Embedded Files
Intent
At Dussindale we recognise that as well as being a subject in its own right, English provides children access to the whole curriculum and is essential to success in primary school and beyond.We believe in providing a creative, high quality English curriculum that gives all learners the best possible opportunities to become literate, articulate and confident members of society. We aim to provide all children with a rich and imaginative curriculum; expose them to a wide-variety of high-quality literature; ensure they build and internalise a bank of stories that support them in developing their imagination, vocabulary, writing techniques and confidence. In addition children are taught phonics, spelling and grammar that is contextualised within the art of writing; are exposed to high-quality shared and guided learning, modelling the skills and techniques of being a confident reader, writer and speaker; receive informative and motivational feedback that moves learning forward and addresses misconceptions.
Implementation
Implementation
Handwriting:
Handwriting:
Children are taught to write in a joined cursive script (not continuous cursive) during specific handwriting sessions. Handwriting is practised regularly in lessons. Children are introduced to letter formation through the Bug Clubs Phonics programme and as children progress through school CGP resources and teacher modelling and demonstration are used to secure a legible, joined style.
Before joining:
Before joining:
Joining:
Joining:
Spelling
Spelling
Children’s spelling journey at ECAN begins with Bug Club - our chosen validated phonics programme.
Within the daily Bug Club Phonics lesson, children practise spelling and letter formation using previously taught graphemes and words and segment words for spelling. Children are also taught to spell irregular words that are not fully decodable.
We have identified the most essential words for children to learn to read and spell as they progress through school - these are the high frequency words and those that appear on statutory word lists within the English National Curriculum. Children are expected to practise reading and spelling these words as they progress through the programme; please offer lots of opportunities for this at home, along with large measures of praise and encouragement just as staff do in school!
Once children complete the Bug Club Phonics programme, they move on to learning spellings through the HfL ESSENTIAL Spelling Programme. This is a progressive, whole class, approach to teaching spelling. The aim of this programme is to enable children to become spellers for life (rather than remembering spellings for a weekly test) and as such it pays particular attention to the review stage of the teaching sequence to enable children to consider what they already know to help them learn the new content, so that they build connections between existing and new knowledge. We want all children to become confident spellers and wherever possible to take part in these sessions regardless of their prior spelling attainment. Where children have minor gaps or indeed major gaps, the programme gives clear guidance for securing the foundations needed.
Throughout our curriculum we focus on developing children’s oracy skills; within the ESSENTIAL Spelling teaching sequence, pupils are encouraged to articulate their learning. Explaining what they have learned about the patterns and processes of spelling, which supports children to secure their understanding.
Worried about your child’s progress?
Worried about your child’s progress?
Please speak to your child’s teacher about any concerns you may have about their progress, or indeed just to gain some extra tips on how to best support your child at home.
Children who are not achieving in line with expectations are given additional support and scaffolding within class and, if appropriate, intervention sessions in order to address any misconceptions and to allow children to progress with their learning.
Our subject leaders will monitor the effectiveness of the reading curriculum through carrying out regular subject Curriculum Quality Reviews (CQR’s). These reviews are quality assured by senior leaders and Trust Executive and Central Education Teams.
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