English curriculum overview

Aims:

The overarching aim for English in the national curriculum is to promote high standards of language and literacy by equipping pupils with a strong command of the spoken and written language, and to develop their love of literature through widespread reading for enjoyment. The national curriculum for 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

Introduction:

English is planned and delivered using our long and medium term plans. Children’s skills are developed through cohesive units of work based around quality texts or writing genres, building to purposeful writing opportunities.  Chosen texts ensure coverage of classic stories, contemporary fiction, non-fiction texts and a range of traditional tales, including myths and legends, within each year group, and texts have been mapped to ensure progression across the school. Pupils also have the opportunity to study a different poet and classic poem in each year group during our two enrichment poetry weeks.

English Book Spine Overview 2023-2024

Reading

Delivery:

Our approach to the teaching of reading ensures focus on both key dimensions needed to become effective readers – Word Reading and Language Comprehension. 

The national curriculum and reading domains drive the teaching and learning of reading through our reading skills lessons. Embedded into this we focus on five key reading skills: fluency, clarifying language and vocabulary, retrieval of key information, inference and deduction and evaluating and thinking about what we are reading. We have developed our own reading hooks to aid the children with these skills.

We use Read Write Inc as our phonics intervention programme.

We employ various approaches to develop children’s comprehension skills.  These include:

• English lessons
• Reading skills lessons
• Story time

These are complemented by our approach to reading at home, where children take home banded reading books from wide range of high quality authors and publishers.

Writing, including Grammar and Punctuation

Delivery:

Our teaching of writing includes focused teaching of all aspects of writing detailed in the 2014 National Curriculum:

• Composition
• Vocabulary, grammar and punctuation
• Transcription (spelling and handwriting)

The learning journey for a unit of work is sequenced using: ‘Read-it’, ‘Rip-it’, ‘Rehearse-it’, ‘Write-it’ and ‘Review-it’.

Composition

Writing composition includes the teaching of planning, drafting, editing, evaluating and performing.  Teachers plan motivating and engaging opportunities for children to write across a variety of genres, and for a range of purposes and audiences linked to the core text.

Vocabulary, Grammar and Punctuation

Vocabulary, grammar and punctuation are taught through focused key skills sessions, as well as being embedded within general English teaching, ensuring children develop the linguistic knowledge detailed in the 2014 National alongside understanding of how to use grammar and punctuation to enhance their writing.

Spelling and Handwriting

Spelling and Handwriting are taught each week during specific skills lessons.

Miss. J. Weir

If you'd like to find out more please contact me via the school office using:

Tel: 0121 453 2520

e-mail: enquiry@rednalhilljuniors.com