Our English curriculum includes the components of spoken language, reading, writing, grammar, punctuation, spelling and handwriting.
The overarching aim for English in the national curriculum is to promote high standards of language and literacy by equipping pupils with a strong command of the spoken and written language, and to develop their love of literature through widespread reading for enjoyment.
Writing
English lessons are taught every day using a high quality text. Teachers teach children writing skills through the class text, supporting their understanding of a broadening their language, through talk, along with immersing them in sentence types to develop their ability to write for purpose and with effect.
In EYFS and KS1, children are immersed in their class text through a reading phase before beginning writing. Children explore features of a text and analyse the content to develop their reading skills. Talk is a fundamental part of our writing teaching. If children are able to tell a story or another genre prior to writing they can improve the quality of writing no end. We follow the principles of ‘Talk for writing’ in this phase. Following this children are given many opportunities to write for a range of audiences and purposes. They will edit, revise and improve their work using a variety of assessment approaches.
In KS2, teacher follow Jane Considine, The Write Stuff' scheme, alongside Coupe Green Grammar skills progression maps to deliver Writing lessons. 'The Write Stuff' follows a method called 'Sentence Stacking' which refers to the fact that sentences are stacked together and organised to engage children with short, intensive moments of learning that they can then immediately apply to their own writing.
‘Standards in reading have been consistently above average by the end of Year 6 and these skills have been successfully built on to improve standards in writing. Punctuation and grammar skills are taught well so pupils’ progress in these areas is strong.’ Ofsted 2014
Grammar, vocabulary and punctuation
Children will be taught the key skills from the national curriculum. This will be planned within the text type/genre. However it may be taught discretely if teachers feel this is appropriate. Teachers follow Coupe Green Grammar Progression map to ensure that skills taught are progressive and meet the needs of their children.
Handwriting
All children begin the process of learning cursive handwriting from Foundation Stage. This starts with developing motor skills and learning basic letter formations, before progressing to pre-cursive writing in Year 1 and developing full, joined cursive thereafter. We believe this raises standards in handwriting throughout the whole school, developing confidence, accuracy, fluency, writing stamina and presentation. Please see our handwriting policy for further details.
Basic Skills Quality Mark
In 2017 we achieved the Basic Skills Quality Mark for the second time. This is an award that celebrates and supports continuous improvement in literacy and numeracy. It is to recognise our provision, practice and performance, and demonstrates our whole school approach to improving standards in literacy and numeracy with evidence of the impact of its approaches.
“The more you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” Dr Seus
Phonics
At Coupe Green we follow Lancashire Red Rose Phonics Scheme.
Children in Early Years and Key Stage 1 have phonics lesson every day. Teaching is then enhanced using a variety of resources and teachers excellent subject knowledge to make lessons engaging and interactive.
The children begin by linking letters and sounds, learning the names of letters and joining sounds to read and write simple words. They then progress onto learning alternative sounds for letters or groups of letters. As they move through Year 2 they become more accurate and confident with spelling where they will learn further spelling rules and variation in our English language.
Spelling
Spelling is taught for five/six sessions over a two week cycle. The children investigate new spelling patterns, origins of words, explore new vocabulary, play a range of games and apply their new learning within a context.
Spelling homework is given weekly and follows a two week cycle. The first week the children will be asked to complete different tasks linked to the work they have been doing in class. This may be looking at new vocabulary or investigating language. The second week the children will have a formal spelling test.
Reading
Reading is vital to develop children’s language, imagination and writing.
At Coupe Green we have designed our own curriculum, which aims to provide a language rich curriculum which enables children to apply core skills, broaden their vocabulary and be immersed in high quality texts.
Along with our language rich curriculum, children are taught reading skills through our English Curriculum and Guided Reading.
Developing Early Reading
Reading consists of two dimensions, word reading and comprehension.
In EYFS and KS1 we teach children skills to decode words by breaking them down into single sounds, which they then blend together to read. These skills are developed through high quality daily phonics lessons.
Children are also taught how to identify and read ‘tricky words’ which can’t be segmented to decode, such as ‘was, said’.
Along with word reading skills teachers use questioning to develop children’s understanding, drawing on their knowledge of vocabulary, grammar and understanding of the world.
Our aim is to develop a love of reading to create life long readers, who can read fluently, with expression and confidence.
To support early reading, we use Oxford Reading Tree Scheme books. This scheme has been selected to match the order in which children learn sounds, supporting their ability to decode words, developing fluency and confidence.
Books are grouped into weeks to mirror the teaching in class using Red Rose Phonics.
For children who have secured phonics, Year 2 and beyond, are able to read fluently, we use books from Pearsons and Collins alongside ORT to challenge.
These books are again organised into bands so that reading progress can be tracked and measured.
Reading Curriculum
In EYFS we have a high focus on listening to children read 1:1. This enables staff to assess the children's progress in securing phonic knowledge and language understanding, thus implementing support and challenge quickly. Along with 1:1 reading, children are taught word reading and comprehension skills through Literacy lessons, which are planned through a high quality text.
In Key Stage One, children develop reading skills through English lessons where they are immersed in texts as part of the early Writing phase. Children also access Guided Reading sessions weekly, where discrete reading skills are focused upon to consolidate and challenge reading knowledge.
In Key Stage Two, reading lessons are taught discretely using a class novel, along with non-fiction texts.
Across both Key Stage One and Two, classes track target readers who are listened to three times per week 1:1.
Reading Spines: Spring Term 1
Reading Spines: Autumn Term
Top Tips for Home
Reading underpins all literacy skills and opens up a world of imagination and knowledge to children and adults alike.
To help children develop reading skills it is important for children to read and to be read to. Reading with your child daily helps immensely.
Links to Support at Home
Useful websites:
Phonics Play – (KS1)- boasts a range of free and interactive games and resources used to support children with their phonics.
BBC- range of hyperlinks to games, websites and activities
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/websites/4_11/site/literacy.shtml
Love Reading4Kids- good for suggesting age and topic related books which match children’s interest levels
http://www.lovereading4kids.co.uk/
Really Good Stuff- links to other useful resources and interactive games
http://www.reallygoodstuff.com/community/11-free-reading-websites-for-kids/
Topmarks- interactive games
http://www.topmarks.co.uk/english-games/7-11-years/reading
“You can find
MAGIC
wherever you
LOOK
sit back and relax,
all you need is a
BOOK”
Dr Seus
This year, we are working hard on reading and developing children’s fluency. ‘To ensure gaps in reading are quickly and effectively addressed so that the % of children who read fluently increases.’
In order to achieve this, children need to be secure and confident in phonics and decoding skills. Our first workshop of the year, focused on how to support this at home and demonstrated the progression within phonics to develop fluent readers.
Please find below the information and resources from our latest Reading Workshop, 08/02/23.
The presentation contains key vocabulary, information of how phonics is taught at each stage, top tips for supporting reading at home and expectations from EYFS – Year 2.
All resources can be downloaded and printed to enhance reading and phonics at home. Remember to make reading as fun as possible, don’t be afraid to be active and focus on word cards at first, if your child finds reading daunting. Practising decoding skills, segmenting and blending, spotting sounds within words and in the world around them, and rehearsing tricky words, are great to build confidence and fluency.