What do infant schoolchildren need to know?

Ok, this is going to be a long one...

Key Stage 1 is the first stage of the National Curriculum framework. It covers Years 1 and 2 of primary school; in other words, ages 5 to 7. It therefore covers the older part of my target audience, and also goes a little bit beyond it.

The list of things that children are expected to learn in Key Stage 1 is massive, and in my opinion completely unrealistic (in particular, as my housemate is a geography teacher, I know that even kids starting secondary school don't know the geography requirements!)

Nevertheless, here is a summary of the things children are expected to know (I have left out the things specific to Year 2, as this is outside my target audience)

English

• Use phonics to read unfamiliar words with regular spellings.
• Read some common words with irregular spellings, and some common words of more than one syllable.
• Read a book out loud by using phonics; re-read to increase confidence and fluency.
• Understand the use of apostrophes to represent missing letters.
• Be familiar with words using the -s, -es, -ing, -ed, -er and -est endings.
• Listen to, and discuss, books beyond their reading level.
• Learn rhymes and poems by heart.
• Discuss the meanings of new words.
• Re-tell a familar story in their own words.
• Link a story to their own experiences.
• Understand the significance of a book's title.
• Make inferences from a story and predict what might happen next.
• Use simple spelling rules to spell some words.
• Spell the days of the week.
• Hold a pencil comfortably.
• Recognize and write capital letters, lower-case letters and numbers.
• Recite the alphabet using the proper names of the letters.
• Plan and write a simple sentence.
• Write a sentence dictated by the teacher.
• Understand the use of spaces, the word "and," question marks and exclamation marks.

Maths

• Count up to 100, forwards and backwards.
• Count in twos, fives and tens.
• Use the words "more than," "less than," "equal to," "most," and "least."
• Recognize numbers in both numerals and words.
• Recognise the + - = symbols.
• Add together two single-digit numbers (including zero).
• Complete "missing number" addition problems.
• Know the "number bonds" (pairs of numbers that add up to 10 or 20).
• Use objects or pictures to multiply and divide.
• Divide objects into halves and quarters.
• Measure and compare length, weight, volume and time.
• Recognize coins and banknotes.
• Tell the time to 15-minute intervals.
• Know the days of the week, months of the year, and how dates work.
• Name simple 2D and 3D shapes.
• Vocabulary such as left / right, up / down, top / bottom, inside / outside.
• Make quarter / half / three-quarter turns.

Science

• Ask simple questions, and understand that a question can have multiple answers.
• Make observations using simple equipment; use these observations to help answer simple questions.
• Perform a simple test.
• Identify and classify objects.
• Gather and record information.
• Identify common plants, including deciduous and evergreen trees.
• Know the basic parts of a tree and a flowering plant.
• Identify, describe and compare common vertebrate animals.
• Identify, draw and label basic body parts.
• Connect body parts to the senses.
• Know the difference between an object and the material it is made from.
• Identify, describe and compare everyday materials.
• Observe and describe seasons and weather.

Art & Design

• Share ideas through drawing, painting and sculpting.
• Use a range of materials to design and make products.
• Use a range of colours, patterns, textures, lines, shapes and forms.
• Know about some famous artists and compare their work.

Citizenship

• Know the difference between right and wrong.
• Express thoughts, feelings and opinions.
• Understand the needs of other people, animals and plants.
• Know where money comes from and how it is used.
• Know how to keep safe from danger, and about illness and basic personal hygeine.
• Know about parts of the body and growing up.
• Know how to get along, to respect each other's feelings, and what bullying is.
• Ask for help when needed.
• Communicate with others appropriately.

Computing

• Know what an algorithm is and that computers work by following instructions.
• Create a simple program and predict its behaviour.
• Create, store, edit and retrieve files.
• Know some uses of IT beyond school.
• Use technology safely, asking for help when needed.

Design & Technology

• Design a functional product based on criteria.
• Develop ideas through talking, drawing, making models, or using IT.
• Use a range of tools, materials, ingredients and equipment.
• Evaulate existing products and own ideas against criteria.
• Understand how structures can be made stronger.
• Understand how simple mechanisms work.

Geography

• Know the continents, oceans, and countries and capitals of the UK.
• Compare the UK to a foreign country.
• Be aware of seasons, weather, and the hot and cold regions of Earth.
• Identify basic physical and human geographical features.
• Use a map.
• Know the cardinal directions.
• Identify features from an aerial photograph or top-down plan.

History

• Develop an understanding of the past and the passing of time.
• Be aware of some significant events during, and beyond, living memory.
• Be aware of some significant historical figures.
• Compare life in two different periods of history.

Music

• Sing songs and speak chants or rhymes.
• Play a simple instrument.
• Listen to music with concentration.
• Experiment with combining sounds.

PE

• Move with balance and co-ordination.
• Play team games.
• Perform simple dance movements.

Once I have been able to identify exactly which academic area(s) my series will cover, this research will help me to understand the important points that must be covered in order to work alongside a child's schooling.