Intent 

Our English curriculum is the vehicle by which we inspire children to be curious, creative and independent learners. Children are engaged by high quality literature during lessons and have daily opportunities to engage confidently in peer to peer discussion. By valuing and cherishing high quality literature across our school and across our curriculum, our children will shape, draft and publish their writing, resulting in beautiful, well-written work of which they are justifiably proud.  

Discussion within the classroom is used, as a means of developing metacognition, in order that children develop a reflective, critical approach to both reading and writing. We strive to ensure that all children are supported to develop ideas and opinions around literature and are able to articulate themselves with confidence.  

DfE, National Curriculum (2014):   

The study of English will therefore teach children 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. Children will have a chance to develop culturally, emotionally, intellectually, socially and spiritually. Literature, especially, will play a key role in such development. Reading will enable children both to acquire knowledge and to build on what they already know.  

We intend that the study of English will enable our children to:   

• Read easily, fluently and with good understanding  
• Develop the habit of reading widely and often, for both pleasure and information  
• Acquire a wide vocabulary  
• Develop an understanding of grammar and knowledge of linguistic conventions for reading, writing and spoken language  
• 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  
• Become competent in the arts of speaking and listening, making formal presentations, demonstrating to others and participating in debate  

(DfE, National Curriculum, 2014)  

Implementation   

English is primarily taught through learning experiences that will:  

• Follow a clear, coherent strategy that rigorously tracks the development of reading fluency 

Phonics: 

We follow the Little Wandle Letters and Sounds phonics programme from Reception through to Year 2. 

Phonics is taught from phase 1 (EYFS) to phase 6 (Year 2).

A Phonics screening check takes place at the end of Year 1 as per DfE requirements and results are given to parents.

Reading:

Reading is a very important part of the curriculum at St. Augustine's. Stories and picture books are shared with Reception children right from their very first day and St. Augustine's and they begin their Little Wandle phonics lessons in their first full week at school. Reading is the gateway to a life of learning and we strive to give children the keys as soon as possible. 

We use the colour coded reading scheme in line with PM Benchmarking and we select from a range of books and schemes to give our children a wide range of reading opportunities. 

The children are taught to read in Reception and Key Stage 1 using Little Wandle Phonics. The methods of teaching reading are multi-faceted, using all the strategies that enable children to bring meaning to text.

Children are also encouraged to share their developing reading skills and appreciation of books with their families by means of a ‘Reading Journal' and by reading regularly in school to adults.

• Each class will adopt a class reader, and children will be read to by an adult in school  
• Prioritising a whole-school approach to the explicit teaching of reading, to develop and enrich children's vocabulary and develop reading comprehension  
• Value and cherish high quality, challenging literature in order to inspire a love of reading and also promote beautiful writing  
• Embed an understanding of writing as a continual process of improvement that involves reading widely, planning, drafting and editing, responding to feedback throughout  
• Introduce spelling, punctuation and grammar within the context of a genre, across a range of curriculum subjects, evidenced not only in our English work but across all subjects  
• Provide opportunities for children to articulate and justify answers, arguments and opinions where children to ask relevant questions in order to extend their understanding and knowledge
• Children have access to a range of reading resources, including online reading material.  

Impact   

By the time the children leave our school, we want them to demonstrate high standards of language and literacy. They will:  

• Be equipped with a strong command of spoken and written language  
• Have developed a love of literature through widespread reading for enjoyment  
• Be able to explain their understanding of books and other reading, in order to prepare their ideas before they write  
• Be able to rehearse, refine and respond thoughtfully to drama and theatre  
• Read fluently and with confidence in any subject in their forthcoming secondary education  
• Demonstrate clarity and awareness of purpose and audience, through a range of written genres 
•  Apply a fluent, legible handwriting style