English – Our intent, aims and concepts
Aim
Our English curriculum promotes high standards of language and literacy by placing a strong emphasis on reading, writing and oracy. Our intent is to inspire children to be curious, adventurous and independent learners. From the earliest point, all children are immersed in high quality literature and have daily opportunities to engage confidently in peer to peer discussion alongside adult-led talk. Children develop their love and passion for reading and writing as they journey through the school. Due to our high expectations in English, pupils' development across the curriculum is enhanced both cognitively and socially.
We intend that the study of English will enable our children to:
• Read easily, fluently and with good understanding
• Develop the habit of reading widely and often, for both pleasure and information
• Acquire a wide vocabulary
• Develop an understanding of grammar and knowledge of linguistic conventions for reading, writing and spoken language
• 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
• Become competent in the arts of speaking and listening, making formal presentations, demonstrating to others and participating in debate
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(DfE, National Curriculum, 2014)
It is our intention when teaching the English curriculum at Baltonsborough that our pupils acquire the necessary knowledge, skills and understanding to become lifelong learners. We strive to ensure that all our pupils receive a well-rounded learning experience when reading, writing, speaking and listening which will equip them with the fundamental tools to achieve at Baltonsborough and beyond. It is our intention to immerse pupils in the wonders of quality texts to instil a love for reading, a passion for discovery and a confidence to explore their imagination.
Reading
We use the Read, Write Inc Phonics programme to begin teaching sounds in reception. Children in EYFS and KS1 receive daily phonics sessions and are grouped according to their reading stage. Children are assessed every four to six weeks and regrouped according to their need. Children who still need daily phonics in Key Stage two are also grouped according to ability and use the Read, Write Inc programme to ensure the gap with peers is closed.
Our pupils are encouraged to read for pleasure and to read widely. The children will be heard reading individually and in groups. Each child receives focused whole class reading sessions each week that not only teach the skills associated with reading but also build on comprehension skills and allow discussions to take place. We believe that every child has the right to be read to by their teacher every day and use this to develop the children’s knowledge of authors and genres.
Staff track the reading of children in their classes. Parents are given clear expectations about reading at home. We celebrate those children who read three times or more at home each week and support those who are not currently meeting that expectation in school. All children have access both to the school library and to class book corners during independent reading sessions. These are designed to encourage reading for pleasure and stock is refreshed on a termly basis to allow access to a wide range of high-quality children’s literature.
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Writing
Children learn, through the use of high-quality model texts, how different genres work both in terms of the overall structure and in terms of the language patterns that make them distinctive. This allows for an integrated approach to grammar teaching as the skills of sentence structure are taught within the context of an overall piece of writing. Grammar may also be taught through discrete top-up lessons where appropriate.
Writing is a focus across all subjects at Baltonsborough – we look for as many opportunities for both short and extended writing tasks as possible outside of the literacy curriculum and expect children to apply the skills they have been taught. Spelling is taught discretely and is delivered through a weekly spelling lesson and follow up work on a daily basis. Handwriting is taught using Penpals.
We develop writing skills so that our pupils have the stamina and ability to write at the age expected standard. To support children in moving towards independent writing we provide a wide range of activities including use of high quality texts, model texts, film and imagery, modelled, shared and guided writing, peer editing and discussion. We use these techniques to encourage pupils to express their ideas, exchange ideas and to develop more sophisticated vocabulary.
We provide opportunities for writing for purpose and we encourage pupils to see themselves as authors. A range of extra activities are used to promote literacy within the school including World Book Day and regular author visits. In all classes, there are children of differing ability; we provide suitable learning opportunities for all children by matching the challenge of the task to the needs and ability of the child. This is achieved through a number of strategies including differentiated group work, mixed ability pairs or groups and open ended tasks, investigations and analysis. Teaching assistants are used to provide appropriate support to individuals or groups.
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Oracy
We believe that being able to express yourself confidently and accurately is a key skill both as a pupil in school but also in terms of developing lifelong skills as an adult. Strong oracy skills enables access to the wider curriculum at a deep level. In school, oracy is a powerful tool for learning; by teaching students to become more effective speakers and listeners we empower them to better understand themselves, each other and the world around them.
One of our gateways is 'Expression' and we encourage all children to present themselves with honesty, confidence and insightfulness. Teachers carefully consider the ways in which pupils can present their learning through speaking and listening activities. Our pupils regularly have opportunities to develop their oracy skills in school. We ensure that all children increasingly present themselves and their learning to wider audiences within school and outside of school.
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ENGLISH – Examples of English Learning Experiences
ENGLISH – Examples of English Learning Journals