Grove Primary School

As children progress into Year 1, they will be introduced to a new curriculum that takes the next step in terms of what they have experienced so far in the Early Years. There is more structure, with lessons taking place in a more formal setting rather than the focus on play-based learning that they will know from their time in Nursery and Reception. Our aim during this transition is supporting your child so that they can continue to thrive, enjoy and become confident in this new environment. Throughout Year 1, a focus remains on developing children’s reading skills and phonetical understanding. They will begin to learn new sounds and use these to read more words, read trickier words by sight and build up their confidence when reading books. During Year 1, children complete the Phonics Screening Check, a statutory test of their phonetical understanding. Alongside this focus on early reading, children will be encouraged to use these skills and apply them to their writing, allowing them to develop this key skill as well. Alongside this, children will also have many other opportunities across the curriculum to explore, interact with and enjoy a wide range of topics. We also ensure there are still plenty of opportunities for learning to take place outside of the classroom, including a number of educational visits for the children to enjoy.