Infants

The Infant Department - Early Years 2 & Key Stage 1 (KS1)

Foundation Stage: Early Years 2
In Early Years 2 we follow on from Early Years 1 in the teaching of 'Jolly Phonics' which is the basis of learning to read. When girls are confident in using phonics to build and blend words they are introduced to our main reading scheme which is 'The Oxford Reading Tree'. Girls are taught cursive script straight away - all the letters start and finish on the line - as this has been found to help with joined up writing later.

Foundation Stage requires that the girls work towards achieving the six 'Early Learning Goals', these are:

1. Communication, Language and Literacy
2. Mathematics
3. Knowledge and Understanding of the World (the foundation skills of Geography History and Science. Computer skills are also introduced).
4. Social and Personal Development
5. Physical Development
6. Creative Development

These are achieved through a variety of stimulating activities taught both in the classroom and by specialist teachers of ballet, music, drama, gymnastics and games. There is a rolling 2 year plan of half termly themes through which the goals are covered.

Foundation Subjects covered by the class teacher are:

  • History
  • Geography
  • Art
  • ICT

 

Key Stage One: Years One and Two

Reading
Girls continue to progress through the Oxford Reading Tree and are also encouraged to read a wide variety of fiction and non-fiction books. Girls are expected to read every evening. Weekly spelling tests are also given and Maths homework is given when appropriate.

Handwriting
Following on from Early Years 2 girls continue to develop their cursive script and when ready begin to join letters together. By the end of Year 2 most girls have neat joined handwriting.

In Key Stage 1 the core subjects covered by the class teacher are:

  • Religion
  • Literacy/English
  • Numeracy/Mathematics
  • Science 

 

Our Curriculum and interactive learning
We follow the National Curriculum and our schemes of work have been developed to reflect and provide progression through Key Stage One. Our planning includes differentiation which enables us to cater for all abilities. We endeavour to provide interesting and stimulating activities in these subjects.