How different is Year 1 compared to Reception?

[sandyballs]

I keep over-hearing anxious mum's in the playground saying what a shock it will be in September when our little ones go into Year 1.
Sounds like it is hardly any play and buckling down to some serious work. Is this really the case?

[Cod]

Message withdrawn

[MaryP0p1]

Not that different but as the year goes on there's less and less play and more writing and reading work that goes on.

[littlerach]

DD1 is currently in Reception.
yesterday her and some others went into Year 1 as there were some pre schoolers in reception having a trial day.

DD1 was shocked that in Yr 1 they "don't play with anyhting in the afternoons, mummy, they have to do more work"!!

[foxinsocks]

my dd found it a bit of a shock (but she's an August baby). After about the first week, her only two comments were 'why is there no dressing up corner' and 'all we do is work'! When I spoke to the teacher it was clear they still do a lot of playing but certainly do a lot more work than reception.

[LucyCampCat]

It seems very much to depend on the school and how formal Year 1 is. My dd was prepared pretty well for the transition and her Year 1 classroom is lovely as is her teacher. If the school is doing their job properly then your little one should be ok - why don't you have a chat witht he Reception teacher if you're concerned.

Then again over anxious mums may well transfer their 'oh it's going to be sooo difficult' tendencies to their little dahlings!

[Bink]

The difference at our school was that in reception the afternoons were basically all play - lego, drawing, stories, whatever they chose. Year 1 they had "choosing time" but it was half an hour of the afternoon, not the whole time. It was more tiring, as they couldn't just zone out after lunch but had to go on trying to pay attention.

But in our school anyway I didn't get the feeling the work was much harder at all - a bit more spelling homework, but that was it.

[flatmouse]

I would agree, it depends on the school. For my DS there was a huge difference between Reception and Y1 - in Reception he learnt nothing, he was "entertained", this year in Y1 he amazes me with things he talks about. For example, he came home and told us all about gravity - with an obvious grasp of the subject, then 2 months later whilst reading a book and seeing a pic of the moon and astronauts floating around said "that's because there is no gravity there".

So for us, yes it was a huge difference - but one that has obviously been enjoyed and relished by DS.

[Bink]

Cross-posted - same as littlerach, then.

Pace cod, I don't even think Year 2 (ds just finishing) is much of a demand. I'm still waiting for any sort of shock on schoolwork.

[cupcakes]

ditto flatmouse. There is more work but I feel ds was stimulated by it rather than overwhelmed. His improvement in reading has been outstanding.

[sandyballs]

Thanks, I think I will speak to their teachers, get a bit more info, as like you've all said, each school may vary slightly. I find their teachers a bit intimidating as they are very young and very beautiful. I'm thrilled to see that their Year 1 teachers are in their late 50's with grey hair and glasses , must more "old school".

[singersgirl]

DS1 (also an August baby) found Y1 a shock. He told me after the first week that he had made a mistake and gone into the wrong year group, as Reception was much 'funner'. It's not that the work is necessarily difficult, it's just that there's a lot more sitting and recording.

I believe at the school the boys are at now that Y1 spend the afternoons back in Reception for the first term, while Reception children are mornings only.

I worry a little about DS2 (August 31st) because he finds the recording tedious at the moment, and it is only for a few minutes a day.