English

WRITING

Our overall aim is that children should be able to speak, read, listen and write effectively in a wide variety of situations. We endeavour to make them confident and accurate in using their language skills and able to use them not only to communicate, but to further their learning, understanding and enjoyment of the whole curriculum.

Classes 2 to 4 have a daily English lesson, often dedicated to a form of extended writing and also phonics. Due to their age and needs class 1 pupils receive their English lessons in a less formal way with the teacher concentrating on a holistic approach. Children are given a wide variety of writing opportunities through play.


READING

The school has a progressive reading scheme across the school. Class one only use the Oxford Reading Tree series, and throughout the rest of the school the books are banded into levels and are complimented by a well resourced, broad and varied library. The children are also guided by the colour coded "scheme" books in the library, which are again drawn from a number of published schemes. It is felt there has to be structure in our approach yet sufficient variety in the texts on offer to meet the interests of all pupils. Once it is felt that children are fluent and proficient readers they are allowed to choose freely from the library.