English

Aims

The overarching aim for English in the national curriculum is to promote high standards of language and literacy by equipping pupils with a strong command of the spoken and written word, and to develop their love of literature through widespread reading for enjoyment.

The Arts and Democracy are the core drivers within the English Curriculum at Corrie. As a school, we aim to promote high standards of language and literacy by equipping children with a strong command of the spoken and written word. We believe that fostering a love of language in our children is vital in achieving success at school and in later life.

At Corrie we aim to ensure that all children:

  • Read easily, fluently and with good understanding.
  • Develop the habit of reading widely and often, for both pleasure and information.
  • Acquire a wide vocabulary, and understanding of grammar and knowledge of linguistic conventions for reading, writing and spoken language.
  • Appreciate our rich and varied literary heritage.
  • Write clearly, accurately and coherently, adapting their language and style in and for a range of contexts, purposes and audiences.
  • Write taking inspiration and adapting their language and style in response to a range of text for different audiences and purposes.
  • Use discussion in order to learn; they should be able to elaborate and explain clearly their understanding and ideas.
  • Understand from their reading how the written word can be presented in a variety of artistic forms such as, film, role play and drama and learn how to create their own versions of these.
  • Are competent in the art of speaking and listening through role play, making formal and informal presentations, demonstrating to others and participating in individual, group and whole class compositions. They should develop an understanding of democratic values through discussion and decision making in debate and be able to establish an awareness of equality and recognition and appreciation of opinions which may differ to their own.

 

Reading at Corrie Primary School

At Corrie Primary School we use the Oxford Reading Tree as our main reading scheme for home reading. In school during Guided Reading session we use the Collins Big Cat Reading scheme. We supplement this scheme with a range of other ‘real’ books and reading materials in particular to consolidate and extend more able readers who are working beyond age related objectives for their year group. In KS1 we use the Storytime Phonics Scheme to systematically develop phonic reading and spelling skills embedded in the context of stories from a range of quality real books. Whole books and text extracts for Shared reading are also taken from real quality children’s literature and real life texts. In other areas of the Curriculum books and electronic text are used to support learning in so that children have many regular opportunities to read for a variety of purposes each day.

Reading is a very important part of life in school and it happens regularly. Children have guided reading sessions in school. This is where children of a similar ability read in a group with an adult and work on targets to improve reading.

In many different lessons children listen to modelled reading by an adult and shared reading takes place where children read a text with an adult. In English lessons children learn to read texts really thoroughly during text interrogation sessions. The children look for key features of different text types, as well as looking for specific spelling, grammar and punctuation points to help with writing skills.

Some children have extra reading sessions with an adult either in a group or as an individual. Some children have extra phonics work with an adult to help them learn the sounds for reading. Volunteer readers work in school and listen to children read reading books. Classes read books simply to enjoy them and children have access to reading areas in classrooms to read for enjoyment. Children also have opportunity to use and /or borrow books from the school libraries and are encouraged through visits to the local library to become regular readers for pleasure.

Children in KS1 have access to Reading Eggs, which is a fun way to improve reading using ICT. Some KS2 children also have access to Reading Eggs where appropriate. Classes in school use online media to inspire reading including online videos which children discuss and analyse.

Reading at home is vital and we encourage all adults to support our school with this. In KS1 classes have weekly Reading Mornings where parents can come a share stories and read with and to their children.

 

Writing at Corrie Primary School

Throughout school we ensure that teaching of writing focuses on transcription (spelling and handwriting), and composition (which includes structuring spoken and written ideas). At Corrie, time is given outside of literacy lessons for additional practice of spelling, handwriting and grammar.

Foremost within literacy lessons, transcription and composition is taught within the context of the genre or text. Teachers endeavour to motivate pupils to write and enjoy writing by ensuring that the audience, purpose and context are meaningful to them. We also seek to increase the children’s ability to use planning, drafting and editing to improve their writing and give children opportunity to develop stamina for writing through regular extended writing tasks.

At Corrie, key expectations for writing extend beyond literacy lessons into others areas of the curriculum. A balance of fiction and non-fiction work is covered across the school. We use ‘Hooks for Writing’ at the school to inspire a love of writing and in hand with this we use various stimuli to engage and enthuse the writing process. Teachers ensure they select high quality texts, which incorporate elements of writing that they wish the children to use in their own writing. Teachers ensure children publish their writing in different ways and often link what they are writing about to the Creative Curriculum. Children in KS1 use pictorial planning to help them map texts, which they innovate and later use to invent their own texts.

Spelling, vocabulary, grammar and punctuation Teachers take opportunities to enhance pupils’ vocabulary throughout their reading and writing activities. Dictionaries and thesauri are available and children are taught how to use them to develop understanding of word meaning. Teachers in KS2 use Grammar Hammer and all teachers use online games and videos to teach and reinforce objectives. Staff also adopt strategies such as Kung Fu punctuation to assist their writing skills. Children in EYFS and KS1 and SEN children in KS2 also use pictorial punctuation assessments to help them develop their punctuation skills.

 

Spoken language at Corrie Primary School

Teachers and teaching staff consciously model Standard English when speaking and writing. We enable children to understand and discuss language by specifically teaching language about language. Children engage in Talk activities which develop their capacity to explain their understanding of books and other reading, and to prepare their ideas before they write. Talk activities are also embedded in lessons through the use of KAGAN talk structures, drama activities and in preparation for presentation and performance in class and whole school. We support children’s vocabulary development through daily systematic Word Aware teaching.