Play Led Learning - Year 1

[anasvoboda]

Hello All. We are moving to London in July. Our housing location is yet to be decided but we are keen to learn of the primary state schools in London with a strong art focus and specifically whose curriculum in Year 1 is Play Led.

Any input would be greatly appreciated.

But you can't guarantee a place?

Not sure about the year 1 curriculum, but Columbia Road school in east London used to have a very good and strong art focus. This was 10 years ago, though, so things could have changed.

Also excellent feeder nursery down the road.

@anasvoboda

Hanover Primary School - Islington South, N1

• An artist in residence.
• Grounded in playbased learning.
• Mixed Reception/Y1 classes.
• Free flow learning areas i.e. the doors leading onto the playground are open all day. Children can move independently between all areas of learning as they wish, whether outdoors or inside.
• children are actively encouraged to spend their day in outside exploration. Pursuing their own interests and investigations
• Philosophy currently extends up to year 2 so, nursery, reception, y1 and y2 fully immersed, with the aspiration to continue this approach up the year groups in the rest of the school.
• Deputy Head, Polly Shields is a pioneer in this pedagogy: mobile.twitter.com/pollyshields01?lang=en

Thank you for this information, @shoreditchmum2112

Stroud green school Finsbury Park. Children were allowed to play games on the mat once they had done their tasks in year 1. Lots of focus on creative curriculum and topic based learning throughout the school. Flexi-schooling up until childs 8th birthday, they can home learn on Fridays which can be child led. School is undersubscribed. There is a new head though so you would need to check the creative curriculum is still the case, I know they still do flexi-schooling.

Thank you, @starpatch. I will contact them regarding the creative curriculum.

You could look at Heber Primary school in East Dulwich. The school has a specialist art teacher who teaches all children from Reception throughout. It also has a specialist music teacher. I believe they may have space in year 1 because of a few families moving out of London after Covid.

Happy to give you more information- just PM me.

Thanks for this @SouthLondonMommy