We’ve put together some advice and activities specifically designed to help children using Progress with Oxford . Read on to discover what learning your child is likely to be introduced to in Year 1 and how you can support your child’s new skills at home, download free activities, and much more.

Learning at school

Leaving Reception behind and moving into Year 1 can feel like a big step for your child (and for you!). Your child’s Year 1 teacher is there to make this transition easier for everyone by supporting the children in their next learning step.

Year 1 teachers often remark how children return from their summer break looking taller and wiser and ready for a challenge. Your child will still be learning through play; they will be exploring, discovering and making plenty of use of their role-play corner. Your child’s day may be a little more structured than it was in Reception and they may have to sit at a table for a little longer than they are used to, but they will still be learning in a variety of ways – while moving, exploring outdoors, in groups, on the carpet or walking around the school!

For information on exactly what your child will be doing in Year 1, take a look at our guide to what to expect in Year 1.

Tips to support your child at home

How can you effectively support your child at home? Here are a few tips and ideas to help your child as they make the step up to Year 1:

Play with tongue twisters like Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers or Betty Botter bought some butter… You could encourage your child to invent some of their own to really get them thinking about language.
As well as reading books, why not try making them? If your child has a younger sibling, they could make a simple book and then read it to them.
Cooking with your child is an excellent way to practise and talk about key maths skills – counting eggs for a cake recipe, measuring and weighing ingredients together, and timing how long food should be in the oven. Best of all, you both get to enjoy a tasty treat at the end! Why not try our banana bread recipe?

For more advice, take a look at our page on fun learning ideas for 5–6 year olds.

Practice activities

Try out our free activities to support your child throughout their early development.