English
ENGLISH CURRICULUM INTENT
- We aim to help children develop a love for the English language through spoken and written word.
- We strive for children to value the knowledge of English as a lifelong skill.
- We recognise that English is a core subject within the National Curriculum and a pre-requisite for educational and social progress.
- Mastery over language empowers children to communicate creatively and imaginatively, as well as allowing them to engage with the world at large.
- We view the acquisition of language skills to be of the utmost importance and so the teaching of all aspects of English is given a high priority.
- We recognise the importance of language in the social, emotional and intellectual development of children.
- We aim to develop pupils’ abilities within an integrated programme of spoken language, reading and writing striving for accelerated personal progress for all.
- Use discussion in order to learn; our children should be able to both listen attentively and clearly explain their thinking and ideas to others.
- Pupils will be given opportunities to interrelate the requirements of English within a broad and balanced curriculum.
- Opportunities are given to consolidate and practise ‘taught’ English knowledge in cross curricular activities.
- We aim for children to explore a wide range of genres both in the written and verbal form and magpie from these to create meaningful, purposeful work of their own.
- The aim is for past knowledge to be revisited and consolidated to maximise progress for all.
- The aim is for children to know more and remember more.
- We aim to make our children competent and confident users of English. Through a balance of different teaching methods, we aim to help children acquire the skills they need to access all areas of the curriculum and equip them with the ability to communicate effectively in our society. These English skills will also be central to gaining employment and being modern, global citizens.
ENGLISH CURRICULUM IMPLEMENTATION
As a school we follow the objectives within the National Curriculum Framework aiming for an in-depth understanding with regards to both skills and knowledge.
Reading is a fundamental part of everything we do at Fairfield Primary School. All staff endeavour to nurture a love of reading; our aim is to provide all children with the tools they need to foster a love of reading, whatever their literary experience or knowledge. We believe that reading for pleasure should be a fundamental part of childhood and lifelong learning whatever the child’s ability, background or culture. We use a wide variety of picture, story and reference books, specifically selected to engage our pupils. At all times when reading, we encourage children to think about and discuss what they have read. Once they have reached a good level of competence, this is used to help them with their learning in other areas of the curriculum. This in turn will make a huge contribution to their educational achievement.
To develop our pupils as readers we:
- Teach them to read accurately and fluently.
- To provide children with a firm foundation in phonics – through access to a systematic synthetic approach to allow all children to grow the phonics code (Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised).
- To provide all children with books that directly reflect their phonics ability mirroring teaching in class (Big Cat).
- Help them to understand and respond to what they read using inference and deduction where appropriate.
- To expose all children to a wide variety of progressive quality texts.
- To ensure reading is a focus across the wider curriculum.
- Encourage them to read a wide range of genres.
- Encourage them to read independently and with enjoyment.
- Use the ‘Layered Approach’ to teach reading skills (John Murray – Reading Explorers’.
To develop our pupils as writers we:
- Teach them to write effectively for a range of purposes and reasons, adapting their vocabulary and style as appropriate.
- Teach key vocabulary explicitly ensuring word meaning is understood.
- Encourage them to write with interest, commitment and enjoyment – providing memorable experience days to raise levels of engagement and help children know more and remember.
- Show them how to write in a variety of forms such as stories, poems, reports and letters.
- Show them how to evaluate and edit to improve their own writing.
- Give individual writing targets and personalised feedback after final writing of extended pieces.
- Show them how to use punctuation to make meaning clear to their reader.
- Give them the knowledge and the strategies to become confident and accurate spellers.
- Teach them a fluent, cursive and legible style of handwriting, promoting an understanding of how to present work appropriately (Letter Join).
- Teachers monitor progression through effective questioning and on-going formative assessment of lesson outcomes.
- Provide opportunities for pupils to write about their interests, current issues and the wider world (P4C, Fake News, Newsround).
To develop our pupils spoken languages:
- Give them opportunities to express their ideas to a range of audiences.
- Give them opportunities to take part in group discussion and drama activities.
- Encourage them to listen and respond appropriately to others.
- Help them to understand the need to adapt their speech to different situations.
- Give them opportunities to evaluate and reflect on their own speech.
- Encourage them to use the vocabulary and grammar of Standard English whenever appropriate.
ENGLISH CURRICULUM IMPACT
- Children are effective, competent communicators and good listeners.
- Children can express opinions, articulate feelings and formulate responses to a range of texts across genres using appropriate technical vocabulary.
- Children can present their writing neatly using a cursive, joined style.
- Children foster an interest in words and their meanings, and develop a growing vocabulary in both spoken and written form.
- Children enjoy and engage with and understand a range of text types and genres.
- Children enjoy writing and reading and have a recognition of its value beyond the school setting
- Ultimately children know more and remember more.
