English
The aims for English, as set out in the new National Curriculum, are to promote high standards of language and literacy by equipping pupils with a strong command of the spoken and written word, and to develop their love of literature through widespread reading for enjoyment. The National Curriculum for English aims to ensure pupils:
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At Christleton Primary School our aim is to develop pupils’ abilities within an integrated programme of Speaking and Listening, Reading and Writing, with a high focus on basic skills in spelling, punctuation and grammar. Pupils will be given opportunities to interrelate the requirements of English within a broad and balanced approach to the teaching of English across the curriculum, with opportunities to consolidate and reinforce taught literacy skills. English is split into three areas as defined by the National Curriculum - the spoken word, reading and writing. | ||
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LiteracyAt Christleton Primary School, teachers use a range of techniques to engage children in the literacy lesson. Visual literacy, enlarged texts, books or pictures are used at the start of a unit of work to stimulate and enable children to experience what they will be writing about. Drama and role play are also used to encourage interactive learning and promote the children’s imagination, as an aid to scaffolding their writing. At the start of the writing process children are exposed to many samples of the writing genre, this fundamental stage provides the opportunity to introduce children to a specific genre form, enabling them to capture ideas and secure understanding. As the writing process continues, the teacher models writing and undertakes shared writing, guided writing and talk for writing to develop the children’s knowledge and skills, in readiness for the independent writing they then undertake. During the literacy lesson, the teacher will engage the whole class in shared reading or writing focusing on specific skills to be developed. The children then work in groups or individually, on independent activities differentiated by the teacher according to ability. In addition to the Literacy lessons, teachers plan for pupils to practise and apply the skills, knowledge and understanding acquired through literacy lessons to other areas of the curriculum. PhonicsAt Christleton Primary School, early reading is taught using synthetic phonics as the main approach through the Read Write Inc scheme. What is Read Write Inc? Why are we using RWI? Who will be following the programme? How often will my child read with a teacher? How can I help my child? |
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SpellingIn addition to phonics teaching, children from year 1 to year 6 use the Look, Cover, Say, Write, Check approach to learn spellings. From year 2 to year 6 the we follow the Read Write Inc spelling programme and utilise Spelling Shed to practise spellings online. |
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Reading SchemesAt Christleton Primary School, we use Read Write Inc book bag books to support children in their early stages of reading. These books are closely matched to the phonics stage of each individual child, allowing them to practise and embed what they are being taught in school. Children are also encouraged to take home books to be shared with an adult and read to them so that they can enjoy books of all different styles and genres. Once children have completed the read Write Inc programme, they can then choose from a range of reading books to continue them on in their reading journey. Children are taught how to choose a reading book that is appropriate for them and allows them to continue to practise their reading books whilst not being too challenging. Teachers plan guided reading sessions to teach individual children to become fluent in reading and comprehension skills of inference and deduction. Teachers group the children into small groups according to ability. When a child has sufficiently developed their reading skills they will be moved from the book banded books onto ‘free reads’. Children at this stage are able to choose from a wide range of reading material in our school library.
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Reading for PleasureAt Christleton Primary School, we encourage pupils to develop a love of reading by having a well-stocked library and book selections available in each classroom. We actively promote the local libraries summer reading scheme and organise events such as extreme reading competitions, World Book Day, and the ‘Ten Million Minute Reading challenge’. Year 6 children take on the role of librarians and promote reading and the love of books through competitions and assemblies. Within the classroom, high quality texts are used as the basis for planning English teaching and class reads are chosen to provide whole class engagement. Children also start to bring in books from home that link to their personal preferences. School also sends home suggested reading lists and links to useful reading information are posted regularly onto the school twitter feed. |
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