Term / weeks	Teaching focus	Evidence to look for
1–2	Notice and name visible features Separate a seen detail from a guess	Two-column observation record
3–4	Give a reason for a choice Match the reason to a stated goal	Oral claim-and-reason pair
5–6	Sort with one rule Test an object that does not fit	Rule and non-example
7–8	Use before and after with cards Combine two ordering clues	Checked three-card row
9–10	Choose objects or a drawing Explain a first-term solution	Short portfolio conference
11–12	Match quantities one to one Find a missing amount with a distractor	Labelled counter drawing
13–14	Describe positions on a grid Trace a two-move route	Start and finish map
15–16	Name a stated repeating unit Repair an error in its repetition	Corrected sound or card pattern
17–18	Ask what is not yet known Choose a useful observation	One discriminating question
19–20	Try two ways to meet a goal Compare and check both ways	Two-design mini-project
21–22	Separate a preference from a reason Change the goal and reconsider	Explained new choice
23–24	Apply an all-rule to an object Show why the reverse need not work	Rule and counterexample with cards
25–26	Check every clue in a row Remove a clue and find alternatives	Two valid arrangements
27–28	Choose relevant numbers Check a missing-part answer	New story and solution
29–30	Solve a mixed oral task Explain what helped and what did not	Transfer conversation
31–32	Follow moves from a new start Reverse a two-step route	Out-and-back route
33–34	Turn a sound pattern into shapes Give exact instructions to a partner	Reproducible pattern
35–36	Give two reasons and compare them Choose the relevant one for a goal	Reason-selection task
37–38	Plan a sorting or building investigation Test it and revise one feature	Annotated revised design
39–40	Complete the Year 1 checkpoint orally Review errors and set a next-step goal	Checkpoint plus portfolio

Term / weeks

Teaching focus

Evidence to look for

1–2

Notice and name visible features Separate a seen detail from a guess

Two-column observation record

3–4

Give a reason for a choice Match the reason to a stated goal

Oral claim-and-reason pair

5–6

Sort with one rule Test an object that does not fit

Rule and non-example

7–8

Use before and after with cards Combine two ordering clues

Checked three-card row

9–10

Choose objects or a drawing Explain a first-term solution

Short portfolio conference

11–12

Match quantities one to one Find a missing amount with a distractor

Labelled counter drawing

13–14

Describe positions on a grid Trace a two-move route

Start and finish map

15–16

Name a stated repeating unit Repair an error in its repetition

Corrected sound or card pattern

17–18

Ask what is not yet known Choose a useful observation

One discriminating question

19–20

Try two ways to meet a goal Compare and check both ways

Two-design mini-project

21–22

Separate a preference from a reason Change the goal and reconsider

Explained new choice

23–24

Apply an all-rule to an object Show why the reverse need not work

Rule and counterexample with cards

25–26

Check every clue in a row Remove a clue and find alternatives

Two valid arrangements

27–28

Choose relevant numbers Check a missing-part answer

New story and solution

29–30

Solve a mixed oral task Explain what helped and what did not

Transfer conversation

31–32

Follow moves from a new start Reverse a two-step route

Out-and-back route

33–34

Turn a sound pattern into shapes Give exact instructions to a partner

Reproducible pattern

35–36

Give two reasons and compare them Choose the relevant one for a goal

Reason-selection task

37–38

Plan a sorting or building investigation Test it and revise one feature

Annotated revised design

39–40

Complete the Year 1 checkpoint orally Review errors and set a next-step goal

Checkpoint plus portfolio

Thinking Skills

Not sure where to begin?

Evidence and useful questions: seeing, knowing and guessing

Arguments and evaluation: a claim needs a relevant reason

Rules and deduction: all, not and one-way rules

Constraints and search: putting clues together

Quantitative reasoning: choose the quantities that matter

Spatial reasoning: position, movement and viewpoint

Patterns and algorithms: follow a stated repeated rule

Strategic and creative reasoning: make, check and try another way

Year 1 Thinking Skills test

Suggested 40-week sequence