English
Leaders' focus on the curriclum and high standards in reading enables pupils to achieve well. Teachers give children a head start on phonics in nursery. Staff have been well trained to teach phonics, and the reading curriculum is well sequenced. Consistent teaching and practice of phonics in the Reception Year ensures that pupils quickly become fluent readers.
(Ofsted Inspection Report September 2021)
I love English because I like writing and I'm now much better. I like that I get to read my work to the class.
(Pupil Questionnaire Feedback 2022-2023)
Intent:
It is our aim to fulfil both the EYFS (Early Years Foundation Stage) and National Curriculum English requirements in full through the use of a variety of carefully chosen fiction, non-fiction and poetry texts. Through these texts, we strive to develop our children's love of reading, writing and discussion by creating a curriculum that encourages them to become excited and engaged with English. By embedding the English skills and knowledge we teach in every English lesson and the wider curriculum, we endeavour to nurture the children's understanding of the value of English to them now in their futures.
Implementation:
Miss Grassi is our English Co-ordinator.
At St. Mary's we teach the Literacy elements of the Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum in Acorn and Chestnut (Nursery and Reception):
Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage
We teach the English National Curriculum in Birch to Oak (Years 1 to 4):
English Programmes of Study: Key Stages 1 and 2
I like the reading area in my classroom.
(Pupil Questionnaire Feedback 2022-2023)
Reading: Reading is taught and encouraged across all subjects.
The image below shows the ways in which we teach and promote reading at St. Mary's:
To support parents with reading at home, we have produced Parent Advice Booklets for each year group:
Acorn and Chestnut (Year N and Year R) Reading Booklet - NEW 2022!
Birch (Year 1) Reading Booklet - NEW 2022!
Hazel (Year 2) Reading Booklet - NEW 2022!
Rowan (Year 3) Reading Booklet - NEW 2022!
Oak (Year 4) Reading Booklet - NEW 2022!
Reading Scheme: We do not use one specific reading scheme at St. Mary's but instead, choose books from different schemes to provide a greater variety of reading books for our children to choose from. We do follow the Oxford Reading Tree book band system and therefore fit any books we purchase into this banding system.
Phonics: At. St. Mary's we use the Sounds-Write programme to teach children phonics in Nursery, Reception and Key Stage 1. The programme is then delivered to small groups who require extra support with phonics in Years 3 and 4.
More information about the Sounds-Write programme can be found here:
You can also watch a useful video of a child saying the sounds correctly and precisely, to support you with phonics at home: Pure Sounds Video
Sounds-Write is on the Government approved list of validated synthetic phonics programmes:
Choosing a Phonics Teaching Programme
Writing: Children are taught and encouraged to write across all curriculum subjects.
Within our specific English lessons, we use The Essential Writing curriuclum. The Essential Writing curriculum is an ambitious and progressive writing scheme, hooked in with high-quality literature, designed to teach children how to write for specific purposes and authentic audiences. As a result, children feel inspired and ready to write high-quality outcomes.
Handwriting: In Nursery and Reception we focus on the correct formation of letters. From Year 1 upwards, we begin to teach children cursive handwriting. We teach at least two lessons a week using The Handwriting Rescue Scheme programme.
Speaking and Listening: As with Reading and Writing, Speaking and Listening is also taught and encouraged through all areas of the curriculum and in all aspects of school life. Children are encouraged to participate in all lessons - offering their opinions and answers whilst listening respectfully to those of their peers. Children are also chosen to represent the school as School Council members, Values Ambassadors, Eco Committee Members and Sports Leaders, presenting their work to the Governing Body. All children are invited to participate in class and whole school presentations to parents.
Our Progression of Knowledge in English document can be found here:
Impact:
All children are assessed in Reading and Writing, by their teachers, on a termly basis. Miss Grassi then analyses the attainment and progress of the whole school in these areas. This information informs future teaching and learning in English.
Children are formally teacher assessed in Reading and Writing at the end of Reception against the Early Learning Goals:
Early Learning Goals Parent and Carers Guide
The school takes part in the National Phonics Screening Check. Children take the check at the end of Year 1 and then again in Year 2 if they do not pass in Year 1:
Phonics Screening Check Information for Parents
Phonics Screening Check: Information for Parents/Carers
Children are also formally teacher assessed in Reading and Writing at the end of Key Stage 1 (Year 2):
Optional End of Key Stage 1 Assessments: Information for Parents/Carers
Our end of Reception, Phonics Check and KS1 SATs results can be found in the Our Results section of the website.
