We seek to enable our pupils to be good communicators who will have a broad literary background and effective literary skills. This means they will become increasingly competent speakers, listeners, readers and writers, with sound knowledge of the richness and importance of both our linguistic heritage and the cultures from which these have been drawn.
We hope skills and abilities in English will enhance other curriculum studies and encourage critical thinking, sensitive reflection and considered response in connection with a variety of issues - whether literary and linguistic, or topical and global.
By the end of Key Stage 2 the majority of our children should be able to:
From Year 1, we deliver a curriculum based on a variety of individual fiction, non-fiction, poetry and information texts, following the Hamilton Trust Scheme and the National Curriculum programme of study. In subsequent year groups, we use Read Write Inc's Literacy and Language Scheme, where the children meet complex and exciting power words to extend their vocabulary. Grammar is both embedded and discrete, allowing pupils to construct their own writing style. Both schemes promote active learning, incorporating drama, partner and small group work. The children are required to contribute to the delivery of the lesson and others’ learning; discussion is integral. The schemes fully prepare the children for extended writing tasks by using a planning, drafting and revising method, whilst introducing complex vocabulary. Spelling is taught in daily sessions using the Schofield and Sims scheme of work.