Intent

We intend to equip all pupils with a strong command of the spoken and written word, and to develop their love of literature through widespread reading for enjoyment.

Here at Roscoe, we plan and deliver a high-quality education in English in order to teach pupils to speak and write fluently so that they can communicate their ideas and emotions to others and through their reading and listening, others can communicate with them.

Writing

At Roscoe Primary School, writing is a crucial part of our curriculum. All children from Foundation Stage to Year 6 are provided with many and varied opportunities to develop and apply their writing skills across the curriculum.

We intend for pupils to be able to develop their fine and gross motors skills in order to plan, revise and evaluate their writing. To be able to do this effectively, pupils will read widely and often and have access to a range of writing in differing genres and styles. They will also develop an awareness of the audience, purpose and context, and an increasingly wide knowledge of vocabulary and grammar.

We also intend for pupils to leave school being able to use fluent, legible and speedy handwriting.

With regards to spelling, teachers will show pupils how to understand the relationships between words, how to understand nuances in meaning, and how to develop their understanding of, and ability to use, figurative language. They will also teach pupils how to work out and clarify the meanings of unknown words and words with more than one meaning. Pupils will be taught to control their speaking and writing consciously and to use Standard English.

Implementation

English is planned for using the EYFS Framework and KS1 and KS2 school curriculum based on the National Curriculum.

English is planned for following, ‘The Write Stuff’ written by Jane Considine and by also using high-quality texts. Teachers edit, adapt and write, their own short-term planning, ensuring year-group specific skills and knowledge, grammar and spelling are enriching and weaved within the final written piece.

Speaking and Listening

The development of speech and language is identified as one of the most important parts of our EYFS curriculum. Staff work closely with parents/carers and previous nurseries to ensure they are extending and building on the language acquisition necessary.

The promotion, and use of, an accurate and rich cross-curricular vocabulary throughout school is planned in all subjects. This is evident in all learning areas and is a key part of our Knowledge Organisers. School uses the Making Words Work (SI Liverpool) to ensure essential vocabulary is planned for.

A wide range of opportunities to use and develop their speaking and listening skills is planned for. These then feed into the writing process.

Writing

All children write daily, in an English session, and across the curriculum.

Teachers plan writing based on the EYFS framework and ‘The Write Stuff’ by Jane Considine; these plans are linked the high-quality texts.

Grammar and spelling is planned for and built into weekly and daily plans. These are then linked across the curriculum.

Children apply their writing skills across the curriculum.

Writing is assessed after each writing unit and then a termly level is given. A team moderates this across the Academy.

School follows the ‘letter-join’ handwriting scheme. Good presentation is expected. Children have the opportunity to earn a pen licence.

Children are educated with the weekly spelling rule in a taught session. Children are provided with additional support when necessary. Spellings are differentiated by rule and amount of spellings given – the teacher decides this.

Impact

• Children will make at least good progress in Reading, Writing and Speaking and Listening from their last point of statutory assessment or from their starting point in Nursery.
• Children will use their English knowledge and skills, in all curriculum areas, to enable them to know more, remember more and understand more.
• Children will have a love of Reading and make at least good progress in Reading from their last point of statutory assessment or from their starting point in Nursery.
• Children will use their Reading skills as a key tool in helping them to learn, and as a result, know more, remember more and understand more.
• Children will be able to produce written work in all areas of the curriculum of a similar standard which evidence good progress from their last point of statutory assessment point or their starting point in Nursery.