Welcome to Year 1
Welcome to Year 1 at Haddenham Community Infant School!
Year 1 is an exciting year of transition. We recognise that our children are moving from the Early Years Foundation Stage into Key Stage 1, and we have therefore designed our Year 1 curriculum to build carefully on the strong foundations developed in Reception.
At the beginning of Year 1, our timetable has many similarities to Reception. Children have regular opportunities to explore, investigate, play, talk, create and develop relationships with their peers and adults. These opportunities are purposeful and challenging, with carefully planned enhancements and adult interactions supporting children to apply and develop the knowledge and skills from the National Curriculum.
Our aim is for children to become confident, independent and curious learners who are excited to find out more about the world around them.
Learning through Continuous Provision
Continuous provision is an important part of our Year 1 curriculum. Our indoor and outdoor environments provide children with opportunities to practise, revisit and apply their learning through purposeful play and exploration.
Our provision includes:
- Home corners and imaginative play
- Construction and small world
- Creative and craft areas
- Writing areas
- Reading nooks
- Maths areas
- Water exploration
- Mud kitchens
- Investigation stations
- Fine motor activities
- Junk modelling
- Outdoor exploration
Children are encouraged to make choices, solve problems, communicate their ideas and work collaboratively. Adults carefully observe, question, model language and introduce new vocabulary to deepen children's thinking.
Mathematics
In Year 1, we build on the mathematical foundations developed in Reception through our work with Karen Wilding and the Early Years approach to mathematics.
We follow the NCETM materials and small steps to ensure that children develop a deep and connected understanding of the Year 1 National Curriculum.
We use a wide range of practical resources and representations, including manipulatives, ten frames, counters and images, helping children to develop secure conceptual understanding before moving towards more abstract representations.
Alongside our daily mathematics teaching, children have three Mastering Number sessions each week. These sessions provide additional opportunities to develop number sense, composition and fluency, supporting children to become increasingly confident and efficient with number.
Mathematical learning is also woven throughout our continuous provision. Children are encouraged to use mathematics in meaningful contexts such as construction, cooking, outdoor learning, measuring, sorting, counting and problem solving.
Our aim is to develop children who are not only able to calculate, but who can explain their thinking, make connections, solve problems and talk confidently about mathematics.
English and Reading
Drawing Club
During the first term, we continue our successful Drawing Club approach from Reception. Drawing Club provides an exciting and imaginative way for children to develop their vocabulary, storytelling and early writing skills.
Children explore a wide range of engaging stories and texts and are encouraged to use their imagination to develop characters, settings and ideas. They learn new vocabulary and have opportunities to talk, draw, write and create in response to the stories they encounter.
This familiar approach provides a positive bridge between Reception and Year 1 and helps children to develop confidence and enjoyment in writing.
Curious Quest
As the year progresses, we transition into Curious Quest, where children's creativity and curiosity continue to drive their learning.
Children explore a broad range of high-quality texts and are encouraged to develop their own ideas, secret codes, characters and adventures. Through these exciting experiences, children develop the writing skills and knowledge needed to meet the expectations of the Year 1 National Curriculum.
We place a strong emphasis on vocabulary development. Children encounter new and ambitious vocabulary through stories, discussion and carefully planned activities. We encourage children to use new words in their speaking and writing so that their vocabulary becomes increasingly rich and precise.
We also dedicate time to exploring a text from CLPE, giving children the opportunity to experience high-quality children's literature and develop their understanding of language, story and writing.
Phonics
Children have daily phonics lessons using Supersonic Phonic Friends. These sessions provide a systematic and consistent approach to phonics, supporting children to develop secure knowledge of sounds and graphemes and increasing confidence in reading and spelling.
Phonics is also reinforced throughout the school day, with children encouraged to apply their knowledge when reading and writing independently.
Reading for Pleasure
We want every child to develop a love of reading. Children have regular opportunities to listen to and enjoy stories, explore books independently and share books with adults and their friends.
Our reading nooks and continuous provision provide inviting spaces where children can revisit familiar texts, explore new books and develop their independence as readers.
The Wider Curriculum
Our continuous provision provides meaningful opportunities for children to develop knowledge and skills across the wider National Curriculum.
Through carefully planned experiences and enhancements, children develop their understanding of:
- Science – investigating, observing, questioning and finding out about the world around them.
- Art and Design – exploring materials, techniques, colour, texture and creativity.
- Design and Technology – designing, making, evaluating and solving practical problems.
- Computing – developing early digital skills, computational thinking and understanding of technology.
- History and Geography – developing an understanding of people, places, events and the world around us.
- PSHE and Relationships – developing independence, resilience, friendships and an understanding of themselves and others.
These areas are often introduced through engaging topic-based learning and then revisited within continuous provision. This allows children to apply their knowledge in different contexts rather than simply learning it once and moving on.
Developing Independent Learners
A key focus throughout Year 1 is developing children's independence and confidence as learners.
We encourage children to:
- make purposeful choices
- talk about their learning
- work collaboratively
- solve problems
- persevere when something is challenging
- revisit and improve their ideas
- use resources independently
- ask questions
- explain their thinking
- apply what they have learned in new situations.
Adults play an important role in this process. We carefully balance child-initiated exploration with purposeful adult interaction, knowing when to step in to model, question, teach or introduce new vocabulary and when to allow children the space to explore and develop their own ideas.
