Welcome to our English Area
English lessons at Stanhope Primary provide opportunities for children to develop their speaking and listening as well as Reading and Writing skills. Our aim is for ALL children to access a range of learning opportunities to achieve their full potential in English. Engaging and exciting novels are used to capture the interests of children and carefully planned lessons are taught to allow pupils to write in a wide variety of contexts. All aspects of English are taught in line with the Primary National Curriculum.
Writing at Stanhope
At Stanhope, we believe that equipping children with the skills and knowledge to write, and a love of doing so, is one of the key aspects in allowing our children to achieve of their journey through education and beyond that. With this in the forefront of our minds and implementing the writing process our children follow throughout school, we ensure that writing is embedded throughout the curriculum.
Intent
At Stanhope Primary, we teach English so that:
- children speak clearly and audibly
- children become good communicators
- children listen with concentration to recall key learning from the lesson
- children become enthusiastic as well as confident readers
- children enjoy writing
- children write in a range of genres and show an awareness of the audience for each given genre
- children can apply a variety of writing skills
Teachers achieve the above objectives by providing a range of photographs, fiction, non-fiction and poetry books. Staff plan the use of drama and role play as well as use of ICT to engage children into lessons.
At Stanhope, teachers deliver engaging and inspiring English lessons through high-quality teaching. Writing is a crucial part of our curriculum. Opportunities for writing are evident in school from Foundation Stage to Year 6.
Implementation
At Stanhope, we aim to create a positive Reading and Writing culture within school.
In school, the Read Write Inc. (RWI) approach to Reading and Phonics is implemented and supported by appropriate Reading materials. This systematic and rigorous approach is taught in order for children to become readers as quickly as possible.
Early mark making is taught in Foundation Stage before progressing to RWI, where children are taught correct letter formation. Writing begins when children are encouraged to write CVC words and move onto writing short sentences using the sounds they have been taught. All children within Foundation Stage are encouraged to read and write through continuous provision.
Phonics sessions are taught daily within Reception, Year 1 and Year 2. Children within Year 3 and Year 4 also receive phonics sessions where required. The children receive weekly Home Reading Books that correspond to their current phonics attainment. Phonics assessments are carried out every term using the RWI assessment system and tracker.
Moving from the phonics programme, Children follow the carefully planned scheme of work for Reading Bugs Guided Reading. Children work within the class on tasks focussing on vocabulary, comprehension and oracy.
Reading and Writing is assessed regularly throughout the year. Teachers assess using school assessment sheets and moderate Writing in CPD sessions each academic year. Teachers use assessments to plan and implement successful interventions, which are carried out by the classroom teacher or teaching assistant.
Grammar, Punctuation and Spelling is modelled by staff daily in all lessons. To ensure Grammar progression, staff use yearly overviews which are broken down into weekly sessions. Termly assessments are carried out to track children’s progress. Within these sessions, children are expected to work on grammar style questions with a writing application as a further challenge.
Around school various displays show a range of children’s writing and staff always encourage children to take pride in their work.
Impact
At Stanhope, children love to listen to adults reading a range of stories and talk with excitement when discussing class novels. Pupils enjoy writing a range of genres and show the different features within their writing.
Each term, staff moderate pupils work in CPD sessions to ensure accurate assessments are made. The quality of writing in English and other subjects is evaluated through Learning Walks, drop ins, pupil conversations and book scrutinies. The English Coordinator provides an Action Plan for the subject and addresses areas for development and improvement, which is shared with all staff.
We hope that as children move on from Stanhope to further their education, that their creativity and passions for English will continue to grow and develop.
Writing Curriculum Progression Map