Continuous Provision in Year 1

Continuous provision describes learning through play. Indoor and outdoor environments are set up into different areas which are available for our children to use every day. Within each of these areas of provision there are a core range of resources that support the curriculum that children can use all of the time, throughout the whole year. It includes learning in both the indoor and the outdoor environments.

Research shows that moving to formal learning too early can make transition from Reception to Year 1 difficult.  Instead of making their own learning choices, being independent, following their own interests and learning through play, children are expected to:

• Sit and listen to information for longer periods of time

• Complete  work  at tables at the same time as everyone else, often with out access to their teacher

• Cope with a highly timetabled day with lots of transitions

• Work in an unfamiliar environment with unfamiliar adults and routines.

We know that play encourages language skills, develops social and emotional skills, supports literacy skills and fosters creativity and imagination

In Year 1 at Belmont we transition from continuous provision to more formal learning across the year. 

• Classrooms and the outdoors are carefully set up into defined areas with key resources that support the curriculum.

• While the style of learning is modelled on the Early Years, we are teaching the  Year 1 National Curriculum.  

• Challenge is built throughout the year and gets progressively more challenging as the year goes on. 

• The expectations in terms of learning, independence, responsibility are higher - it can be quite a big jump from Reception.

•  Good communication between parents and teachers is the key. 

• The environment supports the learning and provide challenge. The environment is constantly changing to reflect the increase in challenge. This builds up children’s confidence to be independent learners and supports them when they move further up in this school and beyond.

An Introduction to Year at Belmont Infants 1 for parents and carers