English
The intent of our primary school English curriculum is to ensure that every child becomes a confident and proficient communicator, equipped with the skills to read, write, speak, and listen effectively. We aim to foster a love of language and literature, enabling pupils to appreciate the richness and diversity of the English language, while developing the technical accuracy needed for success in both school and life.
Our curriculum is designed to develop strong reading skills, ensuring that children can decode, comprehend, and engage with a wide range of texts. Through the exploration of both fiction and non-fiction, pupils will develop a deeper understanding of different genres, authors, and cultures, expanding their imagination and critical thinking. We aim to nurture a love of reading by exposing children to high-quality texts that inspire, challenge, and provoke thought.
Writing is at the heart of our English curriculum. We provide pupils with opportunities to write for a variety of purposes and audiences, encouraging creativity, clarity, and precision. To support the teaching of writing, we use the HfL Essential Writing Programme, which provides a structured and engaging approach to developing pupils’ composition, vocabulary, and authorial skills.
Through the teaching of grammar, punctuation, and spelling, we ensure that children develop the technical skills needed to communicate their ideas with accuracy and coherence. Spelling is taught systematically through the Little Wandle programme, with daily spelling sessions in Key Stage 1 and three spelling sessions each week in Key Stage 2. We also follow the Letter-join handwriting programme across the school, enabling pupils to develop fluent, legible, and joined handwriting.
Our curriculum emphasises the writing process, from planning and drafting to editing and publishing, helping pupils to reflect on and improve their work. Through high-quality diverse texts, explicit teaching, and purposeful writing opportunities, we aim to develop confident, skilled writers who can communicate effectively across the curriculum and beyond.
Speaking and listening skills are also fundamental to our approach. We provide opportunities for pupils to articulate their ideas, engage in discussions, and listen to the views of others. Through drama, presentations, and collaborative activities, we aim to build confidence in verbal communication, ensuring that children can express themselves clearly and respectfully in a range of contexts.
By the end of primary school, our pupils will have developed the literacy skills, confidence, and love for language that will support their future learning and success in a rapidly changing world.
Key Aims:
- Develop confident, fluent readers with strong comprehension skills.
- Foster a love of reading by exposing pupils to a wide range of high-quality and diverse texts.
- Equip pupils with the skills to write clearly, accurately, and creatively for different purposes.
- Ensure children understand and apply the rules of grammar, punctuation, and spelling.
- Build confident verbal communicators who can express themselves clearly and listen to others with respect.
- Encourage a love of language and literature that supports lifelong learning and personal growth.
whole school texts overviews.pdf
Genre Progression Document
essentialwriting genre progression overview.pdf
Writing Progression Document
essentialwriting y1 y6 progression document.pdf
