In our first unit, Class 1 will explore Where the Wild Things Are through discovery, roleplay and creative storytelling. Children will meet Sam’s Sack, create their own Wild Thing characters and retell the story in imaginative ways. They will develop early writing skills while exploring behaviour, emotions and the power of imagination. 

In their next unit, Class 1 will enjoy the traditional tale Anansi the Spider. Children will explore Ghana’s culture through song, storytelling and art, before creating their own writing inspired by the story. They will write labels, statements and posters, and finally design a booklet about spiders mixing real and imagined features.

After half term, they will dive into Look Up!, a vibrant story about Rocket and her dream of space travel. Children will set up their own space station, create signs and flyers, and explore character feelings. They will then write their own sequel, combining imagination with early reading and writing skills.

To end the autumn term, Class 1 will enjoy Ning and the Night Spirits, a magical story about courage and kindness. Children will write letters and posters, make decorations and hold a class parade. They will also design their own night spirit, contributing to a shared class information book.

In the Autumn term, children in Reception will begin learning phonics through Phase 2 of the programme. They will be introduced to a range of letter sounds (called graphemes), starting with simple sounds like s, a, t, p and gradually building up to more complex ones such as sh, th, ng, nk. Children will also learn to blend these sounds to read simple words and begin writing them. Alongside this, they will be taught tricky words—words that can’t be sounded out easily—such as I, the, go, no, to, into, we, me, be. This learning helps build strong foundations for reading and writing.

Autumn 1 sounds

Autumn 2 sounds

How to write Capital Letters

Reception and Year 1 Teaching Programme

Everybody Read!

In Class 1 this term, our youngest learners will be developing their early mathematical understanding through practical, play-based activities that follow the White Rose Maths scheme.

Reception children will begin by learning to match, sort, and compare, building an understanding of similarities, differences, and simple groupings. They will also talk about measure and patterns, noticing and creating repeating sequences. As the term progresses, they will explore numbers in small steps through units such as It’s Me 1, 2, 3! and Circles and Triangles, before moving on to 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and then exploring shapes with four sides. These activities help children to recognise numbers, count objects, and spot shapes and patterns in the world around them.

In Nursery, children will focus on the very beginnings of number sense. They will explore ideas of more than, fewer than, and the same, and practise hearing and saying number names in order. Through games and play, they will begin to see and recognise numbers 1, 2, and 3, and start to put these in order. They will also investigate shapes and objects by building, exploring, and making patterns, while enjoying opportunities to spot and create repeats in their environment.

Across both Nursery and Reception, maths is introduced in a fun, engaging, and practical way to ensure children develop curiosity, confidence, and enjoyment in working with numbers and shapes.

Calculation policy - WRM

We start the year learning the song I’ve got a grumpy face which explores emotions and feelings using the voice and facial expressions. It provides the starting point for experimenting with timbre using voices and instruments, and composing new verses.

Most children will be able to:

• Make up new words and actions about different emotions and feelings.
• Explore making sound with their voices and percussion instruments to create different feelings and moods.
• Sing with a sense of pitch, following the shape of the melody with their voices.
• Mark the beat of the song with actions.

After half term we will be  exploring the song Witch, Witch. The unit is based around a call-and-response singing game that uses a simple and repetitive four-note tune to support the development of pitch matching. Pupils will also explore a range of voices, adopting different roles, and create simple accompaniments as a group.

Most children will be able to:

• Make up a simple accompaniment using percussion instruments. 
• Use the voice to adopt different roles and characters.
• Match the pitch of a four-note (la-so-mi-do) call-and-response song.

This term, Class 1 will be exploring dance through imaginative themes such as transport and people who help us. Children will learn to move their bodies in creative ways – for example, travelling like cars, sailing like ships, and even dancing like fire before putting it out. They will also use movement to tell simple stories, including building a house or working as farmers, and will be introduced to Makaton signs to support communication. Alongside this, children will take part in additional sessions with Game On sports coaches, focusing on an introduction to using equipment.

After half term, Class 1 will be developing their gymnastics skills through exploring balance, movement and body shapes. Children will learn how to balance beanbags, travel in different ways through hoops, and stretch and reach to collect equipment. They will also practise making bridges with their bodies, travelling over and under apparatus, and creating tall and small shapes. These activities will help them improve control, coordination and confidence in moving. In addition, the children will enjoy specialist sessions with Game On sports coaches, who will focus on gymnastics skills and safe use of apparatus.

This half term, Class 1 will be learning about themselves and how to be part of a happy, safe classroom. They will explore how we are all similar and different, and how to recognise and manage different feelings. Children will learn why kindness matters, how to use gentle hands, and how to be responsible. They will also learn about their rights—especially the right to play and learn—and how these are supported in school. Through stories, play, and discussion, children will begin to understand how their actions affect others and how to help everyone feel included and respected.

After half term, Class 1 will be learning about what makes each of us special and unique. They will explore how we are all different in our appearance, families, and interests, and how these differences should be celebrated. Children will talk about the things they are good at and how they are similar to and different from others. They will learn how to be kind friends and what to do if someone is unkind to them. This unit helps children build confidence, empathy, and respect for others in a safe and supportive classroom environment.

Children will explore key beliefs in Christianity and Islam. Before half term, they will learn what the word ‘God’ means to Christians, focusing on creation and harvest, and why it is important. They will also discover why Muslims whisper ‘Allah’ into a baby’s ear, introducing the idea of God in Islam.

After half term, children will explore why some people are revered. They will learn about the Christian celebration of Christmas and the meaning of nativity plays. In Islam, they will hear the story of Prophet Muhammad rescuing ants, learning about kindness and respect for all living things.