English
“The limits of my language mean the limits of my world.”
Ludwig Wittgenstein
Intent
English is such a key element of the curriculum, school life and social interactions. Being the language in which we communicate, it underpins teaching and learning in all lessons and aspects of the school community. English is not only taught in its own discrete lessons but is the cornerstone of the entire curriculum. As effective communicators with the spoken and written word, our children will successfully navigate their way to make educational and social progress. We want our children to be confident and clear when expressing their emotions, ideas and opinions, in both writing and verbal discussions.
It is our intent that children are immersed in a language-rich learning environment and experience the English curriculum through engaging, thought-provoking and well-structured lessons. We want our children to be enthusiastic and have a positive attitude toward their learning in English. It is our desire that our pupils will be propelled forward in life because of their grasp of the English language in all of its forms.
At Park End Primary, we aim for our pupils to:
- Acquire and utilise a wide and rich vocabulary.
- Become accurate and confident decoders when reading and be able to supply a range of decoding strategies.
- Develop a selection of comprehension skills to allow them to gain a deep understanding of the texts they read.
- Display a love of reading and choose to read for pleasure.
- Become confident in speaking clearly in the presence of others, during presentations, discussions, debates and performances.
- Be able to actively listen to their peers and to adults, formulating appropriate responses to what they have heard.
- Use the most accurate form of English grammar (spoken and written) that is required for the situation.
- Write in an engaging manner for a range of contexts, purposes and audiences, using a legible and joined style.
Implementation
In order to achieve the intentions and aims, teachers have worked hard to devise and implement an engaging and inspiring curriculum for English lessons. As required, our English curriculum follows the National Programme of Study but is designed to be broader and deeper than this so that it is personalised to the pupils of Park End Primary. The teaching and learning in each lesson is planned so that children develop excellent subject knowledge, the necessary skills and a thirst for learning. Opportunities for English learning to be applied across the wider curriculum are planned out and capitalised upon.
Discrete English lessons are taught daily across the whole school. In EYFS, English learning is ongoing throughout the day through specific adult-led activities but also through continuous provision areas. In KS1 and KS2, the English sessions will generally be split into reading and writing. However, there may be times when this split is not necessary or does not suit the learning taking place. Lessons dedicated to speaking and listening are seamlessly interwoven within teaching sequences for English.
A wide range of resources, stimuli and schemes are adapted and utilised in the planning of English lessons. Teachers work hard to create teaching sequences that meet the strengths, needs and challenges of the individuals in each class. The structure of speaking/listening, reading and writing lessons is explored further on the individual pages for each of these aspects of English. Please click on the links for each aspect to find out more about each element. At the heart of each lesson is inspiring the love of learning and desire to further develop.
Impact
Through the implementation of a thoughtfully designed and personalised English curriculum, our pupils will develop into lifelong learners who see the true value in all aspects of the English language. They will be capable conversationalists who can express their thoughts and ideas with confidence and efficacy. Our pupils will leave for secondary school with a love of reading and writing and the ability to master the skills involved in all aspects of English.
The impact of our English curriculum will be measured through:
- Pupil discussion and engagement with questions and ideas suggested in lessons.
- Pupils displaying and sharing an enthusiasm and positive attitude towards their learning of English.
- Pupils’ development of the different skills associated with the various aspects of English, often demonstrated through recorded work in books and online learning platforms.
- Application across the wider curriculum of their vocabulary and language skills acquired in English lessons.
- Progression through the various reading schemes, depending on age and stage.
- Involvement in whole school English celebrations that express a love of reading, writing, speaking and listening.
- Pupils demonstrating the knowledge and skills gained through low-stake quizzes.
- Children achieving end of Key Stage expectations.
You can read the National Curriculum Programme of Study for English, here.
If you would like to discuss our curriculum in more detail, please contact Sharon Armes, Deputy Head Teacher and Curriculum Leader.
