English

At Hullavington CE Primary and Nursery School, we believe that English is at the heart of learning. Being able to read, write, speak and listen confidently opens doors to learning across the curriculum and enables children to communicate effectively, express themselves and make sense of the world around them.

We want every child to develop a genuine love of reading, the confidence to communicate their ideas and the skills to become a fluent, creative and purposeful writer. We provide a rich and varied English curriculum that inspires children, celebrates language and gives them the foundations they need to succeed throughout their education and beyond.

Our Curriculum Intent

Our aim is to develop confident, enthusiastic and skilled readers, writers, speakers and listeners.

We want children to:

• Develop a lifelong love of reading and enjoy a wide range of books, authors and genres.

• Read fluently, accurately and with understanding.

• Develop a rich and varied vocabulary.

• Write clearly, accurately and confidently for a range of purposes and audiences.

• Understand how language works and make thoughtful choices about vocabulary, grammar and punctuation.

• Express their ideas confidently through speaking and listening.

• Develop creativity, imagination and critical thinking.

• Take pride in their work and become increasingly independent learners.

We believe that a secure foundation in English is essential for success in all areas of the curriculum and provides children with the skills they need to participate fully in society.

Reading and Phonics

We are passionate about developing a culture of reading across our school. We want children to see reading as something to enjoy, explore and share, as well as an essential skill for learning.

From the earliest stages, children develop the skills they need to become confident, fluent readers. We teach phonics systematically using the Twinkl Phonics scheme, supporting children to recognise sounds, blend words and develop their early reading skills.

As children become more confident readers, we develop their fluency, comprehension and understanding through a range of high-quality texts. We use the VIPERS approach to develop key reading skills: Vocabulary, Inference, Prediction, Explanation, Retrieval and Summarising.

We encourage children to read widely and often, exploring fiction, non-fiction, poetry and texts from a range of cultures and traditions. Our well-stocked school library and classroom reading areas provide access to a broad selection of books, including both familiar favourites and new authors.

Reading is celebrated throughout the year through activities such as World Book Day, author visits, reading events and opportunities to share books together. We are also fortunate to have parents and governors who regularly volunteer their time to listen to children read.

Phonics Policy Reading Policy

More information about our approach to teaching Phonics can be found here

Writing

We believe that every child can become a confident, purposeful and skilled writer. Our writing curriculum follows a skills-based approach, where children are explicitly taught the knowledge and techniques they need before having regular opportunities to apply them in their own writing.

Each writing unit is based around a high-quality text which provides inspiration and models effective writing. Children explore how authors use vocabulary, sentence structures and different writing techniques before learning how to use these in their own work.

Our approach follows a clear teaching sequence:

I Do – We Do – You Do

• I Do: Teachers explicitly teach and model new writing skills, demonstrating how writers make choices about vocabulary, sentence construction, punctuation and organisation.

• We Do: Children practise new skills together with their teacher through discussion, shared writing and guided activities.

• You Do: Children apply the skills independently in their own writing, gradually developing confidence and independence.

Throughout the year, children build up a range of writing skills through focused teaching and short writing opportunities. These skills then come together in two assessed writing outcomes each term: one fiction and one non-fiction piece. This allows children to demonstrate what they have learnt and apply their skills independently.

We place particular emphasis on teaching children how to edit and improve their writing. They are encouraged to reread their work, make thoughtful vocabulary choices, improve sentences, check spelling and punctuation and consider how effectively their writing communicates with the reader.

We want children to understand that good writers practise, make choices, edit and improve!

Writing Policy

Spelling, Grammar and Handwriting

Spelling, grammar and punctuation are taught progressively throughout the school, following the expectations of the National Curriculum.

We use the Twinkl Spelling scheme to support the systematic teaching of spelling patterns, rules and strategies. Children are encouraged to apply their spelling knowledge in their independent writing.

Grammar and punctuation are taught explicitly and within meaningful writing contexts, helping children understand how language choices influence meaning and the effect their writing has on the reader.

We also place importance on developing fluent, legible handwriting. Children are taught correct letter formation and gradually develop a consistent, increasingly joined handwriting style. We encourage children to take pride in the presentation of their work.

Spelling Policy

Speaking and Listening

We recognise that speaking and listening are fundamental to children's language development and success in English.

Children are given regular opportunities to talk, discuss, explain, question, debate and share their ideas. Teachers model rich language and encourage children to develop their vocabulary, articulate their thoughts and listen carefully to the views of others.

Oral rehearsal is an important part of our writing approach. Children are encouraged to say their sentences aloud, explore vocabulary and organise their ideas before putting them into writing.

These opportunities help children become confident communicators who can express themselves clearly and respectfully.

How We Support Every Child

We want every child to experience success in English and have high expectations for all learners.

Teachers know their children well and adapt teaching, resources and support to meet individual needs. This may include additional modelling, vocabulary banks, sentence starters, visual prompts, guided practice and targeted intervention.

Children who need additional support with reading are provided with opportunities to practise and develop their skills through targeted reading support and intervention.

We also ensure that children who are ready for greater challenge have opportunities to extend their vocabulary, develop more sophisticated writing techniques and make increasingly independent choices as writers.

Enriching Our English Curriculum

We believe that memorable experiences help to bring English to life and inspire children to read, write and communicate.

Throughout the year, our curriculum is enhanced through:

• World Book Day and other reading celebrations.

• Author and storyteller visits.

• Drama and creative writing workshops.

• Regular opportunities to share and discuss books.

• Parent and governor reading volunteers.

• Educational visits and experiences that provide inspiration for writing.

We also encourage children to apply their English skills across the wider curriculum, recognising that reading, writing and communication are essential in every subject.

Our Curriculum Impact

We want children to leave Hullavington as confident readers, effective communicators and capable writers who enjoy using language and take pride in their achievements.

Through ongoing assessment, feedback and opportunities for independent application, teachers identify what children know, celebrate their progress and plan the next steps in their learning.

By the time children leave Year 6, we want them to be able to read fluently and with understanding, write effectively for a range of purposes and audiences, communicate confidently and apply their English skills independently across the curriculum.

Most importantly, we want them to carry a love of reading, writing and language with them as they move on to secondary school and beyond.