Bringing the Key Stage 1 Curriculum to Life Through Imaginative Role Play
Looking for engaging KS1 workshops that inspire curiosity, build confidence and support learning across the curriculum?
At Pop Up Play Village, we deliver immersive Key Stage 1 role play workshops that transform your school hall into a world of imagination. Through child led role play, pupils develop communication, creativity, problem solving and teamwork while making meaningful connections with their classroom learning.
Our workshops are designed for Year 1 and Year 2 pupils and can be linked to curriculum topics, enrichment days, wellbeing programmes or whole school events.
Why Role Play Matters in Key Stage 1
Children learn best when they are actively involved in their learning. Role play allows pupils to explore ideas, ask questions, solve problems and communicate with others in a safe and engaging environment. It encourages children to apply their knowledge in meaningful contexts while developing essential life skills alongside academic learning.
Our workshops help children to develop:
Speaking and listening skills
Vocabulary and communication
Confidence and independence
Creativity and imagination
Problem solving and critical thinking
Teamwork and cooperation
Emotional wellbeing
Resilience
Curiosity and a love of learning
Every session is child led, allowing children to learn naturally through exploration and play.
Curriculum Linked KS1 Workshops
Our workshops can be tailored to complement a wide range of Key Stage 1 topics.
Popular curriculum links include:
English
Children develop speaking, listening, storytelling and vocabulary through meaningful conversations. Through purposeful role play, children are encouraged to apply their reading and writing skills in meaningful situations, helping to develop confidence, comprehension and a genuine purpose for literacy.
Mathematics
Role play encourages practical maths through money, measures, counting, problem solving and real life mathematical situations.
Science
Children investigate the world around them through observation, questioning and exploration while developing scientific vocabulary.
History
Travel back in time through immersive role play linked to historical topics and significant people.
Geography
Explore communities, transport, travel and different environments through hands on learning experiences.
Art, Design and Technology
Children design, create, build and solve practical problems during imaginative play scenarios.
PSHE
Role play supports friendships, kindness, empathy, emotional wellbeing, decision making and understanding different perspectives.
Learning Through Real Life Experiences
Children naturally enjoy pretending to be adults and exploring the world around them. Our village encourages pupils to investigate everyday occupations and community roles while developing communication, independence and confidence.
Popular themes include:
People Who Help Us
Careers Week
Our Local Area
Journeys
Transport
Great Fire of London
Looking After the World
Minibeasts
Plants
Fairytales
We can plan for any topic ensuring that our visit is valuable and complements your curriculum.
Skills Children Develop
Alongside curriculum knowledge, our workshops develop essential life skills that benefit children throughout their education.
Children have opportunities to:
Ask thoughtful questions
Explain their ideas
Work collaboratively
Negotiate and solve problems
Develop resilience
Make independent decisions
Show creativity
Build confidence
Strengthen communication
Develop empathy
These transferable skills support learning across every area of the curriculum.
Why Schools Choose Pop Up Play Village
Schools choose Pop Up Play Village because our workshops combine educational expertise with engaging child led learning.
Founded by a qualified primary teacher, our workshops have been developed through more than ten years of experience working with schools across the UK.
Our KS1 workshops are:
Curriculum linked
Inclusive and adaptable
Child led
Suitable for all abilities
Designed to promote communication and wellbeing
Engaging, practical and memorable
Delivered by experienced practitioners
The Research Behind Learning Through Role Play
Educational research consistently demonstrates that imaginative play supports children’s language development, executive functioning, social understanding and emotional wellbeing.
In Key Stage 1, role play provides opportunities for children to apply classroom learning in meaningful real life situations. By exploring ideas through play, children deepen their understanding, develop confidence and become more independent learners.
At Pop Up Play Village, we combine these evidence informed principles with over ten years of practical experience delivering workshops in schools nationwide.
We believe children learn best when they are actively engaged, encouraged to explore and given opportunities to think creatively.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which year groups are the workshops suitable for?
Our KS1 workshops are designed for Year 1 and Year 2 and can be adapted to suit mixed age classes.
Can workshops link to our curriculum topics?
Yes. We work with schools to tailor workshops around current topics, learning themes and curriculum objectives wherever possible.
Can you deliver workshops for the whole school?
Absolutely. We regularly deliver workshops for individual classes, year groups, whole school enrichment days and themed learning events.
Are workshops suitable for children with additional needs?
Yes. Our inclusive, child led approach allows every child to participate in a way that is appropriate for them, and activities can be adapted to meet a wide range of learning needs.
Outcomes Schools Commonly See
Following our KS1 workshops, teachers often tell us they notice improvements in:
Children’s confidence when communicating
Vocabulary development
Teamwork and cooperation
Creative thinking
Problem solving skills
Engagement with learning
Independence
Imaginative play
Social interaction
Enthusiasm for curriculum topics
Book a KS1 Role Play Workshop
Whether you’re planning a curriculum enrichment day, supporting a history topic, developing communication skills or simply looking for an unforgettable learning experience, our KS1 role play workshops bring learning to life.
Contact us today to discuss how we can create a bespoke workshop for your Key Stage 1 pupils.
