions to develop decoding and early reading skills.
If a child has gaps in their phonic knowledge, they will take part in Daily Keep Up sessions with a trained member of staff to ensure they remain confident and successful in their learning.
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Reading
Reading is the gateway to all learning. Developing strong reading skills allows children to access the wider curriculum, build vocabulary and develop a lifelong love of books. Small Group Reading Reading is at the heart of our curriculum. Children take part in three small group reading sessions each week using Little Wandle books. Children take part in three small group reading sessions each week using Little Wandle Phonics books. These sessions focus on:
If you would like to read more with your child at home, please see suggested texts for a child in Year 1 here: For early chapter books for pupils in KS1, please see here: Reading for pleasure Reading for pleasure is strongly encouraged. Children enjoy accessing the reading area during creative learning and listening to stories read aloud each day. Sharing books at home with an adult also allows children to experience rich language and vocabulary. |
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Writing
In Year 1 we focus on building strong foundations for writing. Children develop correct pencil grip, secure letter formation and confidence when writing sentences and begin to write on handwriting lines. If a child is experiencing any barriers to achieving this, they will engage in daily, high quality intervention to accelerate their progress. Once children have mastered the transcription process, we begin to develop their grammar, sentences and composition . We do this by using high quality texts to inspire writing in a range of genres. We love using our ‘Mighty Writer’ to build and develop our ideas into sentences. The Mighty Writer is a tactile resource which provides a visual and engaging experience. Through collaboration and repetition children embed sentences orally which are then confidently transferred into writing. We use colourful semantics alongside this to help children identify the parts of a sentence and play around with language. |
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Mathematics
n Year 1, children build on their Early Years mathematical foundations using the White Rose Maths approach.
Learning is carefully structured in small steps to develop:
Children explore numbers to 100, place value, addition and subtraction, and use practical resources to support their understanding.
Children also access DoodleMaths at home for short bursts of personalised practice. We encourage children to complete DoodleMaths at least four times a week.
Useful Links
nrich.maths.org provides free rich tasks, problem‐solving, puzzles etc. for ages 3-18. Great for building mathematical thinking for all ages.
mathszone.co.uk offers a wide variety of interactive maths games & problem solving, covering tables, geometry, fractions, etc. Useful across Reception, KS1 and KS2.
ICT Games includes games linked to KS1 & KS2 curriculums; with many simpler ones for younger children too.
n Year 1, children build on their Early Years mathematical foundations using the White Rose Maths approach.
Learning is carefully structured in small steps to develop:
- fluency
- reasoning
- problem solving
Children explore numbers to 100, place value, addition and subtraction, and use practical resources to support their understanding.
Children also access DoodleMaths at home for short bursts of personalised practice. We encourage children to complete DoodleMaths at least four times a week.
Useful Links
nrich.maths.org provides free rich tasks, problem‐solving, puzzles etc. for ages 3-18. Great for building mathematical thinking for all ages.
mathszone.co.uk offers a wide variety of interactive maths games & problem solving, covering tables, geometry, fractions, etc. Useful across Reception, KS1 and KS2.
ICT Games includes games linked to KS1 & KS2 curriculums; with many simpler ones for younger children too.
Year 1 Maths Curriculum Map
Wider Curriculum
Our curriculum is designed to develop the whole child and nurture a wide range of talents and interests. Through trips, visitors and engaging topics, children experience a broad and balanced curriculum.
Learning is enriched through practical experiences and discussion, helping pupils develop their cultural capital and understanding of the world around them.
Our curriculum is designed to develop the whole child and nurture a wide range of talents and interests. Through trips, visitors and engaging topics, children experience a broad and balanced curriculum.
Learning is enriched through practical experiences and discussion, helping pupils develop their cultural capital and understanding of the world around them.
Floorbooks
We take great pride in our Floorbook work. Floorbooks help children recall prior learning and make knowledge “sticky”. Pupils enjoy sharing their Floorbooks with visitors and parents and can often recall learning from many months earlier.
We take great pride in our Floorbook work. Floorbooks help children recall prior learning and make knowledge “sticky”. Pupils enjoy sharing their Floorbooks with visitors and parents and can often recall learning from many months earlier.
Supporting All Learners
At Elloughton Primary School, we recognise that children develop at different rates and may require different levels of support or challenge.
Teachers carefully scaffold learning to support pupils who need additional guidance while also providing opportunities for deeper thinking and challenge for those ready to extend their learning.
Our aim is for every child to feel confident, supported and successful in their learning.
Working in Partnership with Parents
We value strong partnerships with families and encourage parents to support learning at home.
At least four times a week, children should:
Parents and carers are invited to take part in special events and activities throughout the year to celebrate and support children’s learning.
At Elloughton Primary School, we recognise that children develop at different rates and may require different levels of support or challenge.
Teachers carefully scaffold learning to support pupils who need additional guidance while also providing opportunities for deeper thinking and challenge for those ready to extend their learning.
Our aim is for every child to feel confident, supported and successful in their learning.
Working in Partnership with Parents
We value strong partnerships with families and encourage parents to support learning at home.
At least four times a week, children should:
- read at home
- practise words from phonics lessons sent home
- access DoodleMaths
Parents and carers are invited to take part in special events and activities throughout the year to celebrate and support children’s learning.
Online Safety
We regularly teach children the importance of staying safe online. Through lessons and discussions, pupils learn how to make safe choices and understand how to respond if something online worries them.
We also take part in Safer Internet Day each year to help children develop the skills and confidence needed to navigate the online world safely.
By clicking on the link below you will see more about Internet Safety at Elloughton.
We regularly teach children the importance of staying safe online. Through lessons and discussions, pupils learn how to make safe choices and understand how to respond if something online worries them.
We also take part in Safer Internet Day each year to help children develop the skills and confidence needed to navigate the online world safely.
By clicking on the link below you will see more about Internet Safety at Elloughton.
