As set out in the National Curriculum, we intend to implement an English programme of study with appropriate subject knowledge that will teach pupils to speak, listen, read and write fluently so that they can communicate their ideas and emotions to others, and so others can communicate with them. Pupils will build on these strands of English often, in English lessons and across the curriculum: to acquire and build on knowledge, for fluency, and for pleasure.

Early reading and writing is prioritised and is taught using a systematic synthetic phonics programme, 'Success For All Phonics'.  Children are taught phonics daily from F1 and sessions increase in length as they move through Foundation Stage and into Key Stage One.

Phonics and Reading

Every child takes home a reading book each day for practise at home and is expected to read a minimum of five times per week. Children that are following the ‘Success for All’ phonics scheme (Early Years & Year 1 and identified children in Years 2-6) are allocated a book each week that is matched to the phonic sounds they have been taught in class. The book is for the child to read to an adult to practise and embed the phonic sounds being learned in class. Closely matched books ensure that all children use their emerging decoding skills and experience high rates of success. Children that have completed the ‘Success for All’ programme are supported to choose a banded book from class libraries.

‘Listening books’ are sent home weekly in Early Years and KS1 for children to hear and enjoy quality texts shared in the home. These are in addition to the quality texts shared in all classes as part of class novel/story time where staff share a wide range of quality texts.

Home reading records are used by class teachers to monitor home reading. In Early Years and KS1, parents are asked to note the page number and initial in the home reading record each time their child has read at home. In KS2, children are asked to record the pages read/next page number and add a simple comment or summary about what has been read. Reading clubs are available during the day for those children that would prefer to read in school.

Each class has a display to celebrate children’s home reading. Reading five times per week is rewarded in class with a step up the display. Once children have reached the top, they earn a prize from their class prize box.

‘Red Carpet Reader’ is celebrated in Good News assembly each Friday. Each class has a ‘Red Carpet Reader’ nominated each week. Nominations will be based on attitudes to reading either in school or at home and all nominees receive a certificate of achievement. Out of the nominations, SLT chooses an overall ‘Red Carpet’ winner who receives a book of their choice (awarded in the following week’s assembly).

Every class in school has story or class novel time. These books have been chosen to ensure our children have access to quality texts at a level beyond that which they can read independently. By sharing the very best books together, we aim to develop a deep love of reading. We frequently use this time to revisit our wider curriculum concepts of ‘society and culture’ and ‘language’ and use classic and contemporary texts to achieve this. Texts are chosen and reviewed regularly to ensure our children see themselves in books, to introduce new hopes and aspirations, as well as to explore characters and themes that they may be less familiar with.

In Key Stages One and Two, we use Collins Treasure House to plan and deliver our English lessons. Each sequence comprises all English core concepts with component learning that builds to an overall composite unit outcome.   Teachers plan to a high-ceiling, low-threshold approach to ensure all children access achievement and success.

Dream by: reading to develop culturally, emotionally, intellectually, socially and spiritually. 

Build by: developing our knowledge in speaking, listening, vocabulary, comprehension and composition.

Grow by: Using our knowledge of English to achieve success across subjects.