English

English

Why we teach English

English is the foundation of all learning. We want children to grow into confident communicators who enjoy reading, writing and sharing their ideas. By exploring stories, poems, information texts and rich language, children learn about different places, people and experiences. English helps children develop imagination, empathy and creativity, and gives them the skills they need to succeed in every subject across the curriculum.

How we teach English

English is woven into daily life in school. Children learn through high-quality books, lively discussions and purposeful writing activities.

• Phonics helps younger children learn how letters and sounds work together so they can read unfamiliar words.
• Reading lessons help children understand stories deeply, talk about characters and events, and build strong comprehension skills.
• Writing is taught step by step, with teachers modelling how to plan, edit and improve.
• Vocabulary is taught explicitly because knowing more words helps children understand more of what they read and express themselves clearly.
  Drama, storytelling and group talk activities help children build speaking and listening skills in an enjoyable, confidence boosting way.

What we want children to learn

We want every child to become a fluent reader, a confident speaker and an enthusiastic writer. Children learn to express their thoughts clearly, choose interesting vocabulary and write for different purposes and audiences. Most importantly, we hope they finish primary school with a love of reading that stays with them for life.