Key Stage One (Year 1 and 2)

At Barnes Infant Academy in Year One and Year Two we teach the National Curriculum which consists of the following subjects:

English

English within school covers the development of children’s spoken language, reading, writing, phonics and spelling skills.

The children’s learning is planned using the National Curriculum and interests of the children as a hook to learning. Within writing we use the ‘Text Types and Progression Document‘ and Medium term Planning documents provided by Sunderland LA to provide a breakdown that ensure progression and challenge across Year One and Year Two.

Within Reading we used the Reading Long Term Plan provided by Sunderland LEA to structure our Reading curriculum. Alongside this the ‘Text Types and Progression Document’ provides a breakdown of Reading coverage that ensures progression and challenge across Year One and Year Two.

The Academy also follows the Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised phonics scheme. This scheme includes a requirement for all children in Reception and Year One to read phonically decodable reading books that are consistent with their level of phonic understanding, three times a week. Each of the three weekly sessions focuses on a different element of reading – decoding, prosody and comprehension. Once children have a complete understanding of Phase 5 phonics and have passed the phonics screening check they move onto a wider range of reading books.

The school uses the Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised phonic scheme to structure all phonics sessions across the school. Spelling within Year One is linked to this while No Nonsense Spelling is used within Year Two. The school uses Letter Join to develop handwriting across the school.

Mathematics

In mathematics we follow a mastery approach to teaching and learning. ‘Mastering maths’ means acquiring a deep, long-term, secure and adaptable understanding of the subject. To underpin this approach the children use a wide range of resources, draw diagrams and record using numbers when exploring each area of mathematics (such as addition). This is known as the Concrete, Pictorial, Abstract (CPA) approach. The CPA approach allows children to make links between their experiences using practical apparatus, using drawings and using more abstract approaches.

Fluency, problem solving and reasoning are at the heart of our curriculum and children are frequently given the opportunity to solve a wide and varied range of problems. Lessons are structured so that children have daily opportunities to discuss their learning, acknowledging that children of all ages can use appropriate but precise mathematical vocabulary.

To help support the delivery of the 2014 National Curriculum for Mathematics teachers refer to schemes of work such as the White Rose Hub and Inspire Maths to tailor teaching to the specific needs of the class, groups and individuals.

Inspire Maths is a Singapore approach to teaching maths which is based upon the mastery approach. It aims to teach children to a greater depth and meet the high expectations of the National Curriculum.

Please click on the links below for further information.

Science

Barnes Infant Academy follows the National Curriculum and the Early Years Foundation Stage Framework through the teaching and learning of Science and will deliver the aims, objectives and content therein.

Science will be incorporated into the curriculum in a variety of ways, both as a separate subject and as part of other subjects linked to the development of scientific skills, knowledge and understanding. Each year group considers the science entitlement before planning the teaching and learning of the relevant programmes of study.

Science in the early stages of a child’s life arises from active exploration of the environment. Science is an essentially practical subject. Work should be child centred and lead to active, practical investigation. This will result in a self-motivation curiosity and desire to ask questions in the context of individual and co-operative group work.

Please click on the links below for more information:

Foundation Subjects

More information

If you would like any further information regarding the curriculum taught within Key Stage One, please click on the links within this text. Any further information can be obtained from Miss Young, the Assistant Head Teacher, with responsibility for Key Stage One.