Years One and Two
As children move into Year One they enter the Key Stage One of the National Curriculum. Our teaching at this stage is based on NC Guidelines but we enrich this curriculum by extension activities in many areas. Each of the core subjects has a high profile in SPP as can be seen by our above average SATs results at the end of Year Two. All academic subjects are taught through a series of topics which have a Science, History or Geography focus and cover a wide range of opportunities for learning. We either visit a specific place associated with the topic or welcome visiting speakers into school to enrich our studies. For example Year Two visit the Africa Zone at Colchester Zoo when studying “Africa”. Year One have invited a pilot, police dog handler, vicar and midwife to speak about their professions when studying “People at Work”.
Each class has a class teacher and a classroom assistant so there is a high staff/pupil ratio. Years One and Two have specialist teachers for Music and ICT and these teachers work closely with the class teacher when planning the lessons. Year Two are introduced to Yardley Court and Derwent Lodge teaching staff who take weekly games lessons. This is very beneficial for the pupils who become familiar with staff from the schools they are to move onto in Year Three. Conversational French is introduced in Year Two and this is an informal and fun opportunity to hear a foreign language.
Alongside the academic routines, we organise regular events at Somerhill Pre Prep that are hugely enjoyable for the children. These events are a valuable addition to the curriculum.
Early in the Autumn term we have a Science themed day. Throughout the term Year Two classes produce assemblies for the Pre prep pupils and invite their parents in to watch. Each Year group jointly presents a Christmas Concert with extremely well attended performances.
During the Spring term Year One classes put on individual assemblies and these can be topic based or seasonal. This term culminates in the Poetry Competition. All year groups are involved. Year One and Two all choose a poem to learn and recite to their peers. The best three from each class take part in a formal competition in front of judges selected from the other schools and the Principal.
The Summer Term starts with Book Week during which famous authors or illustrators run workshops with the children. Staff and children dress up as book characters and all our activities are Literacy based. We also take part in Readathon which starts during Book week and thanks to very generous friends and relations and our pupils reading skills, we have raised thousands of pounds for the Roald Dahl Foundation and Macmillan Cancer Care for children.
During this term our beautiful grounds come into their own especially on Pre-Prep Art Day when our artistic endeavours take us outside. Each class has a special focus for a day outside and this could be a Maths Fun Day for Year One or Sports and Team games for Year Two. Year Two have a busy final term when they take part in the SATs and finish with a special Leavers’ Concert in which, as usual, every child participates.
