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English Curriculum Statement
As a Federation our English curriculum aims to teach pupils to speak and write fluently so that they can communicate their ideas and emotions to others and, through their reading and listening, others can communicate with them. We believe that language skills are essential for participating fully and actively as a member of society. At the bottom of this page you will find a number of helpful documents that you can use to help your child in their English learning.
Speaking and Listening
Communication is the most important skill in life. To understand and to be understood is a basic human need which our curriculum has at its heart.
Our Speaking and Listening curriculum is about:
- Developing vocabulary, grammar and pupils’ understanding for reading and writing by hearing models of quality spoken language.
- Gaining information by listening in a variety of contexts.
- Elaborating, explaining, asking questions to check understanding and explaining their understanding.
- Using discussion to challenge, to probe and to address misconceptions.
- Presenting ideas clearly.
Our Reading curriculum aims for pupils to develop the skills needed to read fluently, read widely for information and for pleasure (both fiction and non-fiction). Fostering an appreciation for reading will open the door to a world of wonder, staying with our children’s young minds for the rest of their lives.
Our Reading curriculum is about:
- Experiencing reading widely, selecting texts for pleasure and enjoyment.
- Developing vital skills and enabling pupils to read fluently and with confidence.
- Deepening and widening knowledge of themselves and the world they live in.
- Acquiring knowledge across the curriculum and allowing pupils to build on what they already know.
Our Writing curriculum aims for our pupils to develop key skills in order to produce quality written work. It aims to inspire pupils to gain pleasure and develop confidence within their writing; wherever possible for genuine purposes and real audiences.
Our Writing curriculum is about:
- Developing skills in spelling and handwriting, which are vital to ensure ideas are communicated legibly and accurately.
- Being able to write a range of texts including: narratives, explanations, descriptions, comparisons, summaries and evaluations
- Building the variety of grammar the children use and ensuring it is accurate.
- Developing new vocabulary so that new words are available to the children when they write.
- The process of planning, editing and evaluating.
- Time to write and revisit writing, valuing the process and craft of writing.
Our Drama curriculum forms a vital part of our English programme of study and is an integral part of many foundation subjects. Its principles are based in developing children’s speaking and listening abilities and aims to improve children’s communication skills, self-confidence, relationships, collaboration skills and motivation. It is built upon the following principles:
- Listen and respond appropriately to adults and their peers.
- Articulate and justify answers, arguments and opinions.
- Give well-structured descriptions and explanations.
- Use spoken language to develop understanding through speculating, hypothesising, imagining and exploring ideas.
- Speak audibly and fluently with an increasing command of Standard English.
- Participate in discussions, presentations, performances and debates.
- Gain, maintain and monitor the interest of the listener(s).
- Select and use appropriate registers for effective communication.
Some of the key changes to the 2014 National Curriculum in English:
- Stronger emphasis on vocabulary development, grammar, punctuation and spelling (for example, the use of commas and apostrophes will be taught in KS1).
- Handwriting – is expected to be fluent, legible and speedy.
- Spoken English has a greater emphasis, with children to be taught debating and presenting skills.
- Pupils to write passages dictated by the teacher.
- An emphasis on the role of spelling and, specifically, being able to spell the 40+ phonemes and days of the week.
- The preparation of poems and play scripts to read out loud.
- Pupils to make comparisons between texts.
- An increased focus on developing and improving handwriting.
- A greater number of specific grammatical structures with which pupils will become familiar.
How can parents help at home?
- Encourage reading for pleasure.
- Listen to your child read.
- Encourage your child to write extended pieces.
- Help them with homework.
- Practise spellings.
Useful links and documents for parents: