English

Rationale 

Our English curriculum is designed to develop confident, fluent readers, writers and communicators through a rich, literature-led approach. We use Ready Steady Write as the foundation of our writing curriculum, supplemented by a carefully selected range of high-quality texts, novels, picture books and non-fiction to immerse children in rich language, diverse voices and engaging contexts for writing. Our chosen texts are vocabulary-rich, inspire a love of reading and writing and provide meaningful links across the wider curriculum wherever possible.

Reading sits at the heart of our English curriculum. Through whole-class reading, guided reading and shared reading experiences, children are immersed in high-quality literature and are encouraged to discuss, question, predict, infer and evaluate what they read. We explicitly teach ambitious vocabulary within the context of quality texts, enabling children to deepen their understanding of language and use increasingly sophisticated vocabulary in both their spoken and written work.

Writing is taught through a clear sequence that enables children to analyse high-quality models, develop ideas orally, rehearse language and write for a range of authentic purposes and audiences. Children learn to write across a wide variety of genres, building the knowledge and skills required by the National Curriculum while developing creativity, independence and authorial voice. They are taught to plan, draft, edit and publish their work, understanding that writing is a process through which ideas can be refined and improved.

Grammar, punctuation and spelling are taught explicitly but always within the context of purposeful reading and writing, ensuring that children understand how grammatical choices shape meaning rather than viewing grammar as isolated rules. This contextual approach enables pupils to apply their learning independently and effectively in their own writing.

Early reading is underpinned by systematic synthetic phonics. We use the Read Write Inc. progression to deliver our phonics curriculum, ensuring a carefully sequenced approach to the teaching of decoding and early reading skills. While we follow the Read Write Inc. teaching sequence, we do not adopt its pupil grouping pedagogy, enabling us to organise provision in a way that best meets the needs of our children.

Poetry is an integral part of our English curriculum and is carefully mapped across all year groups. Children experience, perform, discuss and write a wide range of poetry, including narrative, free verse, rhyming, classic and contemporary poetry. They study the work of diverse poets, exploring how language, rhythm and structure create meaning while developing confidence, fluency and enjoyment through recital and performance.

Handwriting is taught progressively and systematically, enabling children to develop fluency, stamina and presentation skills so that transcription does not become a barrier to composition. Our English curriculum recognises the importance of nurturing a culture where children take pride in their writing and can write clearly and accurately, adapting their language and grammatical style for a range of contexts with increasing confidence.

Across the curriculum, we promote high expectations for spoken language, recognising that talk underpins successful reading and writing. Children are encouraged to articulate ideas, justify opinions, collaborate with others and communicate effectively, developing the vocabulary and confidence needed to succeed both within school and beyond.

Ultimately, our English curriculum aims to foster a lifelong love of reading, writing and language, ensuring that every child leaves our school as a fluent reader, an articulate speaker and a confident writer, equipped with the knowledge, skills and cultural capital to thrive in the next stage of their education and in the wider world.