If you have a child at primary school, you have almost certainly heard the phrase "National Curriculum" mentioned by teachers, in school reports, or on the news. But what does it actually mean, what does it cover, and is there anything you can do at home to support it?
This guide covers the basics, with some practical ideas for making learning feel natural rather than like extra homework.
What is the National Curriculum?
The National Curriculum is the framework that sets out what children in state schools in England should be taught, and to what standard, at each stage of their education. It applies to maintained schools across England, though academies and free schools have some flexibility, and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland each have their own curricula.
The current National Curriculum was introduced in 2014. It is organised into four key stages, with Key Stage 1 covering Years 1 and 2 (ages five to seven), and Key Stage 2 covering Years 3 to 6 (ages seven to eleven). These are the primary years most relevant to parents of younger children.
It is also worth knowing that the curriculum is currently under review. The government commissioned an independent assessment in 2024, the final report was published in November 2025, and a revised curriculum is expected to be published in 2027 for first teaching in 2028. So some changes are on the way, though the core subjects and structure are likely to remain broadly similar.
What Do Children Learn at Primary School?
The primary curriculum is built around three core subjects and a wider range of foundation subjects.
The three core subjects are English, maths and science. These receive the most teaching time and are the focus of national assessments, including SATs at the end of Year 2 and Year 6.
The foundation subjects include history, geography, art and design, design and technology, computing, music, physical education, and a modern foreign language from Key Stage 2. Schools are also required to teach religious education, though this sits outside the National Curriculum itself.
Within each subject, the curriculum sets out what children should know and be able to do by the end of each key stage. It does not prescribe how teachers should teach, only what they should cover.
The Subjects Where Home Support Makes the Most Difference
Research consistently shows that children whose parents engage with their learning at home make better progress than those whose parents do not. But this does not have to mean sitting down to do worksheets together every evening.
The subjects where informal home support tends to make the biggest difference are maths and geography, both of which benefit from regular, low-pressure exposure rather than intensive study sessions.
Maths
The maths curriculum at primary level covers number, measurement, geometry and statistics. In practice, for most primary-aged children, the biggest building blocks are number bonds, times tables, place value and the four operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication and division).
Children are expected to know their times tables up to 12x12 by the end of Year 4, and are assessed on this in the Multiplication Tables Check. Regular, casual exposure to multiplication facts, little and often, is far more effective than occasional cramming sessions.
Our Times Tables Placemat is designed exactly for this kind of passive learning. Sitting at the table three times a day, a child absorbs the structure of the times tables without any pressure. Our Numbers 1 to 100 Flash Cards use colour coding and the same cursive digit fonts taught in schools, so what children see at home reinforces rather than contradicts what they learn in the classroom.
Geography
Geography at primary level covers maps and directions, the United Kingdom, the wider world, physical and human geography, and an introduction to different countries, climates and cultures. By the end of Key Stage 2, children are expected to have a solid working knowledge of world geography, including the names and locations of countries, continents and oceans.
This is an area where a well-decorated wall can genuinely support learning. Our educational posters include world maps, flags of the world and other geography-focused designs that turn bedroom and kitchen walls into low-key learning environments.
Our Flags of the World Flash Cards cover 216 countries, with capital cities, populations, currencies and continental groupings on the reverse of each card. For children studying world geography, they are a genuinely useful resource that also happens to be enjoyable to browse.
English and Phonics
Reading and writing underpin the entire curriculum, and the early years focus heavily on phonics, the system by which children learn to decode written words. Our Alphabet Poster and alphabet-themed placemats support letter recognition and early phonics in a relaxed, visual way.
A Note on the Upcoming Changes
The 2025 curriculum review recommended a stronger focus on speaking and listening skills, more emphasis on reading and writing foundations in the early years, and a greater focus on problem-solving in maths rather than repetition. Geography and history are expected to retain their place as important foundation subjects.
For parents, the practical implication is that the skills most worth nurturing at home, curiosity, communication, and confidence with numbers, are not changing. The review reinforces rather than replaces the core focus of primary education.
You can read the government's summary of the curriculum review at educationhub.blog.gov.uk.
Learning at Home Does Not Have to Feel Like School
The most important thing to remember is that home learning works best when it does not feel like an extension of the school day. Children who feel pressured or anxious about learning at home are less likely to engage, not more.
The most effective home learning environments are ones where educational content is simply present, visible and accessible, without any expectation attached. A poster on the wall. A placemat on the table. A set of flash cards left on the coffee table.
All of our products at Little Wigwam are designed with this in mind. Made by a family business since 2009, designed by qualified teachers and aligned with the National Curriculum, they are built to support learning quietly, in the background, every single day.
Browse our full range of educational gifts for children at littlewigwam.com.