THE SUPER ONES (Year 1)
At the start of every academic year, each class meets their new teacher and as a team, they decide on what their class name is going to be for that year. We feel that giving the children collective ownership over their class name helps to foster a strong sense of belonging and pride in their team. This year, our Year 1 class are the...
Throughout the year, children in Year 1 enjoy a rich and varied curriculum that grows their confidence, curiosity, and creativity across all subjects. In Autumn 1, they begin by settling into school routines while exploring seasonal changes in Science and learning foundational writing and maths skills. They create bee‑bot maps in Computing, discover their local area in Geography, and explore creation stories in RE. PSHE focuses on healthy habits, while PE introduces coordination and balance. Music kicks off with an introduction to pulse, rhythm, and pitch through Hey You!.
As Autumn 2 arrives, children continue developing their reading and writing through festive and imaginative texts. In Science, they learn about the human body and senses, while in History they begin thinking about their own personal chronology. Geography work pauses this half‑term, but Art focuses on drawing inspired by artists like Bridget Riley and Paul Klee. Computing turns them into “TV chefs” as they film themselves preparing snacks, and RE explores different ideas of what God might look like. They also prepare for the Christmas nativity and enjoy activities with visiting grandparents. PSHE helps them appreciate difference and diversity, and PE combines dynamic balance with dance linked to fireworks. Music becomes lively with reggae and rap in Rhythm in the Way We Walk.
During Spring 1, children learn to group animals in Science and explore their characteristics. They return to map work in Geography, studying UK weather and seasons. Writing opportunities expand to include letters, posters, and simple reports, while Maths revisits place value and extends addition and subtraction. They try digital art in Computing, creating electronic illustrations, and explore emotions in PSHE. In RE, children consider the roles they believe God plays. Music introduces a range of global styles in In the Groove, and PE focuses on cognitive movement skills.
In Spring 2, children begin a Materials topic in Science, comparing and testing different everyday materials. In Geography, they continue work on UK weather and mapping, while in History they explore how toys have changed over time, sequencing old and new toys. Writing centres on story maps, character descriptions, and creative retelling. They become “publishers” in Computing, designing multimedia e‑books, and develop their understanding of relationships in PSHE. RE explores caring for the world, including links to Easter. Art moves into sculpture, where children experiment with paper and card to create 3D structures. In PE, they practise ball skills and partner balances, and in Music they enjoy the Bossa Nova style in Round and Round.
As Summer 1 begins, Science continues with a deeper look at materials through practical investigations. Geography takes children on a journey to Shanghai as they compare physical and human features with those in their own local area. Writing includes instructions, character descriptions, and simple comic strips. Maths covers multiplication, division, fractions, and positional language. In Computing, children experiment with digital sound, loops, and rhythms. PSHE focuses on being responsible, while RE looks at ceremonies that celebrate new babies. Children explore colour mixing in Art, create their own smoothies (and tasting sessions!) in Design and Technology, and practise athletics in PE. Music invites imaginative thinking with the Your Imagination unit.
Finally, in Summer 2, children study plants in Science, learning to identify common plants, trees, and their basic structures. History transports them into the world of explorers and how such figures have shaped our understanding of the world. Writing this term includes diaries, speech bubbles, sequencing events, and new story versions. In Computing they become “detectives”, learning about data, tables and simple databases. PSHE explores bullying and how to seek help, while RE encourages children to think about kindness and caring for others. In Art, children continue painting and mixed media work, while PE focuses on agility and balance ahead of sports day. Music ends with Reflect, Rewind & Replay, consolidating musical learning through a classical lens. A highlight of this term is the eco bee‑hive visit and sharing anti‑bullying messages in their mini production.
