The research report ‘Strong foundations in the first years of school’ published by Ofsted (October 2024) emphasised how children need to secure strong foundational knowledge across Reception and KS1 to give them the best chance of educational success. ‘By the end of key stage 1, all children need foundational knowledge: how to communicate, read, write and count.

This includes the general knowledge that will help them to understand the world around them. Their physical, emotional and social development are also important. Finally, developing executive function is crucial for both learning and well-being.

Please see the booklet attached that explains our approach to foundational learning in more detail.