Key Stages
At Francis Baily Primary School, our curriculum is carefully structured across three key stages to support every child’s academic, social and emotional development from Foundation through to Year 6. Each stage builds on the one before, with consistent values, high expectations and a strong focus on helping children become confident, curious and independent learners.
Primary School Key Stages
| Stage | Year Group(s) | Age Range | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) |
Foundation | 4-5 Years | Focusses on early learning and development, guided by the EYFS framework |
| Key Stage 1 (KS1) |
Years 1 & 2 | 5-7 Years | Builds early literacy, numeracy and foundational subject knowledge |
| Key Stage 2 (KS2) |
Years 3-6 | 7-11 Years | Expands and deepens understanding across the full primary curriculum |
Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)
In our Foundation classes, children learn through purposeful play, high-quality interactions, and rich, hands-on experiences. We follow a child-led, curiosity-driven approach that supports language development, resilience, and a love of learning.
We work closely with nurseries and families to ensure a smooth transition into school. Our skilled staff guide and support every child in becoming an engaged, motivated, and independent learner.
Key Stage 1
In Key Stage 1 (KS1), children build on their early learning as they transition into more structured classroom experiences. Through engaging lessons and supportive teaching, pupils develop strong foundations in reading, writing and mathematics, alongside a broad and creative curriculum.
We nurture independence, confidence and focus, while continuing to value curiosity, exploration and enjoyment in learning. Our experienced staff ensure children feel secure and motivated as expectations gradually increase, supporting every child to thrive.
We work closely with pupils and families to ensure smooth transitions between Year 1 and Year 2.
Key Stage 2
Key Stage 2 (KS2) at Francis Baily builds on the strong foundations established in the Early Years Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1. Across Years 3–6, our aim is to help children become increasingly independent, reflective and confident learners, ready to thrive both in the later years of primary school and as they move on to secondary education.
At Francis Baily, we divide Key Stage 2 into Lower (Years 3–4) and Upper (Years 5–6) because children’s learning needs change significantly as they move through primary school. This structure allows us to tailor our curriculum, teaching approaches and pastoral support more precisely to each stage of development.