Building Confidence, Curiosity and Strong Foundations

At St Stephen’s CE Primary School in Bradford, Key Stage 1 is an exciting next step in your child’s learning journey.

Across Year 1 and Year 2, we build on the strong foundations established in Early Years, helping children become increasingly confident, independent and enthusiastic learners.

Our curriculum is ambitious for every child. We want children to develop secure skills in reading, writing and mathematics, while experiencing a rich and exciting wider curriculum that encourages them to question, discover, create and explore.

Reading at the Heart of Learning

We believe that learning to read changes everything.

Reading and phonics are therefore central to our Key Stage 1 curriculum. Children receive systematic phonics teaching alongside regular opportunities to read books matched to their developing knowledge.

But reading at St Stephen’s is about much more than learning to decode words.

Children encounter wonderful stories, poems and non-fiction texts, develop their vocabulary and comprehension, and experience the simple pleasure of sharing a great book.

Our ambition is for every child to become a confident reader who loves reading.

Writing and Mathematics

In Year 1 and Year 2, children develop the foundations they need to communicate confidently through writing.

They learn to construct sentences, develop handwriting and spelling, and write for different purposes across the curriculum.

In mathematics, children develop secure number knowledge alongside fluency, reasoning and problem-solving. Practical resources, mathematical discussion and carefully sequenced teaching help children understand not only what to do, but why it works.

An Exciting and Ambitious Curriculum

Children deserve a curriculum that opens up their world.

Alongside English and mathematics, children study science, history, geography, art, design and technology, computing, music, physical education, religious education and personal development.

Our curriculum introduces children to important knowledge, ideas, people and places while encouraging them to make connections with their own lives and the wider world.

We want our children to be curious and knowledgeable — and to understand that there is always something new to discover.

Growing in Independence

Key Stage 1 is an important time for children’s personal development.

Our teachers help children become increasingly independent, resilient and responsible. They learn to work with others, communicate their ideas, manage routines, make positive choices and persevere when learning becomes challenging.

We recognise that every child develops differently. Teachers carefully identify where children need additional support or greater challenge so that every child can succeed.

Nurture, Grow and Flourish

At St Stephen’s, education is about more than academic achievement.

We want children to feel safe, valued and proud to belong to our school community. Our values and ethos run throughout school life, helping children develop kindness, respect, responsibility and consideration for others.

By the end of Year 2, we want children to leave Key Stage 1 with strong academic foundations, growing independence and, most importantly, a belief that they can learn and succeed.

Discover Key Stage 1 at St Stephen’s

If you are looking for a primary school in Bradford or would like to find out more about Year 1 and Year 2 at St Stephen’s CE Primary School, we would be delighted to welcome you.

Contact our school office to arrange a personal tour or make an enquiry.

Email: office@ststephens.bradford.sch.uk
Telephone: 01274 731698

Come and discover how we help every child Nurture, Grow and Flourish.