In the September after they are five, children leave the Foundation Stage and move into what is known as Key Stage 1. They will now be taught according to Key Stage 1 of the National Curriculum. We are told that we should spend the most time on English, Mathematics, Science, Information & Communications Technology and Religious Education. The National Curriculum also includes Design & Technology, History, Geography, Music, Art & Design and Physical Education.

In Key Stage 1 we teach all these subject plus Personal, Social and Health Education and Citizenship. We usually teach English and Maths in the mornings and the remainder of the subjects in the afternoons. Although we cover all the National Curriculum learning objectives for each subject, we do this as part of a topic. For example, a topic on water might include work on seas and rivers and the route taken by Christopher Columbus in geography, whilst in history the children might find out about life aboard a 15^th century ship would have been like and learn about how the discovery of the new world changed the lives of everyday people. In art and design the children could practise mixing colours to paint pictures of the sea and in design and technology they could design and make boats. In ICT they might learn how to get information from CD ROM encyclopaedias. The possibilities are endless! Linking subjects in this way makes the learning more meaningful and more fun for the children and the staff. We will cover about 6 topics each year.

 

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