Years 1-2

The Lower School, ages 3 - 7 (Pre-school, Reception, Years 1 and 2): A Broad and Balanced Education - the best of beginnings for a lifetime of learning

Years 1 and 2

Making the transition from our Early Years centre to Key Stage 1 is happy and seamless. The children find learning continues through creative and interesting activities whilst more formal learning is gradually introduced into the day.  

The Currilculum

Year 1 and 2 classrooms are creative environments in which we foster the innate curiosity of young children. The children cooperate well and enjoy learning which are essential factors for their future success and happiness. Develping sound numeracy and literacy skills  form the foundations of our daily programmes which are enriched by the inclusion of a wide rage of cross-curricular topics enabling  children to experience their learning in a natural, holistic way, allowing for a variety of interesting perspectives.

Year 1: Teachers encourage and support the children's social and emotional development. Children learn how to work together and are encouraged  to share and take care of one another. Building confidence in reading and spelling is aided by the teaching of phonics although we at Salcombe will use every method availble in order to assist a child to read. The children begin to write short sentences often using spelling approximations. Writing fluency is helped by the introduction of simple punctuation and handwriting lessons. Simple arithmetic/numeracy is taught using a variety of different activities, including whole-class, group and individual sessions.  Mental maths is introduced as is sequencing and learning to tell the time.

Year 2: Since Year 2 children are now in their final year of the Lower School, teachers begin to prepare them for the transition to the Upper School, Chase Side, at Year 3.  Children now experience more formal routines with literacy and numeracy lessons daily. A cross-curricular approach to some subjects helps provide children with realistic and meaningful contexts for learning where natural connections that exist between different learning areas.

Assessments:  Year 1 and 2, assessments take place as a matter of course within the classroom with pre and mstery checks carried out at the beginning and end of topics ina  variety of formats.

Homework: Homework in Key Stage 1 is largely limited to guided reading with parents and word lists for spelling. It is felt that after a busy day at school, children of this age benefit greatly from some unstructured time for free play. Salcombe recognises that children learn at different rates and every pupil has the potential and ability to succeed. Our classes are small, with the opportunity for one-to-one tuition if the need exists.