Reception to year one - what changes?

[Lorelai]

As far as DD1 is concerned it is 'a bit less playing and a bit more learning' but I was after a bit more detail ;) What should we expect now that they aren't the littlest ones in the school anymore? sniff

With my children moving up to Year 1 was very different. This is how I found it different but some schools may be better at merging the years together for a smoother transition. My childrens school it was very much a case of Reception = play, year 1 = work.

In Recpetion they had been allowed to sit where they wanted, to play with whatever they wanted when they wanted. Things like the painting was always set up and used constantly through the day and learning was very much via play.

In year 1 this all changed. They had to sit at specific tables and they had a more structured day where Maths/Writing/Art etc would have a specific time slot. The teacher would 'teach' them in a more orderly manner with less play and the subjects are taught seperately as individual lessons. They would have homework which had to be completed and would be displayed on the wall. This was also the way the children could boost their 'team points'. They have charts on the walls where their progress is mapped which my son loved when he got moved up.

They should start to write short stories and write about and recount events (like school holidays). They should learn addition and subtraction, division and multiplication usually in simple terms they understand like dividing a cake into 4 pieces etc . They start more independent working too where they may be asked to work on their own to produce a piece of work or in pairs/groups to solve a specific maths / science problem.

PE is provided on a regular day every week where before it was a case of taking their PE kit in on a monday and leave it there all week as it would be used randomly.

It is structured more like the rest of the school with orderly lessons and discipline is firmer too because they are expected to understand consequences. It is going into year 1 I found the hardest for my son because he really enjoyed playing and he really disliked work. He isnt any different now, he finds school work boring and very difficult. Its just not of any interest to him whereas my daughter thrives on achievement, she loves getting team points and awards and she really enjoys the more difficult tasks.

BBC have some brilliant school curriculum information. Year 1 is the start of KS1 so have a look at the sort of things they will be doing.

What Lottie said.

Dd found it quite hard and much more tiring at first, but settled down by half term.

Thanks, luckily she enjoys the 'learning' bits so hopefully won't be too disappointed if she can't play as much. I think the school has a gentle transition though; year one still have a play area outside the classroom although I guess they may not use it as freely as in reception.

It depends on the school. I have two daughters, both of whom attend the same school. In DD1's case, her experience was similar to Lottie's but probably not quite as structured. She did find it quite a big leap. However, by the time DD2 came to Year 1, the school had changed its approach and the transition was much more gradual. 'A bit less playing and a bit more learning' is probably quite an accurate description of what she experienced!

They gradually eased them into a more formal timetable and introduced some specific subject slots, but there was still plenty of play-based learning. They still used the outdoor play space, but they didn't have free access all the time. Homework was introduced, but only once a week. Ability groups were more structured, and in our school there was some mixing of year groups - so higher ability Yr1s might be in a reading group with Yr2s and vice versa.

The main thing DD2 noticed was that they started doing some new subjects. I will never forget the day she came home and very proudly announced "today I did french with Mme Smith and football with Chelsea Football!"