Key Stage 1
Ages 5-7 (School Years 1- 2)
In the National Curriculum, Key Stage 1 (KS1) covers years 1 and 2, and Key Stage 2 (KS2) covers years 3 to 6. The core subjects are literacy and numeracy and the children have daily lessons in each of these.
The Literacy Strategy
Children receive daily literacy teaching that involves a number of activities to help them to read and write. Parents are encouraged to support this at home. This includes daily set-based lessons as well as additional work in class with their class teacher.
Phonics continues to be a core part of literacy teaching throughout KS1 to ensure pupils have a sound grasp of letters, their sounds, blends and spelling patterns. This helps pupils to develop their reading skills.
The Numeracy Strategy
Children receive a daily mathematics lesson which develops their thinking and number skills. Parents are encouraged to get involved as much as they wish. As with Literacy this is taught daily in sets-based lessons and teachers incorporate aspects of mathematics in other lessons such as History or Geography.
By the end of KS1, children will have reached levels 2 or 3 of the National Curriculum. Children’s attainment levels are assessed through KS1 National Tests (known as SATs).
All children in Key Stage 1 are taught the following national curriculum subjects:
- English
- Mathematics
- Science
- Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
- Design and Technology
- History
- Geography
- Art and Design
- Music
- Physical Education (games, dance, gymnastics)
- Religious Education
- PSHE
Year 1 Pupils also receive lessons in French, Dance and Singing.
Year 2 Pupils also receive lessons in French, Dance, Reasoning and Singing.
Pupils are assessed at the end of Year 2 when most are 7 years old when they take short tests in reading, writting and maths; the marks are then sent to parents on their children’s reports.
