Year Group 1
What to expect in Year 1
Year 1 at Oaklands: A Confident Start to Key Stage 1
Welcome to Year 1!
Year 1 is an exciting stage in your child’s learning journey as they begin the transition from the play-based exploration of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) to more structured, formal learning. At Oaklands, we ensure this shift is smooth and supportive, helping children to build confidence, independence, and a lifelong love of learning.
A Rich and Balanced Curriculum
Our Year 1 curriculum is carefully designed to be immersive, engaging, and rooted in the local community while also broadening children’s horizons. Each day includes focused sessions in Phonics, English, and Maths, building on the strong foundations laid in Reception.
Afternoons are filled with a wide range of subjects including Science, History, Geography, Art, Design & Technology, Computing, PSHE, RE, Music, PE, and Spanish. We take a cross-curricular approach, linking subjects together in meaningful ways to help children make connections and deepen their understanding.
Children explore exciting topics such as how toys have changed, what it’s like to live in Shanghai, and how explorers have changed the world. They also enjoy creative projects like making windmills, puppets, and smoothies, and develop digital skills through activities like programming Bee-Bots and creating digital imagery.
Phonics Screening
Phonics and Reading
Phonics continues to be a key focus in Year 1. Children take part in daily phonics sessions using the Monster Phonics programme—a fun, systematic, and effective approach validated by the UK Department for Education. These sessions are taught in flexible groups to ensure learning is tailored to each child’s progress, supporting their reading, spelling, and writing development.
Phonics Screening Check
In June, all Year 1 pupils take part in the Phonics Screening Check, a statutory one-to-one assessment set by the Department for Education. This check assesses children’s ability to decode 40 words—both real and ‘nonsense’ (alien) words using their phonic knowledge. To meet the expected standard, children typically need to read at least 32 out of 40 words correctly.
Parents will be informed of their child’s result, and any additional support needed will be provided. Children who do not meet the expected standard will have the opportunity to retake the check in Year 2.
If you’d like support in helping your child with phonics, please speak to your child’s class teacher, we’re always happy to help.
Monster Phonics
You can learn more about Monster Phonics here;
Monster Phonics: https://monsterphonics.com
Alongside phonics, children enjoy daily English lessons that develop reading comprehension, vocabulary, and writing skills through high-quality texts such as Cave Baby, Julian is a Mermaid, and Lost and Found.
We expect all children to read for at least 20 minutes a day, logging their reading using Boom Reader. If children need books, they are warmly encouraged to borrow from their classroom book corners or the school library, both filled with engaging and diverse texts.
Please click the picture below for the Monster Phonics Rationale
Reading Recommendations
Personal Growth
Personal Growth and Enrichment
Year 1 is about more than academics. Through PSHE and RHE, children explore relationships, safety, wellbeing, and personal growth. Weekly assemblies and themed events such as World Book Day and Mental Health Awareness Week help children understand the world around them and celebrate diversity.
Working Together with Families
We believe in strong home-school partnerships. Parents are invited to workshops, open classrooms, and parents’ evenings throughout the year to stay connected with their child’s learning journey.
By the end of Year 1, children are confident, capable learners with a strong foundation in phonics, number, and curiosity ready to take on the challenges with enthusiasm and pride.
