English                                     

"When I read great literature, great drama or speeches I feel that the human mind has not achieved anything greater than the ability to share feelings and thoughts through language."     

James Earl Jones

Intent

At Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Primary School, we recognise the huge importance of how a quality English curriculum can develop children’s love of reading, writing and oracy skills. We believe that a secure basis in literacy skills is crucial to a high-quality education as it underpins the work undertaken in all areas of the curriculum and will give our children the tools they need to participate fully as a member of society.

Our curriculum is based on three themes: Pride in our Place, Aspire and Achieve and Ignite Possibilities. Through these themes, we educate our children to take pride in the place we live, to explore other people’s achievements to help us aspire and investigate how we can make a difference in the future to the world we live in. Our English curriculum builds confidence in basic language skills enables children to communicate creatively and imaginatively, preparing them for their future journey through education and beyond. The acquisition of language skills is important to us here at Our Lady Star of the Sea and therefore the teaching of all aspects English is given a high priority within school.

We follow the National Curriculum for Primary English beginning with EYFS literacy with communication and language. An English progression map from Year 1 to Year 6 builds upon prior knowledge in a carefully sequenced curriculum and makes cross curricular links to other where possible.

Curriculum Themes

English Curriculum Overview

Implementation

Our English curriculum is taught using the Great Teaching Toolkit, 2020. We endeavour to be consistent in our approach to create a supportive environment that is inclusive. We support all our pupils using adaptive teaching techniques, Voice 21 talk tactics and oracy sentence stems. We activate hard thinking through our thinking schools strategies and Q Matrix questioning to bring English to life and develop a real sense of enquiry. At Our Lady Star of the Sea, we have a consistent recipe for teaching English which follows Rosenshine's Principles of Instruction.

Impact

The impact of our English curriculum is measured through a variety of different strategies. Ongoing teacher assessment is used throughout lessons to inform teaching. We ensure that pupils are:

• Confidence with reading and writing, fluency, and comprehension.
• Develop a love of reading and a desire to read for both enjoyment and information by acquired a wide range of vocabulary knowledge.
• Develop a clear understanding of grammar and understanding of linguistic conventions for reading, writing and spoken language.
• Develop skills to write clearly, accurately, and coherently, adapting their language and style in and for a range of contexts, purposes, and audiences.
• Using their developing creativity, imagination, inventiveness, and critical awareness.
• Use discussion in order to learn; they should be able to elaborate and clearly explain their understanding and ideas.

Children’s learning is monitored by regular book scrutiny by the English Subject Leader in which constructive feedback is given to staff for future planning.  English is also monitored through learning walks and pupil voice. All of this is used to inform further curriculum developments and provision. 

At Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Primary School, staff work closely together as a team to ensure children receive the best English curriculum to allow them to develop a love of reading, be confident writers and be effective speakers and listeners.