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English

Writing

We study a range of genres across school including; fiction; non-fiction and poetry.

In the Early Years we use the 'drawing club' approach to teach early writing skills. 

Drawing club is a time for children to choose to come and be creative with their imagination. After listening to a traditional tale, a well-known story or an animation from the past, the children are taken on an adventure with words, actions and descriptive drawings. 

 

The children use their imagination to create a theme, object or character from the story and they use their stories as a conversation starter to talk about what their picture means to them. 

 

They then choose a ‘code’ of numbers, letters or even words to bring magic into the drawing with their creative ideas!  The use and development of the children's vocabulary is a focus for us as they create a character, setting and an adventure surrounding the focus story, tale or animation.  We use this approach before moving onto the Power of Reading programme.

 

We use CLPE's 'Power of Reading' programme to teach English in school, this programme uses high quality texts that expose children to rich language and give them opportunities to develop vocabulary. Children will engage in an in depth study as part of their lessons which promotes a deeper comprehension of the text before embarking on a sequence of work which results in a written outcome, linked to the text.  Children are taught to apply what they have learnt by writing their own text in the same genre. Pupils are encouraged to 'magpie' words from other sources to improve their writing. 

 

 

Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar (SPAG)

Spelling is taught within phonics in the lower end of the school and as specific lessons in LKS2.   From the summer term in Reception onwards children have weekly spelling tests, these are made up of high frequency words; common exception words or words specific to a particular topic.  All children in KS1 and LKS2 have their own personal log-in to 'Spelling Shed' where teachers set these spellings for them to practice both in school and at home through a series of fun and interactive games and challenges.

Punctuation and grammar is taught discretely through our Power of Reading themes and detailed in our progression of writing map below.

Spelling Shed guide for parents

 

Spoken language

The National Curriculum for English reflects the importance of spoken language in pupils’ development across the whole curriculum – cognitively, socially and linguistically. Spoken language underpins the development of reading and writing. 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. Teachers should therefore ensure the continual development of pupils’ confidence and competence in spoken language and listening skills.

 

Pupils should develop a capacity to explain their understanding of books and other reading, and to prepare their ideas before they write. They must be assisted in making their thinking clear to themselves as well as to others and teachers should ensure that pupils build secure foundations by using discussion to probe and remedy their misconceptions. Pupils should also be taught to understand and use the conventions for discussion and debate.

 

Our School Specific approaches to oracy

Vocabulary, specific to the learning of different topics, is introduced as a focus at the start of new topics to ensure that children have an understanding of new vocabulary. This is also used as a reference in the relevant books at the beginning of each topic in children’s learning journeys  and is displayed for children to refer to.

Drama and role play is used across a range of subjects including Science and Geography, problem solving in Mathematics, hot-seating during English lessons and Religious Education. to explore and engage children in their learning. This gives children the chance to embed the use of specific vocabulary repetitively.

In KS2, children share speaking and listening sessions when they present to their peers literature that they are enjoying and reasons why, using specific book talk. This is called “Reading for Pleasure” sessions and take place weekly. There are opportunities for questions and answers during the sessions and every child gets a chance to talk about their books.

As part of Religious Education learning, children in KS1 and KS2, children prepare a Child-Led Worship for their peers and family members.  This includes discussions about what theme they will focus on, which scripture they will choose to link to their theme, responses and actions going onwards from the Worship.

The children are responsible for the planning, preparation and leading the Worship.

At Christmas, EYFS, KS1 & LKS2 children perform their Christmas production to the school and community. At the end of the academic year, the Year 4 children plan and lead Leavers’ Mass and Leavers’ Assembly to the school and parents.