English
In English we teach the skills of reading, speaking and listening and writing (encompassing spelling, punctuation, grammar, handwriting and different text types). Throughout the week the children are taught these skills in a number of different ways.
Reading
Children are taught reading at school through their daily English lessons, guided reading and specific interventions, where appropriate. The teaching of reading covers both word reading and comprehension skills but also aims to promote an appreciation of texts and lifelong love of reading in our children.
Year 3 Reading Curriculum Skills Map Year 4 Reading Curriculum Skills Map
Year 5 Reading Curriculum Skills Map Year 6 Reading Curriculum Skills Map
Watch our Parent Reading Workshop to learn more about how we support children in school and how you can support your child at home.
/Videos/Reading_in_the_Juniors_-_talk_to_parents_WEB.mp4
Year 3 Recommended Reading List Year 4 Recommended Reading List
Year 5 Recommended Reading List Year 6 Recommended Reading List
Banded Books
Our banded books can take the children right up to the level expected in Year 6. Most children will have a banded book, in addition to their library books. The use of finely graded (banded) books allows us to closely monitor children's progress and ensure they are both challenged and supported in their reading.
Guided Reading
Guided Reading is taught 3 times per week at school. Every week, each child will follow a sequence of learning activities: pre-reading, reading with an adult and post-reading. The specific focus of these activities and the text chosen will be determined by the class teacher to build on children's reading skills and understanding and support them with their next steps in learning.
Writing
Children have four English lessons a week, in addition to specific handwriting and spelling lessons and thrice-weekly Guided Reading sessions. In English lessons, and across the wider curriculum, children are given daily opportunities to write for specific purposes and develop their skills within the areas of composition, vocabulary and grammar and punctuation.
We use high quality texts to write and teach through a range of genres ensuring the children cover a range of fiction and non-fiction. Each unit gives the children regular opportunities to write independently at length to practise and embed the skills they have been taught.
Spelling
The school Spelling map focusses on teaching children spelling patterns as well as root words, prefixes and suffixes whilst reinforcing their phonics knowledge and skills. The children are encouraged to use these spelling patterns within all their writing.
Spelling is taught three times per week in school, with spellings to take home for practise in addition to this.
Year 3 Spelling Map Year 4 Spelling Map
Year 5 Spelling Map Year 6 Spelling Map
The children are taught a weekly grammar focus. This includes words (adjectives, nouns, prepositions…), different parts of sentences (articles, determiners…), sentence structure (simple, compound, complex) and the uses of different punctuation (colons, semi colons…). The children are encouraged to identify these skills in their reading as well as use them in their writing. Weekly homework will often reinforce the weekly grammar focus. Click here for more information about sentence structure.
Handwriting
Handwriting is taught within the class 4 times a week from Year 3. The children are taught letter formation and joins and build up to sentence writing. To see the school handwriting script please click here.
Speaking and Listening
Through our English teaching and the wider curriculum, we develop our children's speaking and listening skills throughout Key Stage Two. This includes opportunities for debating and presenting to others, from year 3 onwards.
Library
The library is a strong feature of the school. It is maintained and organised by our staff and is fully computerised. The library houses a superb collection of books, currently in excess of 10,000.