Our Mixed‑Age Infant Hub: Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 Learning Together

Our Infant Hub brings together children from Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 in a carefully designed mixed‑age environment. This model allows younger and older pupils to learn alongside one another, benefiting from shared experiences, strong relationships, and a rich, continuous curriculum. The hub approach reflects our belief that children thrive when learning is responsive, nurturing, and developmentally appropriate.

 A Nurturing, Play‑Rich Environment

The Infant Hub is built around the principles of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), ensuring that Reception children experience a warm, play‑based start to school. At the same time, Year 1 and Year 2 pupils benefit from an environment that supports independence, creativity, collaboration, and exploration.

Key Features of Our Environment

•  Continuous provision areas that promote curiosity, problem‑solving, and hands‑on learning

• Carefully planned enhancements that reflect current topics and children’s interests

• Opportunities for children to revisit, practise, and deepen skills over time

• A calm, purposeful atmosphere where children feel safe, confident, and ready to learn

This approach supports the developmental needs of all children, ensuring that learning feels meaningful and joyful.

Our teaching blends whole‑class sessions, small‑group instruction, and independent exploration. This allows us to meet the needs of each year group while maintaining the benefits of a shared learning space.

Whole‑Class Learning

At key points in the day, children come together for:

• Phonics

• Story time

• Music

• Assemblies

• Shared discussions and celebrations

These moments build community and ensure consistency across the hub.

 Targeted Small‑Group Teaching

Children are grouped by stage, not age, ensuring that teaching is precisely matched to their needs. This includes:

• Phonics groups

• Reading groups

• Targeted interventions

This approach ensures that every child is challenged and supported appropriately.

Independent and Continuous Provision

Throughout the day, children access a rich range of learning opportunities across the hub:

• Construction and problem‑solving

• Creative arts and design

• Role‑play and communication

• Outdoor learning

• Fine‑motor and early writing activities

• Maths and investigation zones

Older pupils act as role models, while younger children benefit from peer support and language‑rich interactions.

Although children share the same space, learning is carefully planned to ensure clear progression across the three year groups.

 Reception

•  Focus on EYFS prime and specific areas

• Learning through play, exploration, and guided interaction

• Early phonics, early maths, and foundational communication skills

Year 1

• A gradual, developmentally sensitive transition from EYFS to Key Stage 1

• Continued access to play‑based learning alongside more structured teaching

• Building early reading, writing, and maths fluency

Year 2

• Increasing independence and readiness for Key Stage 2

• More sustained writing, problem‑solving, and project‑based learning

• Leadership roles within the hub

This structure ensures that children move smoothly through early education with confidence and continuity.

• It supports strong relationships across ages, promoting empathy, collaboration, and confidence.

• It allows teaching to be highly responsive, meeting children exactly where they are.

• It provides a developmentally appropriate transition from EYFS into Key Stage 1.

• It creates a rich, stimulating environment where children can explore, question, and create.

 

For further information on the Statutory requirements of the curriculum see the links below:

National Curriculum Framework  

Early Years Foundation Stage