Welcome to Years 1 & 2
At Dallington, Year 1&2 forms a vital bridge between the play-based approach of Early Years and the more structured curriculum of later primary education. During these transition years, our dedicated teachers nurture children’s curiosity and confidence, blending in familiar activities and resources from the Early Years curriculum with more formal learning experiences. We gradually introduce more focused literacy and numeracy sessions, while still valuing imaginative play, outdoor learning, and hands-on exploration. This balanced approach ensures that each child feels secure and supported as they develop essential skills, laying the foundations for future success both academically and personally, developing a lifelong love of learning.
Our children enjoy a rich, cross-curricular and topic-based curriculum, taught through an enquiry lens that encourages curiosity and independent thinking. We place a strong emphasis on the core subjects of English, Mathematics and Science, with Geography, History and RE brought together into the topic chosen each term. Extracurricular learning is an important part of the curriculum, and as such, the children receive lessons in Art, French, Performing Arts Sports and Forest School from specialist teachers. PSHE is taught as a discrete subject each week and is essential in supporting our children to develop positive relationships and a strong sense of respect and tolerance for others. Through these lessons, children learn about their own feelings, the importance of friendship, and the value of understanding and appreciating different beliefs and cultures, laying the foundations for a welcoming and inclusive community both within and beyond Dallington School.
We recognise the unique strengths and interests of every child. In Year 1&2, small group work and a child-led approach are at the heart of our teaching. Working in small groups allows pupils to collaborate, share ideas, and support each other’s learning, while nurturing independence and building confidence. By encouraging children to steer in their learning, we help them develop key skills such as problem-solving, creativity, and self-motivation. This approach ensures that every child’s talents are recognised and developed, enabling them to flourish both academically and personally.
Meet Barney, Year 1&2 Teacher
Barney has been an integral part of the Dallington community for nearly ten years. With a passion for early primary education, he creates a classroom where learning through play is joyful and meaningful. He’s committed to helping children grow in confidence, take pride in their work, and enjoy coming to school each day.
Barney brings a creative spark to Dallington, drawing on his impressive background in animation and music. His innovative approach infuses lessons with imagination and visual storytelling, inspiring children to think outside the box. Whether planning engaging projects or delivering dynamic lessons, he uses his creativity and expertise to make learning lively, memorable, and accessible for all.
At Dallington School, our Forest School programme is led by a specialist teacher who takes the children to use our nearby green space Kings Square for inspiring outdoor sessions. Our Forest School activities are often linked to topic work in science, design and technology and geography, allowing children to explore areas such as plants, minibeasts and local environments in a hands-on way. Through imaginative outdoor play, stories and sensory activities, children build confidence and develop crucial teamwork skills. These experiences support our core values of creativity, empathy and play, giving children the chance to learn and grow in the natural world.
At Dallington School, our vibrant Arts Curriculum inspires creativity and self-expression through two dedicated strands: Performing Arts and Visual Arts. Led by specialist teachers with extensive arts experience, our Performing Arts curriculum includes music, dance, drama and storytelling. Children regularly showcase their talents in class performances and whole-school concerts for families, weaving in their own ideas. Every child has the opportunity to learn a musical instrument with expert 1:1 tuition available in piano, drums, guitar and cello. Our students experience a diverse range of music and enjoy visits to renowned venues such as Wigmore Hall. Performing Arts is carefully linked with areas of literacy and topic work, supporting our core value of creativity.
Our Visual Arts curriculum nurtures skills in areas such as painting, sculpture, and textiles. Children are introduced to a variety of artists and art forms, while being encouraged to experiment and record their ideas in sketchbooks. Each half term, children work on engaging projects, culminating in a final piece they can be proud of. Our inclusive and dynamic approach ensures every child can develop their artistic skills and find their creative voice.
At Dallington School, our PSHE and RSE curriculum is designed to help every child develop the knowledge, skills and values to thrive as individuals and as members of our community. We follow the Kapow Primary scheme for learning and use resources from the PSHE Association, ensuring a thorough and engaging approach. Our curriculum supports children to build positive relationships, respect differences, and care for themselves, others, and the environment - reflecting our core values of empathy and individuality. Children also benefit from visits by organisations such as the NSPCC and the fire service, helping them understand how to keep themselves and others safe in real-life situations.
At Dallington School, our Humanities curriculum – covering geography, history and religious education (RE) – is taught primarily through immersive topic-based project work. This approach allows children to make meaningful connections across subjects and develop valuable transferable skills. While some lessons, such as RE, may be taught discretely, we ensure they link closely with PSHE and promote British values, including respect and tolerance for different cultures. In Years 1 and 2, we make the most of our local area by using London as our 'second classroom'. Children might visit the British Museum to explore ancient Chinese artefacts, or St Paul's Cathedral to bring the history of the Great Fire of London to life. Our partnership with the Islington Library Service further enriches learning by providing a diverse range of books and hands-on resources tailored to each topic.
All classes benefit from a specialist sports teacher who inspires children to enjoy a wide range of activities, from yoga to football and racket sports. We place a strong emphasis on learning how to stay healthy and active, and celebrate our children’s achievements through sports days, clubs, and fixtures which encourages teamwork and resilience. Swimming is an integral part of our curriculum, with children attending lessons throughout the year at Ironmonger Row Baths to develop their swimming skills and water safety. Our vibrant sports curriculum encourages every child to discover activities they love, supporting their wellbeing and lifelong healthy habits.
At Dallington School, French is introduced to our Year 1 and 2 children through engaging, immersive sessions led by our specialist French teacher. Lessons are designed to be fun and interactive, using games, songs, and storytelling to spark children’s curiosity and build their confidence in speaking French from the very beginning. Our children are encouraged to express themselves in another language while learning about French culture in a lively, supportive environment. A highlight of our curriculum is the regular French café sessions, where children help to make traditional French patisseries and learn simple French recipes, bringing language learning to life through real-world experiences.
Our Literacy curriculum for Years 1 and 2 is designed to nurture confident, proficient communicators and foster a lifelong love of reading and language. We teach phonics in small, carefully matched groups, adapting to each child’s needs to ensure strong foundations in reading and writing. Our creative literacy lessons are built around a rich selection of diverse texts—spanning fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and stories from a variety of cultures—often linked to wider curriculum topics. Children develop their speaking and listening skills through drama, role play, and regular opportunities to share and publish work they are proud of. Visits to Finsbury Library and engaging workshops with authors, illustrators, and publishers further inspire our children. Our goal is for every child to become a proficient English speaker who delights in literature, language, and storytelling.
Science: At Dallington, we bring science to life through real-world learning and hands-on experiences. Our children regularly take part in practical experiments and investigations, developing their skills in observation, classification, and fair testing. We encourage children to make hypotheses and predict what might happen next, fostering curiosity and critical thinking. Outdoor learning and educational trips are a key part of our approach, helping children connect scientific concepts to the world around them and deepening their understanding of people, plants and animals as well as how to care for the environment. Through these activities, our children not only learn core scientific knowledge, but also develop a sense of responsibility for the natural world.
Technology and Engineering: We believe in inspiring a love of technology and engineering from the earliest years. All children enjoy specialist coding lessons, progressing from foundational activities with Cubetto robots to creating their own Scratch animations. Our hands-on approach to engineering encourages children to design, build, and problem-solve—whether they are crafting unique projects in woodworking, experimenting with materials and equipment, or bringing their ideas to life through enrichment opportunities. From designing eco-friendly clothing and building musical instruments with recycled materials to nurturing plants in our gardening projects, our children develop practical skills and creative confidence for the future.
Maths: At Dallington, we use the progressive White Rose Maths scheme to guide our teaching, ensuring a clear progression of skills and understanding. Our approach is hands-on and practical, with children regularly exploring mathematical concepts using concrete resources and engaging in practical investigations and problem solving. We provide plenty of opportunities for mental maths, helping children develop their fluency and confidence with numbers. Where possible, we make meaningful links to real-world contexts and topic learning, such as using measurements in cooking or exploring shapes in our local environment. This ensures that mathematics is relevant, enjoyable, and accessible for all our children.