Intent
At Kehelland Village School we believe that an exciting Literacy (English) curriculum should develop children’s love of reading, writing and Speaking and Listening skills. We aim to inspire through a topic led approach where reading and writing is closely linked. We recognise the importance of nurturing a culture where children take pride in their writing, can write clearly, accurately and adapt their language and style for a range of contexts. We want to inspire children to be confident in the art of speaking and listening and who can use discussion to communicate and further their learning.
We believe that children need to develop a secure knowledge-base in Literacy, which follows a clear pathway of progression as they advance through the primary curriculum. We believe that a secure basis in literacy skills is crucial to a high-quality education and will give our children the tools they need to participate fully as a member of society
We view the acquisition of language skills to be of the utmost importance and so we aim for every child to be able to:
- Read and write with confidence, fluency and understanding, orchestrating a range of independent strategies to self-monitor and correct.
- Have an appreciation and love of reading.
- Have an interest in words, their meanings; develop a growing vocabulary in spoken and written forms.
- Understand a range of text types and genres
- To be able to write in a variety of styles and forms appropriate to the situation.
- To develop the powers of imagination, inventiveness and critical awareness.
- Have a suitable technical vocabulary to articulate their responses.
Implementation
The English Curriculum is delivered predominantly using the; National Curriculum 2014; Early Years Foundation Stage 2021
Time Allocation
There are five allocated hours per week, and 5 half-hour sessions for additional reading sessions every day. In addition, all teachers aim to have a Reading For Pleasure slot every day.
Classroom Environment
Teachers create a positive classroom environment where children are empowered to learn by;
- Talking about English as an exciting, empowering subject.
- Creating opportunities for all children to succeed in some way, every day.
- Using a lively and fun teaching style.
- Giving all children goals that are attainable and that they understand.
- Literacy Working Wall linked to current learning
- Ensuring there is support for spelling through; personal spelling lists cards, dictionaries and thesauruses, and word banks.
- Making sure there is a range of fiction and non-fiction books on display which forms an attractive and appealing reading area.
- Displaying examples of our handwriting style.
- Ensuring relevant phonics are displayed in all work areas.
Impact
As a result, we have a community of enthusiastic readers and writers who enjoy showcasing their developing literacy knowledge and skills. They are confident to take risks in their learning and love to discuss and share their ideas.
Through topic-based learning and carefully chosen literature, the children have the opportunity to leave Year 6 with a love of Literacy as well as the skills needed for the next stage of their education.