English
English
English is an essential part of children’s learning. It enables children to understand, to express ideas and convey information effectively, both in spoken and written forms. The widening of children’s understanding of language and communications supports empowering children, exciting their imagination, and widening their worlds.
The teaching of English includes: spoken language, reading and writing.
Reading
Reedings is committed to improving our children’s literacy and understands the importance of reading for pleasure. The National Curriculum states that reading feeds pupils’ imagination and opens up a treasure-house of wonder and joy for curious young minds. It is essential that, by the end of their primary education, all pupils are able to read fluently, and with confidence, in any subject in their forthcoming secondary education. The document below outlines the end of year expectations for each year group.
Reading is taught discretely through ‘teaching reading’ sessions, where children are taught the key skills of reading. The programmes of study for reading consists of two dimensions:
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word reading
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comprehension (both listening and reading).
The key skills of comprehension are:
- to give/explain the meaning of words in context and to identify/explain how meaning is enhanced through choice of words and phrases (vocabulary)
- to retrieve and record information/identify key details from fiction and non-fiction (retrieval)
- to summarise main ideas from more than one paragraph (summarise)
- to make inferences from the text/explain and justify inferences with evidence from the text (inference)
- to predict what might happen from details stated and implied (predict)
- to identify/explain how information/narrative content is related and contributes to meaning as a whole (justify)
- to make comparisons within the text (compare)
There is good evidence to suggest that children who read for pleasure daily perform better in reading tests than those who never do. We aim to encourage children to enjoy reading and to read a wide range of good quality literature.
Each class has their own class library which contains a range of high quality literature. In Years 3 and 4, the books are banded to support children’s choice and ensure they are reading books which are appropriate for their reading age. In Years 5 and 6, the books are separated into genres and children are supported to make appropriate choices and encouraged to read a wide range of authors and genres.
For children needing further support with phonics, we use the Read Write Inc Phonics Fast Track catch-up programme.
Phonics
Reading with Read Write Inc Phonics:
To visit the parent pages on the Ruth Miskin Training website go to: https://ruthmiskin.com/en/find-out-more/parents/
If you would like any support at home with phonics please contact our 'Reading Champion', Mrs Paula Walton, via the school office. Mrs Walton is always happy to answer any questions and offer her support wherever needed.
Writing
The teaching of writing consists of two dimensions:
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transcription (spelling and handwriting)
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composition (articulating ideas and structuring them in speech and writing).
Throughout the children’s time at Reedings, they are introduced and taught a wide variety of genres and texts. The document below outlines the genres and main texts taught each year.
end of year writing expectations.pdf
Spelling
To teach spelling, we use the highly successful Spelling Shed programme. This programme has been created to meet the more demanding spelling requirements of the 2014 National Curriculum. It goes through the different spelling patterns and the statutory spelling lists for the end of lower KS2 and upper KS2.
Spelling with Spelling Shed:
Spelling Shed's approach to spelling involves the relationship between sounds and written symbols as well as using morphology to help spell through meaning.
Based on phonics, morphology and etymology, it includes main teaching inputs, which are then followed up with additional activities that can be carried out throughout the week in order to consolidate the learning further.
The carefully selected word lists and engaging activities provide opportunities to incorporate phonics and meaning to strengthen spelling skills and build vocabulary acquisition.
Overview of Spelling
Attached in an overview of the spelling taught in each year group.
Each year group is a stage. (Example: Stage 3 = Year 3)
Supporting Children With Their Spelling
supporting children with their spelling.pdf
Handwriting
At Reedings, we teach children to writing in a joined, fluent script. By the end of Year 3, the majority of children are writing in a fluent joined style. In Year 3 and 4, children use pencils for their writing. In Year 5, they practice using pen, and in Year 6 the majority of children should be writing in pen consistently. The national expectation is that all children leave primary school being able to maintain legibility in joined handwriting when writing at speed.
Grammar
The government has placed great emphasis on grammar, punctuation and spelling skills and has introduced a set programme to be taught throughout primary school. At the end of Key Stage 2, children are tested on whether they can spell, punctuate sentences properly and use grammar correctly. Grammar teaching is embedded within the English lessons which gives children the opportunity to practice key skills and apply their knowledge to their independent writing. The documents below explain when the grammar skills are introduced and taught.
Documents
statutory word lists for ks2.pdf