Year 1
What irresistible learning looks like in Year 1
We have developed our approach in Year 1 to a learning through play approach. We are confident that young children learn best through play and exploration. Our new approach in year 1 builds on the excellent foundations established in our Reception year, creating an environment where children and adults are supported and given the time to think, explore, and grow
Teaching in this way fosters close relationships, a strong sense of well-being, and an increased enthusiasm for learning across our school community.
Our exciting, creative, and context specific curriculum enables children to apply skills and knowledge meaningfully, allowing them to build on what they have already learned and identify what they need to learn next to succeed.
We have a strong emphasis on a sense of belonging and representation ensuring our children can see themselves in the role models, literature and
resources used to facilitate their learning. Every day we encourage and support our children to be designers, artists, writers, scientists, musicians, mathematicians, storytellers, athletes, geographers, historians and much more. Through carefully planned, play-based experiences, children consolidate their knowledge and understanding while developing independence and resilience. Our indoor and outdoor environments are full of carefully chosen activities which keep children engaged, motivated, and eager to take on new challenges.
Our curriculum launches children into fun, collaborative and curiosity led learning. This starts quite literally with our space topic! We blast off into the history of the moon landing, build rockets and take a journey to infinity and beyond! Towards Christmas, we look at seasons and children have the opportunity to write poems and take part in a winter concert.
In the spring term, we climb a beanstalk and discover what is waiting for us at the top. We look at traditional tales and even write one of our own with a wicked villain! We discover brilliant Brighton and learn about the history in the local area, finishing with a trip to jubilee library. We will be dressed as our favourite book characters of course!
Our much-loved castles topic begins in the summer term, where we take a day trip to Lewes castle to take part in wonderful workshops bringing the past to life. We build cardboard castles with functional drawbridges in DT and write leaflets containing all the facts we have learnt in history and literacy.
Maths is at the forefront of all our learning and the children enjoy learning how to use a range of equipment and taking part in practical investigations, games and daily mastery lessons.
The year ends with our topic on toys, which includes visits from family members to show precious artefacts and a trip to Brighton toy museum.