English

When children leave St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, we expect them to read fluently and widely and to take pleasure in their reading. We want them to make connections between their own experiences and texts, recommend books to each other and to choose to read in their own time.

We teach our children to write with confidence and accuracy for a variety of purposes and audiences. Children are taught to write with grammatical accuracy and to be able to apply spelling patterns correctly using a neat handwriting style. We expose our children to a wide range of vocabulary so that they are able to decipher new words and then use them when speaking and writing. We also aim for our children to apply all of these English skills to all areas of the curriculum.

Phonics

Phonics is taught through the Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised systematic and synthetic programme. Daily phonics lessons are taught and this ensures that children build on their growing knowledge of the alphabetic code, mastering phonics to read and spell as they progress through the programme.

Whilst children are learning to read, they are given phonetically decodable books that match their phonics level. A reading practise lesson takes place three times per week for these children in EYFS and Key Stage 1.

For more information about how phonics is taught and how you can support your children at home go to:

https://www.littlewandlelettersandsounds.org.uk/resources/for-parents/

Reading

High-quality texts are used to inspire and structure reading and writing lessons and also to engage children in a daily story-time session. Children in Key Stage 2 have a core reading list, consisting of high-quality books which children select from to read at home.

The Pathways to Read programme is used to support the teaching of reading from Year 2 upwards. Within each unit, children are explicitly taught skills and processes, building upon the knowledge they have previously gained.

A love of reading is promoted in many ways. Each class has an inviting and organised book area with a wide range of high-quality books of a variety of genres and authors. This allows children to enjoy choosing books to read, express their preferences and opinions and make recommendations. We also hold regular book sales, recommend books in the weekly newsletter, swap books and organise author and library visits.

Writing

Throughout the school, we follow the Pathways to Write programme. This programme follows a Mastery-Learning model where key skills are taught and repeated during the unit of work, allowing children to practise and apply these skills through daily writing opportunities leading to an extended written piece at the end of the unit.

Throughout the writing journey, we teach children new and innovative vocabulary and use drama or role play to inspire writing. Editing is a very important part of the journey and children are taught to draft and redraft their work before presenting their final pieces.

Grammar skills are integrated within our writing lessons. These key skills are taught and repeated during a unit of work, allowing children to practise and apply these skills in their writing.

Spelling lessons are taught separately so that spelling rules and conventions are introduced weekly and relevant spellings are taught in class and practised at home.

Cross Curricular

Reading and writing is taught across the curriculum ensuring that skills taught in these lessons are applied in other subjects.

Writing and reading lessons often use text that link to science, history and geography topics. This allows for cross-curricular links and meaningful writing opportunities in these subject areas.

Please click here for details of the National Curriculum for English which we adhere to.