Leverstock Green CR primary School, our English curriculum is delivered using a variety of high quality engaging texts which ensure all pupils have regular experiences of speaking and listening, reading and writing. English is taught across the curriculum through discrete lessons, topics, themes and enrichment activities. Pupils learn to use language effectively for different purposes and audiences. They are supported in developing and extending their English through visits, projects, competitions and celebrations of national events.

Phonics

All children in EYFS and Key Stage One receive a daily phonic session that is clearly structured following the Letters and Sounds Programme. To ensure maximum progress, the children are divided into differentiated groups to address misconceptions.

Reading

Reading is considered a high priority across the school.  In EYFS and KS1 the children are provided with closely matched texts that reflect their phonic understanding.  Children are heard to read on an individual basis to ensure their understanding of the text and vocabulary. In whole class sessions, all children are exposed to a variety challenging and engaging material. All children are taught comprehension skills twice a week to help them learn to retrieve information, infer from authorial intent, summarise the text and make predictions based on evidence provided. We also teach them strategies to decipher the meanings of unfamiliar words through clues in the text and using their existing knowledge of spelling rules.

We aim to promote a love of reading across the school by providing high quality texts to all children across the breadth of the curriculum. There is an expectation that children read at home daily.

Writing

Writing topics are planned with a focus around engaging and vocabulary-rich texts and experiences.  Through modelled and shared writing, children are encouraged to write creatively and purposefully.  They take responsibility for editing, improving, redrafting and presenting their work from Year Two.  Emphasis is placed on producing quality work with neat presentation, correctly formed handwriting and the use of correct spelling patterns and rules (which are taught discretely). Children learn to work independently using the working walls in the classroom as a tool to understand the criteria needed for success, in addition to examples of how to meet it.