If you're a parent navigating the UK school system, the terms KS1 and KS2 can feel a little confusing at first. What exactly should your child know by the end of each Key Stage — and how can you support them at home? Here's everything you need to know.
What Is KS1?
Key Stage 1 covers Years 1 and 2, for children aged 5 to 7. It's the foundation stage of primary school, where children begin to build core literacy and numeracy skills.
By the end of KS1, your child should be able to:
- Read simple texts with confidence and understanding
- Write sentences using capital letters, full stops, and basic punctuation
- Spell common words correctly (the Year 2 spelling list is a good guide)
- Add and subtract numbers up to 100
- Understand basic multiplication and division concepts
- Recognise and name 2D and 3D shapes
- Tell the time to the nearest 15 minutes
The KS1 SATs (taken in Year 2) assess reading, maths, and grammar — though results are used by teachers rather than being high-stakes for children.
What Is KS2?
Key Stage 2 covers Years 3 to 6, for children aged 7 to 11. This is where learning becomes more structured and the curriculum broadens significantly.
By the end of KS2, your child should be able to:
- Read fluently and discuss texts in depth
- Write in a range of styles — stories, reports, persuasive writing
- Use grammar, punctuation, and spelling accurately (including the Year 6 spelling list)
- Work confidently with fractions, decimals, and percentages
- Multiply and divide multi-digit numbers
- Understand basic algebra and geometry
- Recall all times tables up to 12×12
The KS2 SATs in Year 6 are more formal and results are used for secondary school transitions.
How to Support Your Child at Home
You don't need to be a teacher to make a real difference. Little and often is the key — even 15–20 minutes of practice a day adds up quickly.
Some simple ways to help:
- Read together every day, even if it's just a few pages
- Practise times tables in the car or at mealtimes
- Use printable worksheets to reinforce what they're learning in class
- Make it fun — games, puzzles, and colouring activities all count!
Printable Resources to Help at Home
Our range of instant-download printable workbooks and activity sheets are designed to support learning from preschool right through to KS2 — no prep needed, just print and go.
- 🖨️ Preschool & Year 1 Printable Worksheets — tracing letters, shapes & numbers, perfect for ages 3–6
- 🖨️ KS1 English & Maths Workbook (Ages 5–7) — covers letters, number bonds, shapes, and more
- 🖨️ Year 3 Maths Workbook (Ages 7–8) — perfect for the transition into KS2
- 🖨️ Year 4 Science Workbook (Ages 8–9) — printable activity sheets to support KS2 science at home
Browse our full range at reggieandco.co.uk — all instant PDF downloads, ready to print at home.
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