ENGLISH

At our school we believe that English extends to all areas of a child’s life. For a child to become a fully developed and fulfilled individual, a knowledge and enjoyment of both the English language and literature is essential.

We use a variety of teaching and learning strategies. The daily lessons are well planned and prepared; aiming to provide stimulating lessons for all children with coverage of the relevant curriculums. We use a variety of recommended schemes such as The Literacy Company, Focus Education, Power Writing and Read Write Inc which are integrated into and linked to quality texts in the teaching of the skills of reading, writing, spelling and grammar.

Reading

We aim to encourage all our children to become confident and enthusiastic readers, promoting a love of reading. We encourage our children to read and enjoy a variety of fiction and non-fiction books. In Reception and KS1, book bag books and library books are taken home to share with parents supporting the children’s reading progress and love of books. Children in KS2 take home library books or books linked to their reading ability, often following their own interest. An appreciation of literature is achieved by ensuring that children are taught reading skills using a wide range of quality texts. Reading, writing, phonics, handwriting, and story time are built into class timetables, differing slightly depending on the age and the needs of the children.

By the end of their primary education, pupils will be are able to read fluently, and with confidence.

Writing

Our key  focus is to  provide children with the skills to write fluently, spelling accurately through knowing the relationship between sounds and letters (phonics), understanding word structures and spelling structures. The children will be able to write with clarity, awareness of the audience, purpose and context, and with an increasingly wide knowledge of vocabulary and grammar. The children will also develop fluent, legible and, eventually, speedy handwriting.

Writing is developed through carefully planned units of work over a sequence of lessons.  Grammar and punctuation objectives are taught through the writing process, and sometimes separately. The children develop  their creative ideas through the plan, edit and redraft process, using peer and self-assessments as a tool  to achieving their published piece of writing. We celebrate the children’s achievements by publishing their written work in a mutually agreed way or through display.

Speaking and Listening

Spoken language plays an important part in the curriculum and underpins the development of reading and writing. Integrated into all lessons, many opportunities are made for children to express themselves effectively and to listen appropriately. We create numerous opportunities for discussion work in a variety of situations and give opportunities of expression through role-play and drama and presentational speaking.

The children’s skills in speaking and listening are essential in enabling them to communicate and express themselves in all curriculum areas.

Assessment

At our school, teachers  mark children’s English work aiming to provide positive and constructive feedback. It may be a combination of oral and written feedback and will inform pupils of the progress they have made and provide next steps for learning. From Year 1, children’s work is marked against the agreed Assessment for Learning tools (Autumn, – faces, Spring – traffic lights, Summer – ABC 123). Many children take part in self-assessment and peer assessment marking techniques, supported by the teacher. Marking will be regular, reflecting its importance as a tool for improving the standards of pupils’ work.

We use SIMMS Assessment Manager to input ongoing assessments throughout the year.  Teachers’ judgements are supported using more formal assessments at termly intervals. All assessments are used effectively by teachers to plan the children’s next steps in learning.