English

English Curriculum Information

We believe that children need to develop a secure knowledge-base in English, which follows a clear pathway of progression as they advance through the primary curriculum.

We also believe that a secure basis in literacy skills is crucial to a high quality education and will give our children the tools they need to participate fully as a member of society.

English

The national curriculum for English aims 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, diverse 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 art of speaking and listening, making formal presentations, demonstrating to others and participating in debate

These aims are embedded across our English lessons and the wider curriculum. We have a rigorous and well-planned English curriculum that provides many purposeful opportunities for reading, writing and discussion. Leaders recognise that our school does not reflect the diverse nature of society, so opportunities to promote diversity and equality are maximised throughout the curriculum. Carefully thought through curriculum plans and learning experiences ensure that children’s experiences reflect that of wider society.

Reading

Reading Curriculum

At Icklesham Church of England Primary School and Nursery, we believe that learning to read is a fundamental skill that will enable our pupils to engage in all other areas of the curriculum. This is underpinned by our primary purpose for reading: To make meaning and gain understanding. We want our children to become highly-skilled readers, who develop a lifelong love of reading during their time with us. In addition to our daily reading practice sessions, all pupils engage in shared reading. We also provide plenty of opportunities for reading across the wider curriculum. All children should leave our school with the ability to read and discuss texts in a way that allows them to be successful in secondary school and beyond.

Early Reading

Our children develop early language through stories, songs and rhymes in Nursery. They also enjoy poetry basket sessions, using repetition through rhyme to extend vocabulary.

In our Reception and Key Stage 1 classes, we use the Little Wandle phonics program to deliver robust, targeted phonics teaching so that our children have the best possible start to their reading journey. We use a ‘keep up, not catch up’ pedagogy, where high expectations and quality teaching ensure that children make excellent progress in learning to read and write.

In phonics lessons, children are taught graphemes (written units of sound) in a specifically designed order, as well as ‘tricky’ words which are more difficult to sound out. In coordination with the phonics they are learning, we use Little Wandle reading practice books, which are phonetically matched. This reinforces the children’s learning, building their confidence and ability to read and write.

Once children have a good understanding of the graphemes taught by the Little Wandle program, their knowledge is further consolidated by writing with a greater number of the sounds, as well as more in-depth reading practice sessions using the Little Wandle books.

Reading Practice

From Key Stage 2, children take part in daily Reading Practice sessions. These sessions use high-quality fiction books as their basis, supplemented by non-fiction texts and poetry. This exposure to a wide range of literature enhances word knowledge and background knowledge, which allow for greater comprehension. Our Reading Practice sessions place reading at the heart, with discussion being the main method of gaining and showing understanding of a text.

Ongoing Phonics Instruction

Phonics does not end after the children have taken their phonics screening check. Phonics is used in reading lessons across the school to help children decode unfamiliar words, in addition to being used in our spelling program, ‘Spelling Ninja’.

Children will also continue being exposed and using the language ‘grapheme’ and ‘phoneme’ to aid reading and writing.

Vocabulary Instruction

At Icklesham Church of England Primary School and Nursery, we teach discrete vocabulary instruction across Key Stage 2 so that children add to their word and background knowledge, both important aspects to derive meaning from a text. In EYFS and Key Stage 1, we explain and use vocabulary as it comes up across lessons, rather than through discrete instruction.

Fluency

In order to make meaning of a text, children must be able to read quickly and accurately. This is built into our lessons through ‘fluency practice’, where children read a text aloud, with opportunities to receive feedback from both the teacher and other children. All fluency practice sessions begin with the teaching reading a text aloud, so that children have had the correct reading modelled. As children are able to read age-appropriate texts more fluently, they will be able to make more meaning from them.

Comprehension

Within the Reading Practice lessons, teachers model comprehension monitoring. This is discussing the meaning they are making from the text through a range of strategies. By doing this, children are reinforcing the purpose of reading: to make meaning and gain understanding. Teachers model how this process works before children do it themselves, aiding their ability to take meaning and gain understanding from any text they are reading.

Reading for Pleasure

Reading for pleasure is an integral part of our reading curriculum. All pupils are read to in a shared reading session every day. These sessions focus on listening comprehension and rich discussions about a tex. Children are exposed to a wide range of high-quality texts, both fiction and non-fiction.

Reading at Home

At Icklesham Church of England Primary School and Nursery, we recognise the importance of regular practice to become fluent, lifelong readers. As a result, there is a strong emphasis on reading at home in addition to reading at school. All children, from EYFS to Year 6, are expected to read at least five times a week and record their reading in their reading record. Parents and are encouraged to support their children in this.

Writing

At Icklesham Church of England Primary School and Nursery we believe that writing is a vital aspect of education allowing children to express their views and ideas. In Nursery children focus on mark marking through messy play and accessible writing activities, where children can develop their fine motor skills. Physical development activities are offered throughout the setting to develop the gross motor skills that support writing. Children in all classes are given many opportunities to write; in phonics lessons, writing lessons and through our curious curriculum, where children are encouraged to write as historians or scientists with the appropriate vocabulary being used.

Through a carefully planned curriculum children are taught how to write for a variety of purposes, audiences and contexts. We follow the principles of Talk for Writing, which also follows the I think, We think, You think pedagogical model. Children are encouraged to imitate, innovate and invent texts based on well known models. Writing opportunities are often linked to a class text, topic or curious curriculum theme to help give the children a clear purpose, audience or context.

Grammar and punctuation are taught through a mix of discrete lessons and through the context of quality texts; where writing conventions are modelled.

Thorough marking, following the feedback and marking policy, ensures that children make excellent progress; with time given to edit and improve their work. Teachers undertake regular professional development in writing, keeping up to date with new research and developments in teaching writing. As a school we are part of a Writing Hub where written work is moderated with other schools throughout the country, giving us a wider perspective of standards in writing.

Children are proud to have their work displayed around the school and have the opportunity to share their writing with other classes. The year 5 and 6 children have the opportunity to write and make books to share with their Reception and Year 1 buddies.