English

Intent

English and the teaching of English, is the foundation of our curriculum. 

Our main aim is to ensure that every single child becomes literate and progresses in the areas of reading, writing, speaking and listening. We ensure that English is not only taught as a discrete subject but that it is embedded throughout the curriculum.  

Through using high-quality texts, immersing children in vocabulary rich learning environments and ensuring curriculum expectations and the progression of skills are met, children will be exposed to a language rich, creative and a continuous English curriculum which will not only enable them to become appropriately literate but will also develop a love of reading, creative writing and purposeful speaking and listening.  

It is our aim to develop enthusiastic and confident readers who can understand a wide range of texts. 

We want children to read for interest, information and enjoyment so that they can participate fully in society, both in the workplace and for leisure purposes.  

We want our children to write clearly, accurately and coherently, adapting their language and style in and for a range of contexts, purposes and audiences. We believe that all pupils should be encouraged to take pride in the presentation of their writing, in part by developing a neat, joined, handwriting style by the time they move to secondary school. We believe that all good writers refine and edit their writing over time, so we want children to develop independence in being able to identify their own areas for improvement in all pieces of writing, editing their work effectively during and after the writing process.

Reading

We aim for all our children to become fluent, confident readers who are passionate about reading.

Children who read regularly and who are read to regularly, have the opportunity to open the doors to so many different worlds. More importantly, reading gives children the tools to become independent life-long learners.

We teach children to read using a systematic, synthetic phonics programme.

We use Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised in EYFS and KS1 and in KS2 we use Accelerated Reader. 

Writing

We use Literacy Tree to support the teaching of writing across the school.

Literacy Tree supports us in using high quality books that offer opportunities for empathy and can aid philosophical enquiry, as a means of developing the spoken language requirements through debate, drama and discussion using the issues raised through, and within, the text. We will always aim for our writing opportunities to be meaningful and to feel authentic, whether these are short or long, and that the audience is clear. Books offer this opportunity: our aim would be that that children have real reasons to write, whether to explain, persuade, inform or instruct.

Oracy

What is Oracy?

·        Oracy is the ability to express yourself clearly and to communicate with others effectively through spoken language.

·        It is also the ability to think carefully about language choices and to match your spoken language to a specific purpose or audience.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYmr9pVtryo

 

Oracy at Cubbington C of E Primary School

We have adopted an Oracy Framework which identifies four strands in the teaching of speaking and listening.

1.       Physical

2.       Cognitive

3.       Linguistic

4.       Social and emotional

 

• Our lessons are rich in talk

• Teachers think carefully about the questions they ask and help children to develop their responses

• Conversations are modelled and scaffolded

• Teachers use talk skilfully to develop thinking.

• Children are given opportunities to develop oracy skills both within English lessons and across the curriculum.

• Children have opportunities to build their confidence in speaking in formal and informal situations both inside and outside of the classroom.

• Vocabulary is explored and taught in context to ensure understanding.

• Children have opportunities to develop skills in both presentational and exploratory talk.

How can I help at home?

• Talk to your child about their day, listen actively and ask open ended questions to extend the conversation. Try to encourage family discussions and meal time conversations

• Encourage your child to speak in full sentences and to give reasons for their choices.

• Read aloud to your child and spend time discussing the story – encourage your child to read aloud to you and think about appropriate tone and volume.

• Try retelling well known stories orally, taking it in turns to describe the next part.

• Play word games to develop vocabulary and articulation e.g. Scrabble, Story telling dice or charades.

• AK your child to explain how something works or “teach” you a new skill.

• Children learn by observing so try to model, clear, respect, engaging conversations.