Budbrooke Primary School
English
The Subject Leader for English is Miss Thorpe.
Intent
At Budbrooke Primary School, we believe that a quality English curriculum should develop children’s love of reading, writing and discussion; therefore, promote high standards of language by equipping pupils with a strong command of the spoken and written word. We recognise the importance of nurturing a culture where children are passionate about reading and take pride in their writing, can write clearly and accurately and adapt their language and style for a range of contexts.
Our curriculum follows the aims of the National Curriculum for English to ensure that all pupils:
- Read easily, fluently and with good understanding.
- Develop the habit of reading widely and often, for both pleasure and information.
- Acquire a wide vocabulary, an understanding of grammar and knowledge of linguistic conventions for reading, writing and spoken language.
- Appreciate our rich and varied literary heritage.
- Write clearly, accurately and coherently, adapting their language and style in and for a range of contexts, purposes and audiences.
- Use discussion in order to learn; they should be able to elaborate and explain clearly their understanding and ideas.
- Are competent in the arts of speaking and listening, making formal presentations, demonstrating to others and participating in debate.
Impact
The impact on our children is clear: progress, sustained learning and transferrable skills. We strive to ensure that our children's attainment is in line or exceeds their potential when we consider their varied starting points. Children will make at least good progress in reading, writing and speaking and listening from their last point of statutory assessment.
The impact of our English curriculum will ensure our pupils are academically prepared for life beyond primary school and throughout their educational journey. We believe that, through the thematic approach, pupils become confident and fluent readers, whilst fostering a love for reading. Through the writing journey, we provide the tools for children to produce written work for a range of genres and across the curriculum subjects. All aspects of English are an integral part of the curriculum; skills taught in English are transferred to other subjects demonstrating a consolidation of skills. By the end of KS2, children are secure with the basic skills and can focus on creativity, sustained writing and the manipulation of grammar and punctuation skills.
We aim for children to leave Budbrooke with a passion for English, creativity within the spoken and written word and high aspirations when venturing on their next journey in life.
Implementation
We ensure that our English teaching and learning provides many purposeful opportunities for reading, writing and discussion. Following and adapting the Power of Reading, we use a wide variety of immersive experiences, quality texts and resources to motivate and inspire our children. All pupils receive daily English lessons in reading and writing. Additional skills-based lessons are taught daily. For EYFS and KS1 the direct teaching of early reading and spelling through Twinkl Phonics programme. For KS2 daily grammar and punctuation sessions are taught using Spelling Shed and KS2 daily reading is taught using Literacy Shed.
At Budbrooke, we provide:
- A positive reading and writing culture in school, where both are promoted, enjoyed and considered ‘a pleasure’.
- A language rich curriculum, where discussion, modelled reading and vocabulary accumulation is prioritised.
- Regular opportunities for children to build their knowledge and skills through frequent timetabling of sessions.
- Fluency of word reading and comprehension skills are explicitly taught. Content domains for comprehension are taught using the acronym VIPERS (vocabulary, inference, prediction, explanation, retrieval and summarising/ sequencing).
- Pupils to discuss and to present their ideas to each other by talking, being able to elaborate and explain themselves clearly, make presentations and participate in debates.
- Teaching a range of genres across the school (progressing in difficulty) both in English and other curriculum areas; resulting in pupils being exposed to, and knowledgeable about, literary styles, authors and genres. They can express preferences and give opinions, supported by evidence, about different texts.
- English events are planned throughout the year to encourage and promote enjoyment within literacy and opportunities to develop lifelong learning.
