English
English Subject Lead – Mrs Munton
Phonics
Read Write Inc. Lead – Mrs Alliston
Intentions:
To promote and instil a love for writing and high-quality literature into pupils at all ages. It is our intention when teaching the English curriculum that our pupils acquire the necessary knowledge, skills and understanding to become lifelong learners and linguists. We strive to ensure that all our pupils receive a well-rounded learning experience when writing which will equip them with the fundamental tools to achieve in our school and beyond. It is our intention to immerse pupils in the wonders of quality texts to instil a love for writing, a passion for discovery of different texts and the confidence to explore their imagination and use it in their written work.
Implementations:
Handwriting
Across KS1 and KS2 the day starts with a short handwriting session. In this time the children are introduced to a new letter which the teacher models how to write in the school cursive style. The appropriate lead in and lead outs are taught so that the children can become skilled at joining their handwriting, ideally by the end of Year Two.
Grammar
In KS1 and KS2 the children have the opportunity to learn new grammar concepts or consolidate ones already taught so that they understand its importance within the English spoken and written language.
Writing
The children are taught writing through the exploration of a variety of fictional and non-fictional books as well as poetry. The children become passionate writers, enthusiastically writing in a variety of writing genres/types, such as:
- Recount
- Procedure or Instruction
- Narrative
- Report
- Explanation
- Argument and persuasion
- Poetry
The children’s writing skill set and stamina is constantly being developed and stretched throughout the years.
Spelling
Spelling is taught across the school and tested weekly and termly. We focus on the common exception words appropriate to each year group.
Impact
The children will become independent and passionate writers who communicate coherently and expressively. We believe writing is an essential skill can benefit students for the rest of their lives. Through introducing and practicing writing with engaging and exciting activities we can foster confidence and a lifelong love of writing.
Attainment is measured using the statutory assessments at the end of KS1 and KS2. These results are measured against attainment of children nationally.
PHONICS
Nursery and Reception children are formally taught Read Write Inc. normally from Summer Term of Nursery. However, throughout foundation stage, including 2 year old provision, children are surrounded by provision that enhances and develops phonetical understanding, oral blending and rhyming. Please see Development Matters Below.
Ks1 pupils have Read Write Inc lessons every day. At Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Primary School, we are committed to helping our children to become fluent readers. This is one of our main goals. We use the Read Write Inc programme to help us to make every child a reader. Our children love it! Taken from:
https://global.oup.com/education/content/primary/series/rwi/?region=uk
Read Write Inc., developed by Ruth Miskin , provides a structured and systematic approach to teaching literacy. It is used by more than a quarter of the UK’s primary schools and is designed to create fluent readers, confident speakers and willing writers.
Each Read Write Inc. programme meets the higher expectations of the National Curriculum and uses effective assessment to accelerate every child’s progress and prepare them for the Ks2 scheme Language and Literacy
Read more about Read Write Inc here:
http://www.ruthmiskin.com/en/parents/
The following information explains how English is taught throughout the school. English is part of the ‘essential knowledge’ (p6 National Curriculum) that is needed to take an active role in modern day society. The National Curriculum (2014) clearly states that teaching the English language is an essential, if not the most essential role of a primary school. English is fundamental for all learning at Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Primary School. It underpins the school curriculum by developing each child’s ability to speak, listen, read and write for a wide range of purposes, using language to learn and communicate, to think, explore and organise. We use the whole curriculum to support each child’s ability to express themselves correctly and appropriately and to read and write accurately and with understanding.
READING
Across the whole school starting at the Foundation Stage each week the children have guided reading sessions delivered by the class teacher or TA, individually or in small groups – the groups are heard read either daily, twice weekly or three times weekly. This is where children have the opportunity to discuss what they have read in a supportive way delving in between the lines to gain further meaning, inference and deduction. Children are also taught to look for meaning beyond the words within the text and make connections between different parts of texts and with other texts read. Children in throughout the school are taught comprehension skills each week in class as a further opportunity to embed and utilise their reading skills. Understanding and comprehension has become a big drive in reading. This has been introduced to ensure the children are not only able to decode and blend phonics in order to read. But also to be able to understand and answer questions about what they have just read.
SPOKEN LANGUAGE
In English, as soon as the child starts their educational journey they learn to speak confidently and listen to what others have to say. They begin to read and write independently and with enthusiasm, using language to explore their own experiences and imaginary worlds. Children learn to speak confidently and listen to what others have to say. They begin to read and write independently and with enthusiasm. Children use language to explore their own experiences and imaginary worlds. They work in small groups and as a class, joining in discussions and making relevant points. They also learn how to listen carefully to what other people are saying, so that they can remember the main points. This is built on the Early Learning Goals where in Nursery and Reception, the children use language to imagine and recreate role and experiences becoming attentive listeners and interact with others in play. Speech and Language is an important focus whereby children are introduced to new vocabulary, extending and developing the children’s ability to interact audibly.
DRAMA
At times, children participate in a range of drama activities, where they use language and actions to explore and convey situations, characters and emotions, creating and sustaining roles individually and when working with others. Afterwards, the children have opportunities to comment constructively on drama they have watched or in which they have taken part. In Key Stage Two, children develop their drama to convey action and narrative to convey stories, themes, emotions, ideas and devise scripts. They explore dramatic techniques and comment how authors use these techniques in their writings.
STANDARD SPOKEN ENGLISH
We introduce to our children the main features of spoken standard English and teach them how spoken language varies in different circumstances for example: formal and informal situations. This transfers into grammatical constructions in both key stages which the children are taught both discretely and within writing a wide range of texts.
HANDWRITING AND PRESENTATION
At Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Primary, the children take pride in their work and from Reception children are taught how to write by holding a pencil properly, writing from left to right across the page, forming letters in an appropriate size with finger spaces and joining each letter using cursive script. Cursive writing is a very inclusive way of writing and helps children who have special educational needs. Children find it easier to read their work back quicker and take pride in their presentation.
Foundation Stage – 6.7534_DfE_Development_Matters_Report_and_illustrations_web__2_