English Curriculum Statement
Our principal aim is that children develop rich and varied communication skills in which to fully embrace all aspects of their education. English is taught through the curriculum in exciting ways and through interesting and meaningful activities. We understand that English skills apply across the curriculum so we mostly teach grammar in context but we also appreciate that some skills need dedicated time to be taught effectively and teachers will plan discrete teaching sessions accordingly.
Intent – What are we trying to achieve?
Children will meet the National Curriculum expectations in English, through high-quality teaching by enthusiastic and knowledgeable staff.
All children will study English skills in addition to reading sessions. Additionally, the teaching of phonics will continue from Reception into KS1. Phonics intervention will continue into KS2 as required.
Opportunities will exist for children of all ages to experience learning beyond the classroom. Showing how English fits into the real world enriches the children’s knowledge and could include: visiting a local library; welcoming in an author to work with the children; visiting a theatre to see a live production of a studied book; or by visiting a museum or specific location relevant to an author being studied.
Through teaching grammar in context, children will develop a deep understanding of how English skills apply to all subjects they are studying.
Children will understand how British Values relate to English.
In English, children will develop the key skills of reading, writing, speaking and listening.
Children will develop a real understanding and appreciation of the world by learning from the best that has been developed and said. For example, children will be immersed in texts and read literature from a wide range of well-known, international authors, including those who have been awarded the UK Children’s laureate to celebrate outstanding achievement in their field. By reading a wide range of genres, children will be presented with high-quality texts as a model for their writing.
Our PYP approach is underscored by the National Curriculum. The schemes we use and follow are appropriately sequenced to ensure essential knowledge is stored in the children’s long-term memory and that the children practise the varied skills in meaningful contexts. Our key areas of focus are building knowledge, developing understanding of the big ideas and processes of reading, writing, speaking and listening. We want young people to gain an increasingly mature and informed perspective on their world through what they read, write, hear and say. The areas are developed throughout the early years, KS1 and KS2 in order to efficiently prepare children for secondary education. The Primary National Curriculum can be viewed by clicking the following link:
Implementation – How do we translate our vision into practice?
Where necessary, staff (including support staff) will receive training in English.
Carefully designed schemes of learning in English ensure consistency and progress of all learners.
English skills are mostly taught in context so the children have a strong understanding of when to apply their skills and knowledge. Naturally, there will be skills and knowledge that need discrete teaching but the children will then be expected to apply this knowledge in meaningful contexts.
We set high expectations in all lessons and the children are expected to produce ambitious work that embraces the curriculum and highlights their knowledge of the English language. This ensures work is demanding and matches the aims of the curriculum.
High-quality input from experts and educational resources complement the delivery of specialist learning. Children understand how English is used in the wider world including careers.
Assessment
Each lesson will include live marking (as per the Conferencing/Evaluation Policy). High-quality teaching responds to the needs of children. Spiral learning is a key focus of all formative and summative assessment with teachers conferencing and identifying misconceptions as an integral part of the learning process. An assessment grid (the foundation skills assessment) is used to formally record an overview of progress of each child, as well as the use of national testing.
Impact – What is the impact of our curriculum on the students?
Children are happy learners and confident to use English skills within their work. They experience a wide-ranging number of learning challenges in English and know appropriate responses to them.
Visits within English have enriched the lives of the children and they are able to discuss how the experience impacted their knowledge and understanding.
Children of all abilities and backgrounds achieve well in English, reflected in outstanding progress that reveals a clear learning journey. Children talk enthusiastically about their learning in English and are eager to further their learning in the next stages of their education.
There is a proven track record of test success that reflects the impact of deep learning.
Clear outcomes focus and guide all English development plans and drive improvement.
Children are confident, resilient and actively engaged in the wider society.
Fundamental British Values are evident in English and children understand how English can celebrate differences.
Through wider reading in English, children will develop a love for reading, expanding their minds and curiosity of the world in which we live. Through this exposure, children will produce work that is influenced by the best.
Children will develop excellent phonic knowledge and skills.
Children will develop fluency and accuracy in reading across a wide range of contexts throughout the curriculum.
Children will develop an extensive and rich vocabulary.
Children will learn the skills to gain an excellent comprehension of texts.
Children will develop a love of reading and the motivation to read for both study and for pleasure.
Children will develop an extensive knowledge through having read a rich and varied range of texts.
Children will gain the ability to write fluently and with interesting detail on a number of topics throughout the curriculum.
Children will develop a vivid imagination which makes readers engage with and enjoy their writing.
Children will grow a highly developed vocabulary and an excellent knowledge of writing techniques to extend details or description.
Children will present well-organised and structured writing, which includes a variety of sentence structures.
Children will engage excellent transcription skills that ensure their writing is well presented in a neat, cursive joined form that is well punctuated with accurate spelling.
A love of writing will grow within our children and an appreciation of its educational, cultural and entertainment values.
Children will use a rich and varied vocabulary that gives clarity and interest to conversations.
Children will speak clearly so that they can be easily understood by a range of audiences.
Children will develop an excellent grasp of the rules used in English conversation, such as tenses and the grammatical structure of sentences.