English Lead: Mrs Abram

At our small primary school, we recognise that English underpins all areas of learning and is essential for pupils’ success both in school and later life. Our English curriculum is designed to promote high standards of language and literacy while meeting the needs of our mixed-age classes. We ensure that all pupils, regardless of starting point, are supported and challenged appropriately to develop as confident readers, writers and communicators.

Reading is at the heart of our curriculum. We teach early reading and phonics systematically using Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised, ensuring pupils develop secure decoding skills and build fluency and comprehension from the earliest stages. Phonics teaching is carefully structured, with regular assessment and timely intervention to support all learners. In our mixed-age classes, prior learning is revisited and built upon so that pupils deepen their understanding and apply their reading skills with increasing confidence. We actively promote reading for pleasure through daily story time, exposure to high-quality texts and opportunities for pupils to share and discuss books, authors and genres.

Writing is taught through high-quality texts using The Literacy Tree approach, which places children’s literature at the heart of learning. This enables pupils to engage deeply with rich, carefully chosen texts and develop their writing through meaningful, well-sequenced learning journeys. Pupils are taught to plan, draft, edit and refine their writing for a range of purposes and audiences, developing their understanding of grammar, punctuation and spelling alongside creativity and authorial voice. In mixed-age classes, learning is carefully scaffolded and differentiated to ensure all pupils can access the curriculum while being appropriately challenged.

Spoken language is a key component of our English curriculum and is embedded across all areas of learning. Through discussion, storytelling, role play, presentation and debate, pupils are encouraged to articulate ideas, explain their thinking and listen respectfully to others. These opportunities support vocabulary development, comprehension and confidence, and play an essential role in developing strong writing and reading skills.

Our English curriculum aims to ensure that all pupils:

• read easily, fluently and with good understanding

• develop the habit of reading widely and often, for pleasure and information

• acquire a broad vocabulary and a secure understanding of grammar and language conventions

• engage with a rich and diverse range of high-quality texts

• write clearly, accurately and coherently, adapting language and style for different purposes and audiences

• use spoken language effectively to develop understanding and express ideas

• become confident speakers and attentive listeners

Through high expectations, carefully structured teaching and a nurturing environment, we aim to ensure that every child leaves our school as a confident, capable and enthusiastic reader, writer and communicator.