English

Intent:

 “Reading is an exercise in empathy; an exercise in walking in someone else’s shoes for a while.” — Malorie Blackman

At Chingford CE Primary, our main aim is that pupils acquire the necessary knowledge, skills and understanding to become life-long learners and linguists. 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. We intend that the impact of our English curriculum will ensure that our pupils are academically prepared for life beyond primary school and throughout their educational journey. Many of our pupils benefit from their day to day experiences of more than one language and we therefore also celebrate diversity in culture and language.

Our overarching aim for English is to promote high standards of language and literacy by equipping pupils with a strong command of the spoken and written word.

We prioritise reading and place it at the centre of our English curriculum. It is important for us to ensure that pupils become successful, fluent readers by the end of Key Stage 1. This can be achieved through a combination of high-quality phonics teaching, combined with a focus on vocabulary and language development and the use of high-quality texts to immerse and engage our pupils in a literature-rich environment.

Pupils will be given opportunities to speak in a variety of contexts and learn to listen to and value the views of others so that they are able to express themselves well, with the vocabulary to say what they want to say, and the ability to structure their thoughts so that they make sense to others.

As a Power of Reading school, we select from a range of their teaching sequences. Every teaching sequence provided identifies themes that can/will be addressed throughout the text in addition to cross-curricular links with relevant subjects which allows us to map certain text choices that link, support and further enrich the study taking place within the foundation curriculum as well as embedding our whole school vision and values. They provide opportunities for writing that are purposeful; promoting creative and critical thinking with the intended audience in mind.  

We understand that parents can play a vital role in the development of English skills and nurturing of positive habits, particularly in attitudes towards reading and, therefore, we aim to foster a strong home-school partnership. Parents are informed about how they can support their child’s learning through a number of sessions including: an expectation meeting for each year group, held at the beginning of the academic year; phonics information sessions, held for years 1, R and, in the Summer term, to prepare those starting in Reception that Autumn. 

Parents are invited into school for our termly ‘Stay and Read’ sessions and workshops.

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 word, and to develop their love of literature through widespread reading for enjoyment.

In-line with the expectations of the National Curriculum and Early Learning Goals for English, we deliver a curriculum that 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.

Implementation

The English curriculum is overseen by the English Leads and Reading Lead.

The Power of Reading puts quality children’s literature at the heart of literacy learning and is built on years of research and best practice. As a Power of Reading School, our English curriculum is derived around a selection of high-quality age-appropriate texts with accompanying teaching sequences that promote reading for pleasure and meaning in the classroom and uses creative teaching approaches, including drama and role play, to support and develop a whole school love of reading and writing. Each book is used to develop reading fluency and comprehension with a focus on key reading strategies and skills; develop grammar and punctuation knowledge and understanding to use and apply across the wider curriculum; explore the writing structure and features of different genres, identify purpose and audience; plan and write an initial piece of writing with a clear context and purpose before evaluating the effectiveness by editing and redrafting.

Phonics is taught throughout Reception and Year 1. Phonics lessons are taught daily using the Read, Write Inc. scheme of learning and resources where a systematic approach is taken to the learning of synthetic phonics. During these sessions, children are also explicitly shown how to apply their developing skills to their writing.

Children are grouped across their year group and regularly assessed in their phonics ability to ensure flexibility in groupings.

Children who remain behind in their reading at the end of Key Stage 1 are supported in their learning using the Read, Write Inc. materials, through small group or 1:1 sessions.

Pupils have opportunities to undertake guided, shared and independent reading in all areas of the curriculum throughout their time at school. The Power of Reading teaching sequences develop reading fluency and comprehension with a focus on key reading strategies and skills.

In addition to this, children are taught discrete reading lessons, at least weekly, which follow a specific structure in order to focus on the Reading Content Domains of the National Curriculum.

Pupils’ home reading books are closely matched to their phonic ability and/or their comprehension level and are aimed at supporting children to become skilled readers. They take a selection of books: phonic-based, fiction and non-fiction, weekly, where the expectation is that they read at least 4 times to someone at home.

A daily session is timetabled, usually towards the end of the day, where adults read a class book aloud to the children to further promote a love for reading into every school day. The English Lead provides guidance as to what should be read to each class using guidance from CLPE.

Spelling is taught through the ‘No Nonsense Spelling’ scheme which enables the children to recap on the previous year’s spelling patterns and then introduces new patterns and words.

Impact

Children leave Chingford CofE prepared for the next steps in their learning journey.

They:

• Have made the best possible progress as a result of consistently effective teaching and, where appropriate, additional interventions
• Have a love of reading, having been introduced to, experienced, enjoyed and analysed a range of texts, genres and performances of a number of authors, illustrators and poets’
• Have a broad vocabulary, which they are able to utilise when expressing their opinions verbally
• Are able to clearly articulate their thoughts and ideas, including opposing views, to others with understanding and compassion
• Are able to communicate and express their thoughts and opinions creatively in writing
• Can produce writing that is technically accurate, well structured, creative and engaging to their intended audience