Year 1 Provision: A Thoughtful Redesign

As children move from Reception into Year 1, the jump in expectations can sometimes feel too big. Research (Early Excellence, 2023) shows that children under seven learn best when they continue to have opportunities for hands-on exploration, alongside carefully planned teaching.

With this in mind, we have redesigned our Year 1 classroom to smooth the transition and help every child flourish.

What does the research say?

Early Excellence - Transition to Year 1 Research

What’s Changed in Year 1

• Continuous Provision Areas
  Children now have access to well-planned learning zones every day (such as reading, maths, construction, and role play). These spaces build on Reception practice while offering new challenges, so learning feels both familiar and exciting.

• Child-Friendly Design
  Resources are clearly organised and accessible. This encourages independence, responsibility, and confidence—children can select materials, use them creatively, and tidy them away themselves.

• A Balanced Approach
  Teachers combine independent exploration with targeted teaching sessions. This way, children still benefit from play and discovery while also progressing in key skills like reading, writing and maths.

• Time to Explore
  The timetable has been adjusted to allow longer blocks of uninterrupted learning. This helps children become deeply involved in their tasks, building focus, resilience and a stronger sense of achievement.

• Progressive Challenge
  Classroom resources and activities evolve as the year goes on. This ensures that children are always being stretched and supported to take the next step in their learning.

Why These Changes Matter

• Smoother Transition – The new design prevents the “cliff edge” between Reception and Year 1, making the move feel natural and supportive.

• Developmentally Appropriate – At ages 5–6, children still learn most effectively through active, practical experiences.

• Stronger Outcomes – Schools adopting this approach have found children to be more independent, more engaged, and making faster progress (Early Excellence, 2023).

Our Aim

These changes mean children in Year 1 can continue to enjoy learning through play and exploration, while also being supported to develop the academic skills they need for Key Stage 1 and beyond. It’s a balanced, thoughtful approach designed to give every child the best possible start.

Take a look...

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