English
Intent
At Great Wishford C of E Primary School, we make the teaching of English central to our curriculum: speaking and listening, reading and writing are the keys to all learning and communication. We place books, reading, and vocabulary at the heart of everything we do, as tools to gain knowledge and develop emotional literacy. We are determined to help our children develop into articulate and imaginative communicators and to support and enhance their understanding of the world around them through a broad, rich and engaging English curriculum.
The Great Wishford English curriculum also gives children the opportunity to further develop and understand our key values: creativity, friendship, truthfulness, service, perseverance and respect. Through the teaching and learning of English (including through cross-curricular links) and an exposure to a language-rich environment, our students learn about themselves, their values, rights and responsibilities and enhance their ability to connect with the world and peoples around them.
Our aim is to ensure that every child progresses in speaking and listening, reading and writing, so that they can start each stage of their learning with pride in their achievements, high aspirations for their next steps and perseverance in achieving their goals. We endeavour to ensure that children develop a lifelong, healthy and enthusiastic attitude towards English, which will equip them with the necessary skills and passion to support them in their world in their time.
Implementation
At Great Wishford, we use the 2014 National Curriculum and the 2021 Statutory Framework for the early years foundation stage (EYFS) for directing the teaching of English. It underpins the whole of the curriculum, as the children develop their ability to communicate effectively across all subjects.
English lessons are timetabled daily to include each discipline:
- Phonics in Reception and Year 1 (Little Wandle) or Spelling in Year 2 (Bridge to Spelling and Little Wandle Spelling Scheme)
- Years 3 - 6: The Spelling Book (Jane Considine)
- Reading for pleasure and knowledge: reading practice in Reception and Year 1 (Little Wandle ) and guided reading in Year 2 to Year 6
- Writing (The Write Stuff) progressively builds across KS1 and KS2
- Speaking and listening across the school is interwoven in all areas of the curriculum.
Further information regarding specific details of reading, writing, spelling and grammar can be found in each sub-section.
Impact
Impact is measured both within and across learning using a range of strategies to inform planning. Summative assessments, completed according to the school's assessment timetable, make more formal records of the children’s learning against age-related expectations and exemplification materials. These also help to inform subsequent learning experiences and additional learning support. By having such a continuous cycle of assessment, we can monitor the needs of all pupils, to ensure that we equip children with the skills, passion and knowledge necessary to continue in their next stage of learning.
