Key Information
English
Oracy
We encourage children to practise their oracy skills across all areas of the curriculum. However, we also ensure that they are provided with opportunities to be taught them too, through focussed sessions. Children experience working with a talking partners, trios and groups and explore discussing, debating and problem solving.
Reading
Phonics
Essential Letters and Sounds
Essential Letters and Sounds (ELS) is our chosen Phonics programme. The aim of ELS is ‘Getting all children to read well, quickly’. It teaches children to read by identifying the phonemes (the smallest unit of sound) and graphemes (the written version of the sound) within words and using these to read words.
Children begin learning Phonics at the very beginning of Reception and it is explicitly taught every day during a dedicated slot on the timetable. Children are given the knowledge and the skills to then apply this independently.
Throughout the day, children will use their growing Phonics knowledge to support them in other areas of the curriculum and will have many opportunities to practise their reading. This includes reading 1:1 with a member of staff, with a partner during paired reading and as a class.
More information about ELS
Pronunciation of Sounds
These links show the correct pronunciation of the sounds taught.
Accelerated Reader
Reader of the Week
Children can become the class Reader of the Week for many reasons including reading with more fluency, contributing during guided reading sessions or exploring reading a variety of genres.
On a Friday, the Reader of the Week will be given 'A Weekend Away with...' mystery book to take home. This can be shared at home with families. The children can read some or all of the book and will be given the chance to keep it for longer if they would like to read the rest.
Book Club
On a Monday, each class will have a Book Club in class where they can discuss books that they have been enjoying. They can make recommendations to their peers and will have the opportunity to talk about what they are currently reading. Friday's Reader of the Week will be able to talk about the 'Weekend Away with...' mystery book during this time, too.
We all love hearing the children talk about the books that they have been enjoying!
Writing
Below are the objectives that each year group will cover in English.