'What is the most important subject you have to learn in life? To learn how to love.' Pope Francis
English
Curriculum Intent
English underpins every aspect of the curriculum and is given priority in each subject area. The English curriculum at Holy Family is based on the National Curriculum. At Holy Family, all children will learn to read through the teaching of systematic synthetic phonics (Read Write Inc). They will be exposed to high quality stories, poems and non-fiction texts through curriculum study, guided reading and class readers to support their reading proficiency, comprehension and nurture their love for reading. Quality texts are used to support writing development through worked examples and modelled writing. Children will write for a range of purposes and audiences with confidence, creativity and flair. They will apply their knowledge of punctuation, grammar and spelling across the curriculum accurately and appropriately and children will develop a neat, joined handwriting style. Speaking and listening skills drive the English curriculum from foundation stage through to Key Stage 2. We have high expectations for our children and all are expected to achieve and make progress from their starting points.
Curriculum Implementation
Reading is taught through the Read, Write Inc synthetic phonics scheme. Synthetic phonics teaches the children about the individual sounds each letter and cluster of letters make and enables them to decode (break up) and encode (put back together) words. Our school delivers daily systematic sessions for children from Nursery to Year 2. It is also used as a supplementary programme for children in Years 3 & 4. Refer to the Phonics and Early Reading page for more information.
The Curriculum breakdown for Reading can be found here.
Reading for Pleasure is a key feature of our reading curriculum, promoted through reading events in school including visiting authors, mystery readers, social reading environments and reading initiatives to help support and engage parents at home. Our classrooms are reading rich environments that house a stock of diverse, quality books. Children take part in themed week events such as Children's Book Week and World Book Day. Books are available for children to read during break and lunchtimes in the Reading Shack and the Reading Bus is used for reading for pleasure sessions throughout the school day. Children rehearse their reading skills through daily guided reading sessions which explicitly teach features of language and reading skill as well as providing opportunities to make links across the curriculum. Strategies taught include prediction, questioning, clarifying, summarising and making links with prior knowledge. Each class has a daily reading aloud session to foster enjoyment in reading and to support their love of language, storytelling and authors. Quality texts support reading in other areas of the curriculum
Writing is delivered through the use of quality texts which provide a model and stimulus for writing. Children are introduced to texts and through drama, image, film and the written word. They are immersed in books and texts to support their knowledge and reasons for writing. Children are introduced to new and ambitious vocabulary to support their writing. The development of grammar and punctuation is introduced alongside the text and modelled and rehearsed as part of the writing journey. Children articulate and dramatise their ideas for writing through cooperative learning structures. Opportunities to plan, draft, proof-read and edit work are fundamental to the writing process and support children in refining their compositions, which are written with a clear purpose and audience in mind. Spelling is taught through the HeadStart spelling programme.
The Curriculum breakdown for Writing for FS & KS1 can be found here.
The Curriculum breakdown for Writing for KS2 can be found here.
Speaking & listening is a fundamental part of the curriculum. In foundation stage, children learn through play where language and communication is modelled by adults. Across the school, children are exposed to language and vocabulary through texts across all subjects. Collaborative working is a key feature of our school whereby children share their thoughts and ideas. High quality dialogue is promoted in lessons through discussion, ideas generation and debates. Opportunities to 'say it better' helps children to develop their thinking and use of language. New vocabulary is explicitly taught through each subject area with children expected to use the vocabulary accurately.
Curriculum Impact
.Children should be able to read fluently and with understanding. They will have an appreciation and knowledge of authors and poets and know some of their work well. Children will be able to make connections in their reading and be able to recommend books and authors from their exposure to texts in and beyond school.
Children will be able to write coherently and for a clear purpose. They will be able to apply their vocabulary and language to produce a cohesive piece of writing that engages their reader and communicates meaning to the intended audience. They will write legibly and form letters correctly, joining appropriately.
Children will be confident communicators. They will articulate their thoughts and ideas and be able to explain them to others. They will understand the different contexts for communication and be skilled listeners, able to respond to people appropriately and thoughtfully.
The English Curriculum Lead is Mrs Chamberlain.
