what your child learns in Year 1 (Australia)
typical age: 6-7 years · early primary
the year in one paragraph
Year 1 is where reading takes off. most children move from decoding single letters to reading full simple sentences. maths builds on counting to number sense — addition, subtraction, and patterns.
what they study
English
- •decoding words with blends and digraphs (sh, ch, th, bl, cr)
- •reading simple texts with expression
- •writing sentences with capital letters and full stops
- •retelling stories and explaining what happened
Maths
- •counting to 100 by 1s, 2s, 5s and 10s
- •adding and subtracting within 20
- •telling time to the hour and half hour
- •Australian coins — identifying and counting
- •recognising fractions (halves)
Science
- •living vs non-living things
- •weather and seasons patterns
- •basic forces — push, pull, twist
HASS
- •how families and daily life have changed over time
- •places we live and belong to
by the end of Year 1, most children can
- ✓reads 100+ words by sight
- ✓writes complete sentences with punctuation
- ✓adds and subtracts within 20
- ✓counts to 100
- ✓tells time to the half-hour
these are typical expectations — children develop at different rates. talk to your teacher if you're concerned about pace.
key things to know about Year 1
Year 1 is the big reading year. if your child is still struggling with decoding at the end of Year 1, a Year 2 intervention can often get them back on track. this is also the year dyslexia, vision and hearing issues typically become visible — trust any gut feelings and get them checked.
how to support at home
- •short, daily reading is worth more than weekend marathons
- •practise number bonds (pairs that make 10) — 1+9, 2+8, 3+7, etc
- •play board games with dice and counting
- •encourage independent writing — shopping lists, notes, drawings with captions
all year levels
Australian curriculum Foundation through Year 9
based on Australian Curriculum v9 (ACARA). states and territories adopt the curriculum with minor variations; Catholic and independent schools follow the same framework. for the official curriculum documents visit v9.australiancurriculum.edu.au. mini mode is not affiliated with ACARA.