Key Stage 1

In EYFS and Key Stage 1, phonics is taught using a structured and creative approach based on letters and sounds in preparation for the National Phonics Screening Test in the summer term in year 1.

As pupils move from year 1 into year 2 and beyond, other skills such as spelling, punctuation and grammar (SPAG), alongside some comprehension aspects, will have discrete sessions allocated. Writing and genre types in reading will be taught through the themes.

Literacy is fully embedded into our thematic curriculum to provide authentic opportunities to apply knowledge and skills that children learn for a real purpose. In KS1 the purposes for writing focus on ‘Writing to Entertain’ and ‘Writing to Inform’. We have inspirational writing opportunities interwoven through our themes and pupils get a chance to develop their literacy skills across all aspects of the curriculum.

We increase confidence and deepen understanding in KS1 with an emphasis on building a solid foundation for all pupils. Research suggests that once children fall behind, they continue to do so throughout their education. Our curriculum is therefore designed to allow pupils to learn concepts in greater depth (mastery approach). This means designing sequences of lessons that enable pupils to demonstrate not just that they have superficial knowledge of a concept, but that they can apply the knowledge they learn in different situations and can make links between different areas of mathematics.

Children’s understanding and fluency in mathematics is strengthened if they experience concrete and pictorial representations of a concept during a lesson. Children across Key Stage 1 will use a variety of equipment such as pegs, counters, ten frames, multilink, Numicon shapes and number rods to support their learning.

We also recognise that spending a short time every day on rapid recall of number facts, such as basic number bonds to five or ten and times table facts, quickly leads to improved fluency. This is not meaningless rote learning; rather this is an important step to developing understanding through identifying patterns and relationships between the tables (for example, that the products in the 4× table are double the products in the 2× table).

A theme lasts up to half a term, and starts with an Excite experience, which the pupils use as a hook to engage them and base their learning on. Our underpinning philosophy is that they learn better in context rather than studying a single subject in isolation.

Science knowledge and skills are delivered through the E3L themes, some of which are specifically science focused such as ‘Superheroes’ and ‘Wiggle and Crawl’. We also have an extra emphasis on practical science through additional practical science investigations. We ensure coverage of the science programme of study across each year group for both the knowledge aspects of science as well as practical investigation types.

All themes have within them certain key characteristics. A large piece of extended writing, time for developing reading, and a number of skills that the pupils will develop. A pupil can produce a variety of outputs such as an animated ‘Wanted Poster’ in the ‘Street Detectives’ theme in year 1 or a recipe for a class book that will be printed in the ‘Muck, Mess and Mixtures’ theme in year 2.

Our Immersive Room will also provide learners with opportunities to visit and experience places and times in a way that they are unable to do in a standard primary school and will enhance the themes and the learning that takes place. Themes such as ‘Land Ahoy’, ‘Dinosaur Planet’ and ‘Enchanted Woodland’ will all benefit from them having carefully crafted lessons in this special learning space.