Free Year 1 Worksheets: Maths, English and Science for Ages 5–6

Year 1 is one of the most exciting and important years in a child's education. It is the first full year of formal schooling in the UK, where children aged 5 to 6 begin to develop the core skills in reading, writing and mathematics that will underpin everything they learn for the rest of their school life. Worksheets are one of the most effective tools parents and teachers can use to reinforce classroom learning and build confidence at home.

## What Do Children Learn in Year 1?

In Year 1, the National Curriculum sets clear expectations across all subjects. In maths, children work on counting forwards and backwards to 100, learning number bonds to 20, beginning addition and subtraction, and exploring basic shapes and measurements. In English, the focus is on phonics — particularly completing Phase 5 of the Letters and Sounds programme — as well as beginning to read simple sentences, write short pieces and develop their handwriting. Science introduces children to animals, plants, materials and seasonal changes through hands-on exploration.

## Why Use Worksheets in Year 1?

At this age, children benefit enormously from repetition and practice. Worksheets provide a structured way to revisit and reinforce what has been taught in class, helping children move from guided understanding to independent application. For parents supporting children at home, a well-designed worksheet can make the difference between a concept that sticks and one that doesn't.

The best Year 1 worksheets are: - **Visually engaging** — large print, clear layouts, and where appropriate, colourful illustrations - **Appropriately challenging** — not too easy, not too hard, with scaffolding built in - **Curriculum-aligned** — matching exactly what children are expected to know at this stage - **Varied** — covering different types of activities to keep children engaged

## Free Year 1 Maths Worksheets

Year 1 maths worksheets should cover the following key areas:

**Number and Place Value** Children should practise counting in 2s, 5s and 10s, identifying one more and one less than a given number, and reading and writing numbers to at least 100. Worksheets with number lines, hundreds squares and counting activities are particularly useful.

**Addition and Subtraction** Year 1 children work on adding and subtracting one-digit and two-digit numbers. Worksheets should include both written methods and practical representations using objects or pictures.

**Multiplication and Division** At this stage, children begin to solve simple multiplication and division problems through grouping and sharing. Visual worksheets using arrays and equal groups are ideal.

**Shape, Space and Measure** Children learn to recognise and name common 2D and 3D shapes, compare lengths and weights, and sequence events by time. Worksheets involving drawing and labelling shapes are very effective.

## Free Year 1 English Worksheets

English worksheets for Year 1 should target:

**Phonics** Phase 5 phonics introduces alternative spellings for sounds children already know (for example, 'ay', 'ou', 'ie'). Worksheets that practise reading and spelling words with these new graphemes are essential.

**Reading Comprehension** Short passages with simple questions help children build understanding alongside decoding skills. Look for worksheets that use age-appropriate vocabulary and engaging topics.

**Writing** Year 1 children practise writing simple sentences with capital letters, full stops and finger spaces. Worksheets with sentence starters, word banks or picture prompts are particularly effective.

**Handwriting** Forming letters correctly is a key Year 1 objective. Worksheets with letter formation guides and tracing activities support fine motor skill development.

## Free Year 1 Science Worksheets

Science in Year 1 is predominantly exploratory, but worksheets can help consolidate learning in: - Animals including humans (body parts, senses) - Plants (parts of a plant, what plants need to grow) - Everyday materials (comparing and grouping materials by properties) - Seasonal changes (recording observations across the year)

## How to Use Worksheets Effectively With Year 1 Children

Short, focused sessions work best for this age group. Aim for 10–15 minutes of worksheet activity at a time, and always sit with your child rather than leaving them to work alone. Celebrate effort over accuracy — at Year 1, building confidence is as important as getting the right answer. If a child finds a worksheet too difficult, use it as a conversation starter rather than a source of frustration.

## Generate Custom Year 1 Worksheets in Seconds

With Worksheets Generator, you can create free, personalised Year 1 worksheets in seconds. Simply select the age group (5–7 years), type the topic — for example, "addition to 20" or "Phase 5 phonics" — choose the difficulty level, and click Create. The AI generates a unique, curriculum-aligned worksheet complete with an answer key, ready to print immediately.

Whether you are a parent looking to support your child at home, a teacher creating differentiated resources, or a tutor preparing bespoke materials, Worksheets Generator gives you everything you need — for free.