Key Stage 1
Key Stage 1 refers to children in Years 1 and 2.
We have ensured that all skills from the National Curriculum are interwoven throughout the core subjects, Maths, English and Science, as well as the foundation subjects throughout the year.
Maths
In Years 1 and 2, we use ‘Maths No Problem’ along with elements from White Rose Maths, which allows for depth of understanding in the key concepts of Maths. Maths teaching is enhanced across the school through the use of regular maths meetings, interventions and boosters which allow for rehearsal and consolidation of maths facts. Children are provided with a log in to Mathletics to supplement their Maths learning at home.
English
Reading
Children are taught to decode text and read for meaning through a number of opportunities during their day to day life at school. From Reception to Year 1 all children learn to decode text through phonics. From Year 2, children are able to hone their comprehension and inference skills through daily skills lessons.
Children should read at home for fifteen to twenty minutes a day. Children's reading at home should be recorded on their 'Read the Rainbow' bookmark. Certificates and prizes are awarded for children's completion of their bookmarks. Children on the phonics programme are allocated (and take home) colour banded books of different reading skills levels as they work through the school. One of these colour banded books is the one studied in phonics lessons and the second is a linked text with similar content/characters. When children finish the phonics programme, they can choose from a wide range of age appropriate books to take home and read, this is further supplemented by a levelled text for children who understand phonics. Children are also encouraged to read for pleasure and access a wider range of age appropriate books from their year group's selection.
Phonics
Phonics is taught to all children in daily sessions that are tailored to each child’s ability starting in Reception and continuing throughout Year 1 and Year 2. We follow Ruth Miskin’s ‘Read Write Inc.’ scheme of phonics. Children are taught in ability groups to enable focused development of their phonics knowledge and application. For more information go to: www.ruthmiskin.com
Writing
Writing is taught through an adaptive approach where children are immersed in a shared text and then innovate and develop their writing stemming from this. Each year group has a list of core texts, taken from Pie Corbett's reading lists, which are used to support children's writing. When children are on the phonics programme, spelling is taught in phonics lessons. Following this, children have specific spelling lessons appropriate for their level. All children are taught grammar lessons as part of their English and writing coverage. Vocabulary forms a vital part of developing children's writing and reading ability. Children are praised for developing their vocabulary and adults support this through their teaching alongside age appropriate word of the day coverage and word banks in lessons.
Handwriting
We teach letter formation in Reception and Year 1, and introduce cursive handwriting from Year 2. Handwriting is taught discretely and applied during phonics and all other curriculum subjects. For more information about the handwriting scheme we follow go to:www.letter-join.co.uk and www.ruthmiskin.com Parents are provided with a log in for the Letter Join website to further practise at home.
Science and Foundation Curriculum
At HPAPW, we follow the Harris Federation curriculum for Science and the foundation subjects. Each subject is taught in discrete lessons and is carefully planned and mapped to ensure progression of skills and knowledge throughout the year groups. Each subject has their own unit, most units are for a half term but some are a full term. Knowledge organisers are used in all subjects to summarise the key learning in each unit and these are shared with parents half termly through curriculum booklets.
At Harris Primary Academy Purley Way, we believe the holistic development of children is paramount and we take great pride in understanding the uniqueness of each child. We are proud that children move to Key Stage 2 as confident, happy and resilient students, who are equipped with the skills and knowledge to progress through their time with us.
