Welcome to Key Stage 1 (Year 1 & 2), Doves

Mrs O’Donnell and Mrs Little teach the Doves, who are our current Year One and Two pupils. Doves are supported by Mrs Barker and Mrs Price. Mrs O’Donnell teaches on a Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday morning and Mrs Little teaches on a Thursday afternoon and Friday.

In the Doves class, the Year One children build on what they learnt in their Reception year and begin their journey on the National Curriculum. New skills are taught to support in our learning of knowledge in the different curriculum subjects. The Year Two children have lots of exciting new challenges and experiences that prepare them for the move to Key-Stage Two while embedding their learning of skills in the different curriculum areas.

Children continue on their Phonics learning journey in Key Stage One. Year One children are busy working on our Little Wandle Phonics programme and Year Two children embed their phonics sounds and knowledge and begin the Little Wandle Spelling journey. We also have Grammar, Punctuation and Spelling sessions to help children become better writers.

Reading is incredibly important and children read daily sentences in their phonics and spelling sessions and read texts in groups three times a week during the school day and books are sent home to practise.

Children in the Doves class learn in a nurturing and stimulating environment. There is a large outdoor space which is used on a daily basis and inside there are key teaching areas and lots of space for games and role play. Children can access construction and an art and crafts area for developing their creative sides.

The four core values continued to be taught throughout the curriculum, especially in PSHE and RE and we aim to remember these in all that we do. Our core values are Wisdom, Community, Hope and Dignity. We have strong links to the local Church – St John the Baptist and we enjoy visiting for our end of term assemblies and celebrations throughout the year.

Children have weekly PE sessions, one inside gym based lesson and one outside games based session. There is a Games specialist who teaches Games to Key-Stage One on a Tuesday morning and the PE based session is on a Monday afternoon. Children begin to have opportunities to compete in local school tournaments over the year.

IPads and laptops are available to children to access to support their learning in all subjects. Online safety is crucial and revised weekly and computing skills are taught in a discreet lessons.

Children enjoy learning new songs and ways to play instruments in Key-Stage One. Music is encouraged and children enjoy listening daily to songs and rhymes and new skills are taught weekly.

All children go across to Forest School to enhance their curriculum learning. Tools and equipment are safely used to build dens and construct. Children become responsible for growing plants and vegetables. Camp fires are held and hot chocolate can be enjoyed around them.

The Doves children are always incredibly busy and they have so much fun!