Opportunities

Year One and Year Two: 5 - 7 years

At The Elms, all pupils have the opportunity to extend their skills in specialist subjects. Within Key Stage One, Games lessons are taught by specialist Physical Education teachers in readiness for the move into Key Stage Two, after their seventh birthday, when after school and lunchtime clubs are introduced and give a greater focus on sport. Also, our Year One and Year Two pupils enjoy opportunities for developing their creative and dramatic talents through drama and music productions which usually take place during the Michaelmas Term and during additional end of year Christmas celebrations.

All Key Stage One children have the opportunity to participate in the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts (LAMDA) Speech and Drama Awards, and also Royal Academy Dramatic Arts (RADA) Ballet Examinations, pupils start to play the recorderin year 2 laying foundations for learning an orchestral instrument in year 3.

Another key part of learning within Key Stage One is the use of special days to help the pupils understanding of particular class topics. One such day is 'Katie Morag Day' involving our Year 2 pupils. In the lead up to the event, children research and analyse the well known books by Mairi Hedderwick, looking at life in the Scottish Highlands and learning about the landscape and environment. We, at The Elms find that events like this help extend the pupils learning of topics they study in class, giving them a greater understanding within all their academic subjects.

As part of the event, children participate in a variety of activities throughout the day. On Katie Morag Day the Year Two children come to school dressed in clothing appropriate to the characters they studied earlier in the week and participate in traditional pasttime like weaving and traditional Highland dancing.