English
English is important in everyday life and impacts directly on how children access other parts of the school curriculum. It enables children to develop socially and ensures they can communicate effectively. With this in mind, we endeavour to foster a positive and enthusiastic attitude towards the interlinking components of English: writing, reading and speaking skills.
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 art of speaking and listening, making formal presentations, demonstrating to others and participating in debate.
The National Curriculum sets out the statutory entitlement to learning for all pupils in each Key Stage.
Key Stage 1 (Years 1 and 2)
Spoken Language
Reading:
- Word Reading
- Comprehension (both listening and reading)
Writing:
- Transcription (spelling and handwriting)
- Composition (articulating ideas and structuring them in speech and writing).
- Vocabulary, Grammar and Punctuation (integrated within the teaching of Spoken Language, Reading and Writing)
Lower Key Stage 2 (Years 3 and 4)
Spoken Language
Reading:
- Word Reading
- Comprehension (both listening and reading)
Writing:
- Transcription (spelling and handwriting)
- Composition (articulating ideas and structuring them in speech and writing).
- Vocabulary, Grammar and Punctuation (integrated within the teaching of Spoken Language, Reading and Writing)
Upper Key Stage 2 (Years 5 and 6)
Spoken Language
Reading:
- Word Reading
- Comprehension (both listening and reading)
Writing:
- Transcription (spelling and handwriting)
- Composition (articulating ideas and structuring them in speech and writing).
- Vocabulary, Grammar and Punctuation (integrated within the teaching of Spoken Language, Reading and Writing)
English Reading
Speaking and Listening
At Audley Primary our aim is for children to learn to communicate their thoughts, ideas and opinions clearly and succinctly, as well as to listen to and reflect on the ideas of others. We encourage children to turn-take in conversations and adapt their speech to a range of situations and audiences. From an early age, the children are encouraged to participate in a range of activities such as drama and role-play.
Why learning to read is so important
Reading is essential for all subject areas and improves life chances. Positive attitudes to reading and choosing to read have academic, social and emotional benefits for children
Key Stage 1
Across Key Stage 1 we use Little Wandle Phonics – Letters and Sounds Revised to teach early reading skills. This programme focuses on fluency (being able to blend word fluently), prosody (reading with intonation and expression) and comprehension (understanding what has been read).
Reading is taught through daily phonics lessons and smaller reading practise groups in Reception and Year 1.
In Year 2 children have phonics sessions across the week and are learning whole class reading skills which will be further developed in Lower Key Stage 2.
Reading fully decodable books
Children across Key Stage 1 will bring home a fully decodable reading book at the end of the week to read at home. They have learnt to read this book at school during their reading practise groups. This book builds upon the child’s confidence to read and develops their fluency.
Sharing book
To encourage children to develop a love of reading and become a life long reader, children choose a library sharing book each week to share at home. This is a book for parents and children to share and read together. We wouldn’t expect children to read these books alone as they will not be fully decodable.
The role of Parents’ and Carers’
- Have a positive impact on their child’s reading.
- Should model the importance of reading practice to develop fluency.
- Reading at home encourages a love of books, along with developing vocabulary and discussion.
- Parents should use voices, expression, discuss unfamiliar vocabulary, talk about the pictures, and predict what might happen next.
- Give positive yet informative feedback in the reading record
Key Stage 2
Children in Key Stage 2 develop their reading skills through Whole Class Reading Sessions. Children read together as a class focusing on reading with prosody and expression. Throughout the week, children digest what they have read through discussions, vocabulary activities and comprehension tasks.
In Lower Key Stage 2, children work through our Reading Scheme of Big Cat and Project - X books, which build upon their phonics knowledge. Once confident, children become ‘free readers’ where they can choose from a wide selection of books in our school library to take home.
Reading at home expectations
- Year 3 and 4 – children are expected to read every day for 20 minutes, this should be recorded in the reading record by an adult/child.
- Year 5 and 6 – children are expected to read every day for 20 minutes and children should write an evaluative comment on what they have read.
Supporting Reading
We support children who find reading more challenging through our Little Wandle Phonics Keep up (KS1) and Rapid Catch up (KS2) sessions.
Helpful links to further support your child with Reading:
Little Wandle Resources for parents