Key Stage 1 Activities For England
Helping children, parents and teachers enjoy learning.

KS1 National Curriculum for England
Hands-On Education understands the importance of primary education for students in key stage 1 as it lays the foundation for their academic and personal growth. The national curriculum of England sets the standards for primary education, and it is crucial for the child's teacher or parent to ensure that they meet these standards.
Hands-on learning is a great way to engage young students and help them develop a love for learning. It is essential to create a learning environment that encourages exploration and experimentation. Teachers and parents can work together to provide opportunities for hands-on learning both in and outside of the classroom. This approach to teaching can help students retain information better and apply it to real-world situations.
As the child progresses to secondary school, it is important to have a clear understanding of their strengths and weaknesses. Regular teacher assessments can help identify areas that need improvement and help teachers and parents develop strategies to support the child's progress. It is also essential to provide feedback to the student, which can motivate them to continue learning and improve their performance.
Encouraging children to participate and succeed in sports whether you’re at school or at home is crucial in promoting healthy lifestyles and achieving fitness goals.
Progressing in Schools
As a primary school teacher or home educator, it's important to understand the typical progression of a child's education, from the early years foundation stage (EYFS) to primary school (National Curriculum) and on to secondary school.
The early years foundation stage, also known as reception, is where children learn through play and exploration in a safe and nurturing environment. It's crucial to provide children with a solid foundation in literacy and numeracy during this time, as it sets the stage for their future learning.
As students progress onto primary school, they will enter what is known as key stage 1 and 2. Key stage 1 is where a child begins to be taught and to develop their skills and understanding in core subjects such as English, maths, and science.
Stages of a Child’s Education
Investigating the Key Stage 1 Curriculum
As a primary school teacher or home educator, the key stage 1 curriculum for Maths, English, and Science can feel overwhelming at times. That's why we're here to help!
Let's start with maths. The mathematics curriculum for key stage 1 covers a range of topics, including number and place value, addition and subtraction, multiplication and division, fractions, measurement, and geometry. It's essential to ensure that your pupils have a solid understanding of these topics, as they will form the foundation for future learning.
In English, the grammar and punctuation aspect of the national curriculum for key stage 1 is a crucial part of developing your pupils' language skills. It includes teaching children how to use capital letters, full stops, question marks, exclamation marks, commas, and apostrophes correctly.
Additionally, spelling is an important part of the English curriculum, and children will be expected to learn a range of common exception words as well as the spelling rules for adding suffixes and prefixes to words.
In Science, the key stage 1 curriculum expected standard covers a range of topics, including plants, animals including humans, materials, and seasonal changes. It's important to ensure that your pupils have a good understanding of these topics, as they will be built upon in the school years leading up to key stage 2.
When it comes to testing, pupils in key stage 1 will be assessed most intensely on their understanding of Maths, English, and Science. For English, there are two papers - one for English grammar, punctuation, and spelling, and one for English reading, which can include fiction, non-fiction and poetry. It's important to prepare your pupils for these teacher assessments, but remember that they are only one measure of their progress.
Teaching Key Stage 1
As a primary school teacher or home educator, you know that hands-on learning is one of the best ways to engage your children and help them retain information. By incorporating interactive activities and experiments into your national curriculum-based lessons, you can make learning fun and exciting for your students.
In addition to traditional subjects taught like maths and English, it's important to also prioritize health education and religious education. Teaching children about healthy habits and different belief systems can help them become well-rounded individuals and better understand the world around them.
A Final Note on Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2
The different key stages of a child's education are important to keep in mind. Each stage presents unique challenges and opportunities for growth, and it's important to tailor your teaching approach accordingly. Modern foreign languages and technology are becoming increasingly important whole lessons in today's world, and physical education is crucial for promoting a healthy lifestyle.
National tests and subject assessments can be stressful for both teachers and pupils, but it's important to remember that they are just one part of a child's education. Focus on providing a well-rounded and engaging learning experience for your children, and the results will follow.
If you are looking beyond Key Stage 1 Activities be sure to explore more of our exclusive topics. We cover key stage one learning across the national curriculum for England in: