English is the base on which every other subject builds. Learning English means learning to communicate through reading, writing, speaking and listening - and doing it well requires a huge range of skills.

To help speed-up our progress in reading, spelling and phonics (in particular), we use the Read Write Inc programme from Nursery to Year 2. Every day, children are taught in small groups, alongside others who are at the same phonics or spelling level as them, in addition to whole-class English teaching. They focus on specific sounds each day, and read and write texts which include only the sounds they know - so that everyone can read, write and spell with confidence, making rapid progress as a result. 

Once phonic knowledge is secure, we teach spelling through daily lessons in Year 2-6, again based around the Read Write Inc programme. Children in these classes are also set spellings to learn every week - click here for guidance on strategies you can use to support your child in learning their spellings.     

Our approach to writing is built around the principles of HfL's Essential Writing, which we follow in English throughout the school. You can find out more about all this in our Writing Policy.  

We also prize reading particularly highly (as shown by the enthusiasm with which our entire school community engaged with both our Reading Week and World Book Day). Throughout the school, we work our way through a levelled reading scheme, which follows the OUP Levels numbering system, but also includes a wide and varied selection of books from other publishers and sources. You can find out more about our approach in our Reading Policy.

Reading skills:

We have grouped the skills required to be a ‘good’ reader into six key areas. To support us in understanding the skills we are being taught, practicing and using, each of these is then linked to a corresponding character.

• Rex Retriever - scanning the text for evidence, finding key information, using tables, charts and titles, spotting changes in place and time.    
• Dood Detective - explaining why characters say and do things, recognising how they change through a story and relating texts to our own experiences.  
• Penny Predictor - suggesting what might happen next, based on clues in the text and our knowledge of the characters and genre. 
• Vinny Vocab - working out what new words mean and suggesting why the author has chosen them.
• Stevie Summariser - retelling stories in our own words, picking out the key ideas, events or facts.
• Ansa Analyser - explaining how texts are structured or organised, and comparing texts with a common theme.

This term's learning

Year 5  - Foxes organised a Stay & Read session, where they invited parents and carers to join them in school for an hour of fun reading activities. They based the session around a brilliant book called The Mystery of the Clockwork Sparrow, and shared some of the ways they get 'into' a story with their families, including vocabulary games, exploring character feelings and choosing pictures to match sections of the story.

Stay & Spell - We were delighted (and a little bit amazed) by the massive turn-out for our Year 5 & 6 Stay and Spell event earlier this term. Mrs Draper and Mrs Thomas shared lots of ideas for supporting us in learning our spellings at home in fun and interactive ways, and lots of us have been putting these into practice in the weeks since, helping to improve our spelling knowledge. A big thank you to all of the parents and carers who attended.

Year 6 - In English, we’ve explored a variety of texts, and most recently, Wisp: A Story of Hope, where the children experimented with different sentence structures, effective vocabulary and abstract nouns. Check out two great examples below: 

A hazel glow shimmered across the inky, night sky. Dark rays of moonlight morphed into bright golden beams, which danced all around. People’s arms waved in majestic union. The heartbeat of a song echoed through the glowing camp, the fence was out of view – and so was sadness. Idris smiled softly. Golden Wisps orbited their owners, pulsing bright to the beat of the music. Hope filled the night air, but not just hope. A promise. A promise of a dream. The people felt hopeful. They felt love. They felt free… 

by Dillan 

Many days came, and many nights passed. Idris was eager to find his Wisp, yet none were to be seen. Well not for Idris anyway. Rememberings flew, twirled and danced in the inky sky, while Idris tasted the pull of the moonlight. Together they watched the pulsing Wisp release a thousand memories from years ago. Glistening upon the sky, the Moon brightened, leaving everyone in wonder. Together they felt love. Together they felt at peace. Yet, best of all, Idris felt hope. 

by Elyse