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English

 

Our Intent 

At Barrow URC Primary School, we strive to help our children develop into articulate and imaginative learners, who can confidently apply essential literacy skills they need in order to become life-long learners.  We aim to ensure all of our children develop a genuine love of language and the written word, through a thematic, text-based approach. 

 We believe that the ability to read and write are fundamental to pupils’ development as independent learners, during their time at primary school and beyond. We strive to give children the necessary tools to be able to communicate confidently, effectively and creatively through both written and spoken language.  We ensure that children develop an understanding of how widely reading and writing is used in everyday life and, therefore, how important and useful the skills are that they are learning

English at Barrow is not only a daily, discrete lesson, but is at the cornerstone of the entire curriculum: it is embedded within all our lessons. Through using high-quality texts, immersing children in vocabulary-rich learning environments and ensuring new curriculum expectations and the progression of skills are met, the children at Barrow will be exposed to a language-rich, creative and continuous English curriculum which will not only enable them to become primary literate but will also develop a love of reading, creative writing and purposeful, confident speaking and listening.

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 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 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 arts of speaking and listening, making formal presentations, demonstrating to others and participating in debate.

The National Curriculum 2014 forms the basis for our English curriculum; through this we build in the skills and knowledge necessary for our students to be prepared for Secondary School and equipped for life. The skills that are taught in English are central to all of the learning that takes place in school and, as such, we ensure each child will experience at least an hour of interactive and effective English teaching every day, which is supplemented by regular enrichment activities. In Foundation Stage, the timings will reflect the stage of development of the children. 

Through regular assessment for learning and evaluation of the strategies we use in school, we are able to deliver high quality teaching and learning opportunities that best suit the needs of the children and enable them to reach their potential in all aspects of English. Delivery of the programmes of study in English is adapted so that it is relevant, personalised and encompasses the broad and balanced curriculum delivery that we strive to achieve. Pupils are provided with opportunities to develop and extend their English skills in and across the curriculum. 

Lessons will focus on teaching and learning in the following aspects of English. 

  1. Speaking and listening 
  2. Reading (including Phonics and Guided Reading)
  3. Writing (including Spelling, Grammar and Handwriting) 

Learning experiences will take the form of group work, paired work, whole class teaching and independent work and will provide pupils with a variety of learning opportunities that address all types of learners. 

In the Foundation Stage (Reception) children should be given opportunities to: 

  • Speak and listen in a variety of contexts and groups sizes and represent ideas in their activities; 
  • Use communication, language and English in every part of the curriculum; 
  • Become immersed in an environment rich in print and possibilities for communication. 
  • Develop a love of books and stories through regular story telling; hearing stories and poems; constant access to a range of books that are regularly changed and displayed in inspiring and motivating ways and through watching reading modelled by all adults. 

At Key Stage One (Years 1 and 2) children should learn to: 

  • Speak confidently in a widening range of situations and for different purposes, and listen to what others have to say; 
  • Write independently and with enthusiasm using language to explore their own experiences and imaginary worlds; they should also have regular opportunities to see high quality writing modelled by adults. 
  • Use new vocabulary in different contexts 
  • Read with increasing independence out loud to adults and quietly to themselves. 
  • Love books, stories and poetry, through regular class reading, guided sessions, independent reading and exposure to high quality book selections which are constantly refreshed and displayed in exciting and varied ways. 

At Key Stage Two (Years 3-6) children should learn to: 

  • Change the way they speak to suit different situations, purposes and audiences and become active listeners who can offer relevant responses in a range of situations and group sizes. 
  • Read a range of texts and respond to different layers of meaning in them, both written and orally. They should explore the use of language in literary and non-literary texts and learn how the structure of language works through whole class, guided and independent reading sessions. Principles 
  • Write independently using language features appropriate to their age and ability and for varying purposes and audiences. 
  • Become increasingly familiar with a widening range of vocabulary and use new words in different contexts. 
  • Love books and poetry, through constant exposure to high quality books being read to them and also available for them to read independently. They will hear fiction read regularly by adults modelling different reading styles and be excited by books and stories through their exposure to books displayed in inviting and motivating ways.