So what do they actually do in Year 1?

[fishingfilly]

My DD has now started Y1 I know reception/foundation stage was all about settling them in through various activities. So what do they do in Y1

[bigchris]

From memory - they carry in working through the biff and chip books, ort books
build on key words
do loads of learning through play
more number work
listen to stories
cookery, crafts, learn about other religions
etc etc

[mrz]

Reception isn't just "about settling them in" although obviously they need to get used to this new place they have to attend five days a week. It's called the Foundation stage because it is the time that the foundations for future learning should be developed
Y1 is about building on those foundations and continuing to learn.
no Biff and Chip here or learning key words lots of phonics, reading and writing though.
In Y1 children follow the National Curriculum for England.

[Smithagain]

My younger daughter is just starting Year 1 and is very excited that they are starting French and that they go to whole school assemblies (which they didn't do in Reception).

Judging by DD1's experience a couple of years ago, they will do increasing amounts of reading, writing and number work. And also an increasing amount of structured work, balanced with plenty of time to play. They will also begin to study all the core school subjects, such as history, geography, science, ICT, although they might not know that that's what they're called.