If you have a child in primary school, you have almost certainly heard the phrases Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 mentioned by teachers, in school reports, or on the news. But what do they actually mean, and what is your child supposed to be learning during each stage?
This guide explains both key stages in plain language, covers the main subjects and what children are expected to know, and suggests some practical ways to support learning at home without turning family life into a second school day.
What are Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2?
The National Curriculum in England divides primary education into two key stages.
Key Stage 1 covers Years 1 and 2, when children are aged 5 to 7. Key Stage 2 covers Years 3 to 6, sometimes split into lower KS2 (Years 3 and 4) and upper KS2 (Years 5 and 6).
Both key stages follow the National Curriculum, which sets out what subjects are taught and the standards children should reach in each subject. State schools must follow it. Academies and independent schools have more flexibility but are still expected to provide a broad and balanced education.
At the end of Key Stage 1 (Year 2) and Key Stage 2 (Year 6), children are assessed through SATs, which are standardised tests in reading, writing and maths.
What do children learn in Key Stage 1?
In KS1, pupils study core subjects like English, maths and science, alongside foundation subjects such as history, geography and art. Reading and writing take centre stage during these years. Here's what each subject typically covers.
English: Phonics is the foundation of KS1 English. Children learn to decode words by their sounds, building toward independent reading by the end of Year 2. Writing develops alongside reading, handwriting, spelling, punctuation and the ability to write simple sentences and short stories. Speaking and listening are also assessed throughout.
Year 1 children take a phonics screening check to confirm they are on track with decoding.
Maths: KS1 maths covers number recognition, counting, addition and subtraction, simple multiplication and division, shapes, measures and early problem solving. By the end of Year 2, children are expected to know their 2, 5 and 10 times tables and to add and subtract numbers up to 100.
Number bonds, which are pairs of numbers that add up to make another number, are a KS1 staple that many parents find their children practising at home.
Science: KS1 science is exploratory and observation-based. Children learn about plants, animals, materials, seasonal changes and basic forces. The emphasis is on asking questions and noticing the world around them rather than formal knowledge.
Geography and History: Geography at KS1 introduces basic map skills, the difference between human and physical features, and the names of the world's continents and oceans. History covers significant people and events, including some from within living memory and some from further back.
Other subjects: Art and design, music, computing, design and technology, and PE are all taught throughout KS1. Religious education is also required, though parents can withdraw children from it.
What do children learn in Key Stage 2?
In KS2, learning deepens. Pupils start working more independently and developing their analytical and problem-solving skills. Subjects like history, geography and science encourage curiosity and research, while English and Maths form the backbone of day-to-day lessons.
English: Reading in KS2 shifts from decoding to comprehension, understanding what a text means, identifying themes and making inferences. Writing becomes more sophisticated, with children expected to produce extended pieces across different genres.
Grammar, punctuation and spelling are taught formally and tested at the end of KS2.
Maths: The full times tables from 1 to 12 must be known by the end of Year 4, when children take a multiplication tables check. KS2 Maths then builds on this foundation with long multiplication and division, fractions, decimals, percentages, ratio, algebra and statistics. By Year 6, children are working with reasonably complex problems requiring multiple steps.
Science: KS2 science becomes more structured, with units covering living things and their habitats, human biology, materials and their properties, forces, electricity, light and sound, Earth and space. Children begin to conduct more formal investigations and draw conclusions from evidence.
Geography: Geography in KS2 extends well beyond the UK. Children study the world's major countries and capitals, climate zones, rivers and mountains, and the differences between regions. Map skills become more sophisticated. By the end of KS2, children are expected to have a reasonable working knowledge of world geography.
History: KS2 history covers a broad chronological sweep including ancient civilisations including Egypt, Greece and Rome, the Vikings, the Anglo-Saxons, and significant periods of British history. The emphasis is on understanding change over time and the causes and consequences of historical events.
Modern Foreign Languages: A modern foreign language is compulsory in KS2. French, Spanish and German are the most common, though schools have some flexibility in which language they offer.
Other subjects: Art and design, music, computing, design and technology, PE and RE continue throughout KS2. PSHE (personal, social, health and economic education) is also taught, covering topics including relationships, health and wellbeing.
How can parents support learning at home?
The most effective home support doesn't feel like extra school. Children who are already spending six hours a day in a classroom don't benefit from coming home to another structured lesson. What works is weaving learning into everyday life so naturally that it barely feels intentional.
A few practical approaches that work well at different stages...
For KS1 children: Read together every day. This is the single most impactful thing parents can do for KS1 learning. Talk about what you're reading, ask questions, let children make predictions. Practise number bonds and simple times tables in the car, at the shops, during bath time. Keep it short, keep it conversational.
Our Number Bonds Placemat and Numbers 1 to 20 Placemat sit on the kitchen table at mealtimes so children absorb number patterns without any deliberate effort. Our Alphabet Placemat and Alphabet Poster support letter recognition using the correct formations taught in UK schools.
For KS2 children: The times tables check at the end of Year 4 is a significant milestone, and knowing multiplication facts fluently makes all subsequent maths considerably easier. Regular low-pressure practice — five minutes a day over several months rather than intensive cramming — is the most effective approach.
Our Times Tables Placemat and Times Table Poster both lay out the tables the way schools teach them. Our Multiplication Square Placemat and poster show all the multiplication facts together in a grid format — useful for spotting patterns.
Geography is another subject where everyday exposure pays dividends. A world map on the bedroom wall or a flags placemat at the dinner table means children encounter country names, capitals and flags regularly without any specific effort. And you can use international events like sport tournaments (World Cup, Olympics) as great starting points.
Our World Map Poster and World Map Placemat cover every country in the world. Our Flags and Capitals Poster and Flags of the World Flashcards cover 216 countries & territories with flags, capitals and key facts.
For science, the Periodic Table Placemat and Poster introduce the elements in a format that makes sense long before secondary school chemistry begins. The Solar System Placemat and Poster cover Earth and space in an accessible, visually engaging format.
A note on SATs
SATs are a source of anxiety for many families. Year 2 SATs are now optional and used primarily as a teacher assessment tool. Year 6 SATs are more formal and results are used in secondary school applications in some areas.
The most useful thing parents can do in the run-up to SATs is maintain a calm routine, ensure children are sleeping well and eating properly, and avoid communicating anxiety about the tests. Children who have been learning consistently throughout KS2 are generally well prepared. Last-minute intensive revision tends to increase anxiety without meaningfully improving results.
Our full range of educational placemats, posters and flashcards are designed by qualified teachers and aligned to the UK National Curriculum. Browse our placemats, posters and flashcards.