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Welcome - Key Stage 1

Head of KS3
Mr Brett - Key Stage 1 Coordinator

It is my pleasure to extend to you a warm welcome to Key Stage 1. We hope that this booklet allows you to get a feeling for what students in Year 1 and Year 2 experience on a daily basis. We are a small key stage, consisting of 4 classes: 2 in Year 1 and 2 in Year 2. In Key Stage 1, we are determined to provide students with somewhere to learn, laugh, be kind and always try their best.

Key Stage 1 is a very important transitional key stage as it marks the beginning of student’s exposure to the National Curriculum in Year 1, and it also marks the end of their journey in the lower primary years, before they move onto Key Stage 2. It is a time of great change as students move to more formalised learning, experiencing a wider range of curriculum subjects and becoming more independent.

We pride ourselves on our small class sizes (maximum of 20) which allow us to offer a high level of stability and individualised learning. A strong foundation of skills, knowledge and understanding about the world around us is embedded in the Foundation Stage, and it is our job in Key Stage 1 to take the core principles of learning and begin to apply them in a wider context.

Currently, we find ourselves in an extraordinary time, but as a school and a key stage, we feel confident that we are able to continue to deliver outstanding teaching and learning opportunities, be that face-to-face or online.

I am delighted to be able to lead the Key Stage 1 team, who are passionate, committed and always willing to go the extra mile to ensure that Every Individual Counts.

WHAT DO WE LEARN?

OUR CURRICULUM

Key Stage 1 follows the English National Curriculum. The National Curriculum sets out which subjects primary school children should be taught in Key Stage 1. As a private international school in Spain, we are able to adapt, modify and enhance the National Curriculum with our own objectives, lessons and opportunities for further learning.

Building upon the solid foundations laid in Early Years and Reception, the Key Stage 1 curriculum uses creative and exciting topics to stimulate and excite every child’s thirst for learning. Topics covered in this key stage include:

  • ‘Under the Sea’ • ‘Could the Big Bad Wolf Blow Your House Down?’
  • ‘Great Explorers’
  • ‘The Story of Toys’
  • ‘The World of Julia Donaldson’

Each topic lasts between 6/7 weeks and encompasses all of the learning that takes place in the following subjects:

  • English (reading, writing, speaking and listening, drama and phonics)
  • Mathematics
  • Science
  • Geography
  • History
  • Art/Design and Technology
  • Personal, Social, Health Education and Citizenship

These lessons are taken by the class teacher, with support given by our full time teaching assistants.

We are also in a very fortunate position to have a team of highly skilled and experienced specialist teachers who teach the following subjects to students in Key Stage 1:

  • Spanish (4 times a week including 3 levels - Native, Advanced, Intermediate)
  • Music
  • Computing
  • Physical Education

All classes also have an allocated slot to go and visit the school library on a weekly basis, where they can loan up to three books for a period of two weeks. Our fantastic librarian, Miss Katia, is always available to provide advice and assistance to ensure students develop a passion and love for reading.

It is important to note that many subjects are taught in a cross-curricular manner. For instance, an English lesson about animals may well cover parts of the Science and Geography curriculum. This helps the children to make vital links between the different subjects, and to view their learning holistically.

HOW WE LEARN

In Key Stage 1, we believe that children learn in a number of different ways.
The students in Key Stage 1 experience learning through:

  • Teacher led, whole class teaching.
  • The use of different forms of digital technology.
  • Small group, teacher led activities.
  • Listening to the spoken word and copying.
  • Working and discovering independently.
  • Visual, kinaesthetic and auditory exercises and experiences.
  • Teacher led and child led play.
  • The use of physical apparatus to help them understand key concepts.
  • Of course, this list isn’t exhaustive. However, it can all be summed up by the belief that children learn best when they are doing and experiencing. We are mindful of ensuring a smooth transition between Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1, and many of the ideas from the above list are used in both key stages.
Key Stage 1 How We Learn

Learn More about Key Stage 1 at EIC

Contact us to recieve our booklet where we cover all aspects of Key Stage 1 at EIC

 

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