Literacy and communication skills lie at the heart of our curriculum. At the start of each new curriculum theme all children are given a novel to read for enjoyment during holidays and as a basis for their learning in the forthcoming term.

Writing

• Our termly curriculum themes provide the content for our writing.
• Children learn to write a variety of fiction and non-fiction genres.
• Every two weeks, children produce an independent piece of extended writing.
• Each writing genre is started with an ‘experience’ to allow to children to have a personal knowledge of what they are expected to write about.
• Children learn to write as writers, thinking about the process of crafting a text – planning, writing, redrafting and publishing.
• A ‘Star Writer’ is chosen from each class every two weeks and their work is celebrated on a display.
• Children have Writing Journals where they can record personal and creative writing.
• Daily spelling, punctuation and grammar lessons help learners to produce technically accurate writing.

Reading

• In Reception and Year 1, children begin to learn to read through Daily Supported Reading.
• Every class from Year 2 upwards has 30 minutes of guided reading every day. Every child will have at least one session per week reading with an adult as part of a small group.
• Teachers teach reading using the reciprocal teaching model (SPIQE)
• Every child has a home reading and library book. They are encouraged to rea at home every evening and record this in a home journal.
• The Reading Recovery programme is used to support learners who find reading challenging in Year 1.
• Daily phonic lessons are given daily in the foundation stage and in KS1 and some children from KS2.
• Reading for pleasure is promoted across the school through experiences like Big Read and themed, interactive book corners.

Speaking and Listening

• ‘Talk Partners’ are used to help children communicate with each other and discuss tasks.
• ‘Talk for Writing’ is an important tool for teaching children how to write. Pupils are encouraged to learn a piece of writing or story off my heart. This helps with internalising the structure and helps to generate ideas for writing.
• Speaking and listening activities are incorporated into daily lesson planning across the curriculum.
• Learners from Upper Key Stage 2 take part in debates with children from other schools.

If you would like to know more about this area of the curriculum, please talk to Amy Coyne, Anna Lucey or Owain Jones.