English
We aim to deliver an engaging and diverse English curriculum which develops children’s communication, reading and writing, preparing them for a successful future.
At our school, English is at the core of our pupil’s learning and it is our intention that all children will reach their full potential in this subject by the end of their time with us. We aim to develop pupils’ abilities to communicate successfully through speaking and listening, reading and writing. As part of our Creative Curriculum, many aspects of English are applied to other subjects ensuring that our children are equipped with the necessary transferrable skills to be successful for their onward journey in life.
Communication and Oracy
Speaking is at the heart of every learning experience. The quality and variety of language that pupils hear and speak are vital for developing their vocabulary and grammar and their understanding for reading and writing. We ensure the continual development of pupils’ confidence and competence in spoken language and listening skills will provide them with the skills to compete articulately in life.
We respect and value contributions from all children, through the whole curriculum, school assemblies, extra-curricular activities and School Council.
As a school we are working with Voice 21 to embed oracy skills across the curriculum.“We believe all children, regardless of their background, are entitled to an oracy education.” Voice 21
An extra-curricular activity offered to our year 5 and 6 children is Debate Mate, a club which develops presentational speaking and debating skills.
The children in this club are proud to represent the school in borough wide debating competitions.
Reading
We are passionate about teaching children to read as early as possible. Our reading pledge is shown in the image.
Reading enriches vocabulary, spelling and writing. Throughout their time here, children are exposed to a wide range of engaging and diverse texts through shared, guided and independent reading.
A strategic approach to the teaching of reading from Nursery to Year 6 is now firmly in place. From their first experience in nursery, we encourage our children to develop a love of books and storytelling. All classrooms have attractive book areas where, from an early age, children are taught to choose and share their favourite stories.
Home School Reading
From year 2, Accelerated Reader is the heart of our home school reading programme, promoting personalised reading for pleasure. This programme signposts children to literature at their reading level, assesses their reading comprehension and rewards each child’s efforts. Children’s reading achievements are celebrated within the school in many ways, including classroom displays to track and show progress and the celebration of class and individual effort.
Reading rewards are presented to children, who continue to reach their target. Class word counts are monitored and updated half termly and children reading a million words – ‘Millionaire Readers’ – are taken to Foyles Bookshop at Westfield to buy a book of their choice as a reward
Phonics
Phonics is taught daily and systematically in Early Years and Key Stage 1, in a whole class setting, using Ann Smalberger’s (Literacy Consultant) programme which follows the LETTERS and SOUNDS structure.
Our principal aim is to develop the children’s phonological awareness, ability to segment and blend words and read sight words. This ensures that all children have a solid understanding of early words and phonics so that they become independent and thriving readers by the age of 6. In EYFS and KS1 all children regularly take ‘home’ reading books from the class library and/or book banded boxes to practice reading skills taught in class. Children in Reception and Year 1, also have access to Phonics Bug, which is an online reading tool.
Guided Reading
Key Stage 1
Guided reading sessions are taught daily across the school. In Key Stage 1 children are grouped with others of a similar reading level to continue to develop their decoding and comprehension skills. The strategies taught to develop comprehension are: Predicting, Questioning, Clarifying, Sequencing, Inferring, Visualising
Pre-reads with a TA ensure that the children are ready for their focussed learning with the class teacher the following day. In this session the group are taught a specific reading skill, which is then practised in the independent follow up session.
In addition to this, children experience daily story time and are expected to read with parents each night for at least ten minutes as part of the John Scurr Reading Pledge.
Key Stage 2
Once children enter Key Stage 2, our intention is to develop a love of reading for pleasure. All children are exposed to a range of high- quality texts and are taught to make informed reading choices when reading for enjoyment and academic reading.
They are explicitly taught more advanced reading skills through daily English lessons and whole class reading sessions where children practise and refine reading skills in mixed ability groups. The strategies taught are: Predicting, Questioning, Clarifying, Summarising, Thinking aloud, Noting the Text Structure, Visualising
Reading Across the Curriculum
The skills acquired in English lessons provide us with our transferable skills across the wider curriculum.
We provide as many opportunities as possible for children to learn within a progressive thematic curriculum. Books and reading materials are chosen carefully to support children’s understanding of their current topic – in terms of gaining knowledge and developing an interest and a willingness to learn about their topics in greater depth.
We strive to develop a love of reading in all pupil’s and provide as many opportunities as possible for reading a wide range of genres. One way in which we achieve this is by purchasing 20 of the best new books for Year 3 and 4: Takeoff and the 40 Must Reads for Years 5 and 6. These books represent a selection of the best new fiction published in paperback within the last year and aim to cover as diverse a range of subjects and genres, authors and interests as possible
Enrichment
Excellence, enjoyment and enthusiasm for reading is fostered by a variety of enriching experiences.
Year 3 children have the pleasure of reading with partners from Paul Hastings and this year new links have been made with reading partners from…
In the Spring and Summer terms our Year 5 and 6 children are privileged to be part of an Avid Readers book club run by Hodder & Stoughton a book publishing house on Victoria Embankment. The end of the club is celebrated with a wonderful trip to the publishing company’s office.
Children in Key Stage 2 also continue to enjoy visiting and borrowing books from our well-resourced school library and many children from across the school proudly complete the Summer reading challenge