Year 1 articles
Improve your child’s speech and language skills
Significant numbers of children start primary school in England with difficulties with speech and language. Here’s how you can support your child.
Everyday ways to make maths fun
Want to instil a love and appreciation of maths in your primary school child? You can with our practical suggestions to help make numbers fun.
Expert spelling tips for KS1 and KS2
Tutor and author of the best-selling Spelling Made Magic, Clare Winstanley, shares her practical tips and clever tricks to make spelling practice fun for KS1 and KS2 children.
Teachers' tricks for KS1 maths
Some young children just can’t get their head around adding numbers together. Education writer Phoebe Doyle explains some helpful strategies that are most often used in primary teaching today.
9 spelling strategies from real parents
Helping your child master spelling starts in Reception and continues throughout the primary years. Lucy Dimbylow asked real parents for their top tips on making learning spellings fun.
Top 5 grammar mistakes sorted
Are you confident in helping your child to master grammar? Jackie Cosh explains the basic rules you need to know.
Teach your child to read a clock
Reading an analogue clock is a tricky skill to master. Help your child get to grips with it with our teaching-time guide.
A maths homework help guide for KS1 and KS2
Maths is not always a popular subject with children. But with these handy tips and downloadable worksheets, it can become a lot more fun.
Key Stage 1 PSHE explained
Find out what your Key Stage 1 child will be learning in PSHE lessons and wider school life.
Key Stage 1 geography – what’s involved?
Geography is all around us and is an important subject for your child to learn about. Here’s how you can help your Key Stage 1 child embrace the subject.
Key Stage 1 PE
What will your child learn in Key Stage 1 PE lessons? We take a look at physical education and how you can help your child get ahead at home.
What is taught in KS1 design and technology
Here’s your guide to the Key Stage 1 design and technology curriculum and how you can support your child's DT learning at home.
Key Stage 1 art explained
Do you want to support your budding artist? You can with these lesson examples and top tips for enjoying art together at home.
Key Stage 1 drama – what they learn
Find out what your wannabe actor will be learning in school and how to help them practise drama at home.
What is covered in Key Stage 1 music?
Find out what your child will be learning at school and how you can encourage their love of music at home.
Key Stage 1 history lessons explained
Here’s your guide to the themes, projects and lessons that your child will experience in the Key Stage 1 history curriculum.
Top times tables games
Help your children enjoy learning their times tables with a few easy games. Education writer Phoebe Doyle suggests five ideas for you to try.
Good grammar made easy
Good grammar isn't just for English lessons – it's a vital skill that will take your child through their educational journey and their life. It's not hard once you know the rules, says Jackie Cosh.
Film-making and animation fun for children
How can you stimulate your primary-school child's interest in literacy and storytelling? From script-writing to editing, these hands-on movie-making activities are perfect for older children to have a go at. You might even help inspire the next Danny Boyle!
How your child develops in Key Stage 1
What changes can you expect to see in your child in Years 1 and 2?
What your child learns in Key Stage 1 English
Your guide to what your child will learn in Years 1 and 2 in English and literacy.
What your child learns in Key Stage 1 maths
Unsure about what your child will be learning in maths in years 1 and 2? Find out here.
What your child learns in Key Stage 1 science
You may well struggle to remember what you learned in Years 1 and 2 in science – and things have moved on a lot anyway. So swot up on what your child will be taught with this quick guide.
How your Year 1 child develops
With less play and more learning on the cards at school, here’s how your child will change and grow during Year 1.
Year 1 English: what your child learns
In Year 1 everything starts to become a little more formal, as the freedom and play of Reception are replaced with more organised activities. Here are the topics your child will learn in their more structured English lessons.
Year 1 maths: what your child learns
Your guide to what your child will learn in maths now they’ve reached Key Stage 1.
Year 1 science: what your child learns
Got a budding little scientist in the family? Here’s what they will learn to develop their science skills and knowledge in Year 1.
School reports decoded
It’s the end of term and that means one thing – school report time. But what exactly do those cryptic comments in your child’s report mean? Jessica Powell gets teachers to explain.
Apostrophes – get them right every time
Apostrophes are tricky things. Do they imply ownership or are they there to denote a missing letter? Do they go before the ‘s’ or after? Jackie Cosh explains how to help your child master them.
What is a number square?
Do you know what a number square is and what to do with one? Here’s our parents' guide to everything you need to know about this primary-school maths aid so you can support your child when they’re working with to add and subtract in Key Stage 1.
Do boys learn in a different way to girls?
Research shows boys are lagging behind girls in reading, writing, maths and science. If the teaching is the same, is gender the issue? Emily Organ explores boys' achievement in the classroom.
How is religion taught in schools?
Every school has to teach religious education and hold an act of worship each day. But what happens if you don’t like what’s on offer? In this extract from TheSchoolRun's The Essential Guide to Primary School, we explore what your child learns and your rights as a parent.
How to help with maths homework: a non-expert's guide
Maths is one subject that fills many parents with dread - but is it really so hard? We talk to author and deputy head teacher Matt Revill to find out how parents can help their children's maths learning.
Five steps to success in developing your child’s handwriting
In a world where technology is rapidly taking over, teaching children handwriting skills is still as important as it ever was. Best-selling author Bernadette Tynan offers five steps to handwriting success.
Handwriting practice makes perfect
Why is handwriting practice so important, and how can you help your child to learn? Find out in our guide.
How debating can benefit your child
From improving speaking and listening skills to building self-esteem, learning to debate could have many benefits for your primary-school child. Lucy Dimbylow finds out more.
The primary design and technology curriculum
Is your child a budding designer? We take a look at what design and technology lessons involve.
Learning numeracy at home
All around us are a wealth of mathematical problems just waiting to be solved. Here’s how to help your child extend their numeracy skills at home.
10 steps to better handwriting
From confiding in a diary to writing requests for treats, these everyday strategies will help your child improve their handwriting at home.
Is your child getting enough sleep?
Is your child overtired – or not tired enough? Here’s how to make sure they’re getting the right amount of sleep for their age.