English
Reading
We believe that ‘reading is freedom’: every child has the right to develop a love of reading and to access the best of what has been thought and said (National Curriculum, 2014).
Phonics
We are committed to ensuring that every child has the best foundation for reading success through the development of decoding strategies. We teach phonics through the Read Write Inc scheme every day across the Early Years and KS1. Children take home a ‘book bag book’, which matches the Read Write Inc level they are learning in class and to encourage them to practise reading at home. Please see our Phonics page for more information.
Reading In School
In the Early Years and KS1, we teach reading daily in ability groups using the Read Write Inc scheme. Children are taught a wide range of skills at their level. They apply their phonics and decoding strategies to a range of texts. Children practise reading the text, which ensures that children develop their comprehension and fluency.
In Key Stage Two, we teach reading skills through a wide range of age-appropriate texts, including fiction, non-fiction and poetry. These are closely linked to our whole school curriculum. Children take home a ‘book bag book’ which matches their reading ability.
Developing readers read regularly with their teacher, teaching assistant or adult in school on a 1:1 basis or in a small group. Key reading skills are practised using teacher assessment and judgement.
Children are read to by their teacher every day. Children hear excellent models of fluency, expression and learn to appreciate the enjoyment that reading brings. This ensures that every child has access to a high-quality text, which stretches their understanding and experience.
To encourage the children to read regularly at home we have a reading reward system in place from FS2 to Year 6 called ‘Race To Read’. Children are rewarded in our weekly ‘Special Mention’ assemblies and choose a book that they keep.
Reading at Home
We encourage every child to read at home at least three times per week.
National Literacy Trust research findings show that:
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of those children who never read outside school, just 6% are above the expected level of reading for their age
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8–11-year-olds who enjoy reading very much are four times more likely to read at the expected level for their age than children who do not enjoy reading at all
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children who don’t enjoy reading at all are ten times more likely to have fallen behind and be reading below the expected level for their age than children who enjoy reading
Children who read at home three times in a week receive a raffle ticket which is then entered into a half-termly draw. The winner receives a book of their choice!
Race Read
Children are awarded for reading at home, when it is logged in their school organiser. They will receive a Bronze, SIlver and Gold bookmark for 25, 50 and 75 reads then will be presented with a book once they have reached 100 reads!
The National Literacy Trust research highlights the importance of reading at home, especially to help children developing their knowledge of language and reading fluency. We encourage families to listen to their child read regularly and to develop a love of reading through reading to and sharing books together. We offer workshops to provide support for parents and carers, including phonics at KS1 and how to support with reading at home at KS2.
Writing
In Early Years and Key Stage 1 we encourage children to internalise and retell stories and texts. They begin to innovate and write independently. In Key Stage Two, children follow a teaching sequence that can include reading a stimulus, model text analysis, learning and practising key skills, demonstration writing, independent writing, editing and redrafting. This approach teaches children how to write specific text types/genres for a range of purposes and audiences.
Children write purposefully across the curriculum to enable them to embed their English learning and to show the depth of understanding of a range of subjects. Through writing, children are given the opportunities to connect to our world and communicate effectively on a wide range of issues and themes.
Handwriting
Throughout the Foundation Stage, children develop both gross and fine motor control. We teach and support well-developed fine motor control children to enable them to hold a writing implement and use it effectively. We use the Letter-Join Handwriting Scheme. The ability to write fluently and at speed is essential for all learning across the curriculum. Letter formation, shape and size is taught alongside letter sounds in phonics and the children are supported to write joined up in line with their physical development. Handwriting and spelling are taught regularly so that the children become confident and take pride in their writing.
Phonics/Spelling
We are committed to ensuring that all children have the best foundation for writing success through the development of segmenting strategies which are taught through daily phonics sessions and embedded in our writing sessions using phonics mats to support the children to apply their phonics learning. We use the Spelling Shed scheme across school and the children have access to use this App at home and in school (just ask your child's teacher for their username and password). Children are rewarded in our weekly ‘Special Mention’ assembly for their effort in practising their spellings.
Vocabulary
The teaching of subject specific language is a key component of topic learning. New and challenging vocabulary (tier 2 words) is introduced regularly to children through quality texts and wider curriculum learning and children are supported to use this in their speech and writing.
