English

English at KWPS

The Intent of our English Curriculum

At KWPS, our aim is to provide an environment that will inspire, motivate and enthuse pupils to develop a love of literacy.  We want every child to leave our school as a skilled, fluent readers, who are articulate and confident when talking in a range of circumstances and can write accurately and coherently write for a range of purposes and contexts.  To enable children to achieve these aims we understand that the knowledge of a wide and varied vocabulary is a foundation that must be well established.  This then allows pupils to comprehend and talk what they read, helps them to develop their ever-expanding vocabulary and understanding of grammar and to orally plan and then write in a creative, interesting and informative manner.  We expect all our pupils to always take a pride in the presentation of their work.   

The Implementation of our English Curriculum

At KWPS, we teach whole class English lessons which provide all pupils with opportunity to learn the age-related expectations outlined in the English Curriculum.

Lessons are taught by staff who are skilled and, in turn, support pupils by modelling, scaffolding and teaching using a variety of methods and styles.  Pupils who encounter difficulties with English are also provided with either one to one or small group opportunities to revisit and embed skills they are struggling with. 

Our English curriculum is made up of units that have been written by Lancashire County Council and proved pupils with a balance of genres and writing opportunities in each year group.  The skills learnt in these units build across each year and allow pupils to access a variety of age appropriate and interesting texts that are used to motivate and inspire them. 

Lessons are planned around these units follow a cycle of reading, responding and analysing texts; gathering content; planning and writing ideas and presentation.  Pupils learning is supported with working walls in all classrooms, and they are also provided with opportunities to practise skills through writing other areas of the curriculum, e.g. writing a report in History.  Grammar, punctuation and handwriting skills are both taught and reinforced at appropriate points in these units but, at times, they are also taught discretely.   

The skills of reading are taught through discretely planned lessons where children may read, talk about and complete written tasks which show their comprehension of a text.  In EYFS and KS1 these lessons are taught though a model of the whole class shared reading.  Meanwhile in KS2 lessons are a mix of teaching through lessons with children working in groups and, shared reading with lessons focusing on a whole class text.  

Spelling is taught in EYFS and KS1 through a systematic synthetic phonics programme.  Daily phonics lessons are taught alongside reading lessons which allows the immediate constant consolidation of new phonemes and the opportunity to revisit prior learning.  In Years 2 to 6 pupils then progress to learn spelling rules outlined in the National Curriculum and this is again taught through daily lessons.  Lessons in Years 2 to 6 build progressively and rules are reinforced through all areas of learning.   

The Impact of our English Curriculum

AT KWPS pupils are regularly assessed in on ongoing formal and informal manner.  In lessons, teacher will often assess daily and then alter future learning to support pupils in the best way they can.  These ongoing assessments may take place through questioning, observation and the marking and evaluation of work.  Pupils are also encouraged to reflect on and assess their own and others’ work and to consider how this many be improved.  Feedback may be oral to an individual; via a whole class discussion on points noted; with work highlighted in green and comments noted or through the schools success and tips method of marking.    

More formal assessments take place on a termly basis with teachers being asked to identify whether a pupil is working below, in line or above year group expectations in reading and writing.  This judgement may be reached through observations, work completed on a daily basis in English lessons, work completed in other areas of the curriculum or through formal tests, e.g., SPAG or comprehension tests.  The judgements are fed into our Tracker and the Subject Leader and SLT then monitor the progress and work with the teacher to put in place appropriate intervention.   

In the final term of the year pupils in Year 2 and 6 will complete the National Curriculum Comprehension and SPAG test.  Their writing will be assessed by the class teacher using the national guidance.  In EYFS children are assessed using the Baseline Assessment at the start of the year and against the Early Learning Goals at the end of the year.   All other years will have completed their termly assessments.   

The impact of English is also measured through learning walks, lesson observations, pupil discussions and book/ work `.  Termly reports are also provided to the governors and any issues identified are raised at staff meetings or appropriate training may be sought to support staff. 

National Curriculum Aims for English

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. 

Teaching of reading at KWPS

English Curriculum