Year 1
Welcome to Year 1
Year 1 at John Wood School & Nursery is an exciting and important stage in every child’s learning journey. As children transition from the Early Years Foundation Stage into Key Stage 1, we work hard to ensure that learning remains engaging, creative and nurturing, while also building independence, confidence and resilience.
In Year 1, we have high expectations for all children academically, socially and emotionally. We encourage children to develop positive learning behaviours, take pride in their work and become confident learners who are eager to challenge themselves and achieve their very best.
Our curriculum is designed to be exciting, broad and meaningful, with lessons that are creative, hands-on and linked to real-life experiences wherever possible. We aim to inspire curiosity and a love of learning across all subjects, including English, Mathematics, Science, History, Geography, Art, Music, PE and Computing.
Phonics and early reading remain a key focus throughout Year 1, helping children build strong foundations in reading fluency, comprehension, spelling and writing. We encourage a love of books and storytelling and work closely with families to support reading at home. Mathematics lessons focus on developing confidence with number, problem-solving and reasoning through practical and engaging activities.
As a Year 1 team, we bring together a wide range of experience, skills and strengths to ensure all children receive the best possible support and opportunities to succeed. We recognise that every child is unique and strive to create a positive, inclusive and supportive learning environment where all children feel safe, valued and encouraged.
The wellbeing of our children is extremely important to us. We understand that children learn best when they feel happy, confident and supported, so we place a strong emphasis on building positive relationships, encouraging kindness and helping children develop socially and emotionally alongside their academic learning. We encourage children to ask for help, talk about their feelings and celebrate both their achievements and individuality.
We are proud of the many talents our children bring to Year 1, whether in sport, music, art, performance or other interests outside the classroom. We believe these achievements should be recognised and celebrated as they contribute to developing the whole child.
Each year group at John Wood School & Nursery is also assigned an inspirational role model for the children to learn about throughout the year. In Year 1, our role model is Rosa Parks. Through learning about her life, courage and determination, children are encouraged to understand the importance of equality, resilience and standing up for what is right. We hope these inspirational figures help broaden children’s understanding of the world and motivate them to believe in themselves and their own potential.
Click here to find out more about our role models.
