Key Stage 1 (Years 1 and 2)
Building momentum. Securing success.
Key Stage 1 is where early achievement becomes clear academic progress.
At The Mead, this progress is carefully designed. Strong foundations from Early Years are deliberately built upon through structured teaching, close attention and high expectations.
The result is children who move quickly from strength to mastery in their learning and thinking.
Why children make strong progress
Progress at this stage depends on more than content – it depends on how children are taught and supported.
At The Mead, three key factors underpin success:
Small class sizes
Every child is known as an individual. Teachers are able to respond immediately, provide targeted scaffolding to support or stretch pupils at the right moment - ensuring immediate and sustained progress.
Experienced, specialist staff
All teachers understand how young children learn best. They combine structure and fun with encouragement and challenge, helping pupils build both academic skills and confidence.
A focus on thinking, not just doing
Children are encouraged to question, discuss and explore their learning, developing curiosity and deeper understanding.
Developing confident readers
Reading is central to success across the curriculum.
Children are immersed in reading from the earliest stages of school and quickly develop fluency, comprehension and enjoyment. They are encouraged to talk about what they read, strengthening both understanding and communication.
By the end of Year 2, pupils are fluent, expressive and ambitious readers who engage with a wide range of texts such as poems, news reports, and factual books.
Securing mathematical understanding
In mathematics, children build secure number fluency alongside reasoning and problem-solving.
Concepts are carefully introduced, revisited and applied, ensuring children develop depth of understanding and mastery - not just surface knowledge.
This provides a strong platform for the more advanced mathematical thinking required in Key Stage 2.
Teaching children how to learn
A defining feature of Key Stage 1 at The Mead is our focus on metacognition – helping children understand how they learn.
Children are encouraged to reflect, explain their thinking and approach challenges with logic and perseverance.
This shift - from simply completing tasks to understanding how to improve - is what enables children to become successful independent, resilient learners.
Breadth that builds confidence
Alongside the academic core, children benefit from specialist teaching in Music, Drama, Performing Arts, French and PE and Swimming as they did in Reception and now become familiar Games.
Trips and Performances continue and integral parts of taking learning outside the classroom including a taste of stardom as key stage one performs their own show at a professional theatre during the year, in addition to the usual programme the rest of the school follows. Year 2 demonstrate particular courage and prowess in their performance skills.
Preparing for the next stage
By the end of Year 2, children are:
- fluent, confident readers
- secure in writing and number
- curious, engaged learners
- increasingly independent in their thinking
They leave KS1 ready to face the exciting challengers of Key Stage 2, with both the skills and the mindset to succeed.
High expectations, supportive environment
Children achieve best when they are challenged and scaffolded well to succeed.
Our environment combines strong personal relationships with clear high expectations, encouraging pupils to take risks, learn from mistakes and develop resilience, creating a safe space to strive for excellence.
