St Giles Church of England Primary School
Key Stage 1
Good quality transition takes place in the summer term between Foundation Stage and Year 1, and high quality teaching across KS1 and EYFS has ensured good standards over time and rising trends. Classes are split into single age classes in Y1 and in Y2, with Y1/2 pupils in the same class in a third class. In the mixed age class, Y1 pupils are exposed to the Y2 curriculum, and Y2 pupils can consolidate learning from Y1, although the provision for both cohorts is often taught separately within each class (see below for more detail). KS1 staff or any of the leadership team can elaborate on this if parents would like further details on how we do this. Year 2 pupils are prepared for life in Key Stage 2, and all pupils are tested and teacher assessed every term.
Phonics is a major part of teaching in KS1. There is lots of information about this on our Phonics page. See further down the page for how you can help with this crucial skill at home - parental support makes a HUGE difference in this area!
KS1 at St Giles C of E Primary School
Our Key Stage 1 phase is organised into three classes: a Year 1 class, a Year 2 class and a mixed Year 1/2 class. As a team, we work closely together to design a curriculum and provision that are carefully tailored to the needs of our children.
The School Day
All KS1 classes follow a weekly timetable that includes daily Phonics, Maths and English, as well as Science or Foundation Subject lessons. Each morning, our children join whole‑school worship and take part in ‘Picture News’ or ‘Spiritual Journal’ worship within their classrooms on Wednesdays.
Children enjoy a 15‑minute morning break and a healthy snack, which can be provided by school or brought from home. Lunchtimes are staggered by five minutes to support a calm transition. Classes may also take a 10‑minute afternoon brain break when needed.
Maths, English and Phonics
Maths, English and Phonics are taught daily, usually in the morning.
- Phonics is taught using Little Wandle.
- Maths is supported by the White Rose scheme.
- English is taught through The St Giles Way curriculum.
Lessons are adapted to meet the needs of all learners, and oracy opportunities are planned into every session as part of our whole‑school focus.
English lessons are planned across the phase and follow a progressive sequence. High‑quality texts underpin our teaching as children move through immersion, analysis, skills development, planning, writing, editing and presenting.
Each class completes a reading‑based lesson every Friday. Until the end of the Spring Term, these lessons focus on our ‘Super Six’ books, which are also shared during class story time to develop vocabulary and comprehension. Books are rotated so all classes experience a wide range of texts. In the Summer Term, teachers select a longer chapter book suited to their class’s interests and comprehension levels.
Science and the Foundation Subjects
Science and Foundation Subjects are also planned as a phase. We follow a two‑year cycle to ensure that all children experience the full Year 1 and Year 2 curriculum in depth. Children are given opportunities to develop a wide range of skills and apply their learning in different contexts and lessons are adapted to ensure that all children feel supported, confident and successful.
The Classroom Set-Up
Although each classroom looks slightly different due to the design of the phase, we are confident that our set‑up ensures every child feels a strong sense of belonging and is able to achieve across the curriculum.
Each week, the KS1 team meets to review and enhance our provision. We design a range of classroom challenges that complement our more formal teaching. These include:
- a writing challenge
- a maths challenge
- a phonics or reading challenge
- an investigation or knowledge‑based challenge
- a creative challenge
These challenges link directly to our half‑termly curriculum planning.
Willow Class (Year 1)
Children work with an adult in groups of around ten while others access the planned challenges in the classroom and outdoor area. Some lessons, such as phonics or handwriting, are taught as a whole class. Teachers may also choose whole‑class teaching for other subjects when appropriate.
Beech Class (Mixed Year 1 & 2)
Children are taught Maths and English in their year groups which allows for an adult to support around 15 children at a time. For foundation subjects and Science, the teacher works with small groups while the rest of the class engages with their challenges. As with Willow Class, some lessons are taught as a whole class.
Sycamore Class (Year 2)
Maths and English are taught as whole‑class lessons. Some Foundation Subjects are also taught as a whole class, while others are delivered in groups, with Year 2 children accessing challenge activities within the lesson.
Our Approach
Active and practical sessions and oracy‑rich activities are woven throughout our curriculum to ensure it is broad, balanced and engaging. We aim to build strong foundations for future learning.
We are extremely proud of our challenge‑based provision and our mixed‑class phase design. We believe this approach enables children to thrive, develop their interests, strengthen teamwork and communication, and build on previously taught skills and knowledge within an environment that supports them.
Reading at home - parents' role:
- We teach the children to decode, and then have 3 Reading Practice sessions in groups every week, where children read the same 'matched-decodable' book as a group each session, and discuss it with an adult.
- We then send this book home. Your child should be at least 90% fluent with this book. Let them read it to you and build up to 100% fluency. Praise them, encourage them, it's them 'showing off' to you how well they can read, so the book should appear to be 'easy' to read for them. Read it to mum, dad, sister, nan, and whoever else they can!
- We will also send home a book for sharing. This is a book they have chosen that interests them - they might not be able to read all the words, so help them, read it to them, talk about it, explain what any unfamiliar words mean, and build up a love of reading with them.
- These two very separate approaches will hugely help them - decoding on their own with the Big Cat decodable book, and Reading for Pleasure with the book for sharing - 5 minutes a day, little and often, or more if you have time - thank you!
Please also see the 'Helping your Child to Learn' page under the Parents banner on this website for further ways to support your child at home.
Y1 Reading list - suggested books
Y2 Reading list - suggested books
