English & Phonics
In English the children follow the new National Curriculum across all key stages.
The children have specific phonics teaching to develop their early language skills and spelling using the actions and sounds from Letters and Sounds. They take part in plenty of interactive games, which makes learning fun!
Literacy teaching covers a range of genres within each year group. Each genre or unit lasts between 2 and 4 weeks and to enhance the thematic curriculum, the Literacy skills are taught alongside or as part of Science, History or Geography lessons. Literacy is taught using the reading to writing model, where children spend time becoming familiar with the genre through lots of speaking and listening activities, drama, role play and reading.
Another focus is on unpicking the text, so that the children can identify the specific features of that text type. Moving on to where the children produce their own writing using the skills and applying the features of the text type. In Guided Writing sessions, the teacher works with a small group on a daily basis. During Reading children are encouraged to discuss the vocabulary and texts they have read; explain why characters behave in certain ways, predict what might happen next, and develop their skills of inference and deduction. Children are encouraged to work in a variety of ways, using response partners for support, working co-operatively in small groups and working independently.
Children use ICT to develop their Literacy and word processing skills. The Smartboard is used to enhance Literacy teaching and is particularly useful in illustrating visual elements and sound, which can be the stimulus for writing. Handwriting is taught in cursive style from the end of Reception.
English aims to ensure that all pupils:
- read easily, fluently and with good understanding
- develop the habit of reading widely and often, for both pleasure and information
- acquire a wide vocabulary, an understanding of grammar and knowledge of linguistic conventions for reading, writing and spoken language
- appreciate our rich and varied literary heritage
- write clearly, accurately and coherently, adapting their language and style in and for a range of contexts, purposes and audiences
- use discussion in order to learn; they should be able to elaborate and explain clearly their understanding and ideas
- are competent in the arts of speaking and listening, making formal presentations, demonstrating to others and participating in debate.