Our English curriculum covers all National Curriculum objectives in Communication, Phonics, Writing and Reading. Each year group bases their English teaching around quality texts that are often linked to their curriculum lessons. These texts are selected to cover a range of fiction, non-fiction and poetry features and also to include characters and themes of a diverse background.
We teach handwriting using the Kinetic Letters scheme for handwriting in all year groups, which teaches children to first form their letters accurately and then to join in preparation for the next stage of their school career. This scheme focuses very closely on children’s posture and pencil grip during writing and also develops children’s gross and fine motor skills.
We teach phonics to Early Years, Year 1 and Year 2 using the Little Wandle scheme. This is taught daily in whole class phonics lessons, led by the class teacher. In addition, teaching assistants and teachers lead reading practice groups five times per week. This allows children to practise the phonics covered in class. Any children who require further reading or phonics support work on a variety of small group keep up interventions with our highly skilled staff.
We teach spelling across school from Year 1 by following the Cracking Spelling scheme. We use this in conjunction with a range of practical, multi-sensory activities to encourage children of all learning styles to learn their year group words and spelling rules.
English Subject Intent
The National Curriculum (2014) clearly states that teaching the English language is an essential, if not the most essential role of a primary school and at Overthorpe C of E Academy we are committed to undertaking this role for the best interests of our pupils.
At Overthorpe C of E Academy we recognise that without effective communication, little achievement can be made. We understand that we have a duty to ensure that English teaching is a priority and we recognise that this is necessarily cross-curricular and a constant throughout school life and beyond. It is part of the ‘essential knowledge’ (p6 National Curriculum 2014) that is needed in society.
We are an inclusive school, and we agree wholeheartedly that ‘pupils…who do not learn to speak, read and write fluently and confidently are effectively disenfranchised’ (p13 National Curriculum 2014)
We aim to develop pupils’ abilities within an integrated programme of communication, reading and writing. Pupils will be given opportunities to develop their use, knowledge and understanding of spoken and written English within a broad and balanced curriculum, with opportunities to consolidate and reinforce taught skills. We believe that a secure basis in literacy knowledge is crucial to a high-quality education across the curriculum.
Our English curriculum is designed to develop children’s love of reading, writing and discussion and to prepare our learners for their next stage of their education and for life as a flourishing citizen. Through our varied reading curriculum, book areas and library, we inspire an appreciation of our rich and varied literary heritage and a habit of reading widely and often. We nurture a culture where children take pride in their writing, can write clearly, imaginatively and accurately and adapt their language and style for a range of contexts. We aim to inspire children to be confident in the art of speaking and listening and to use discussion to communicate and further their learning in all areas of the curriculum.