Intent
The English curriculum at GM School seeks to build confident writers and readers, who in turn can use their own liberated voice to make an exciting contribution to the world.
The curriculum is designed to take pupils on a thematic journey – giving them a fascinating insight into human nature through a breadth of different literature.
Implementation
EYFS
Our Early Years children are given plenty of opportunities to develop their speaking, listening, reading and writing skills, often through play and free flow activities. We have themed areas and activities where children can explore different units of work through storytelling, role play, adult-led games and carpet sessions. They learn basic skills around pencil grips, mark making, initial sounds and reading aloud. Children have explicit phonics lessons, following the Read, Write Inc. scheme. They also have explicit writing sessions on the carpet, that feed into activities in continuous and enhanced provision. Reading for pleasure is prioritised in the EYFS, with daily adult-led reading and inviting book corners that children can access freely.
KS1
At KS1 level, we have implemented a highly structured phonics programme in accordance with Read, Write Inc., which is designed to support early literacy development and build fluency. Upon successful completion of the phonics programme, students progress to the Read, Write Inc. comprehension programme, before moving to our bespoke Reading Gems curriculum, which provides a comprehensive framework for building reading skills across five key domains. Our writing curriculum is structured around high-quality texts, which pupils explore in depth before planning, drafting, redrafting, editing and publishing their own pieces of writing. They learn to write across a wide range of fiction and non-fiction genres. Pupils continue to be exposed to a wide range of texts and books to develop their love of reading.
KS2
Our KS2 reading curriculum is based around the 8 Reading Ladders from the One Education Reading Gems programme. Reading is taught daily; 60% of the lessons follow Reading Gems reading skills and 40% promote a love of reading through enriching and highly engaging lessons. KS2 children who have not passed the phonics screening test also receive intensive phonics interventions to support their reading skills. Our writing curriculum is structured around high-quality texts, which pupils explore in depth before planning, drafting, redrafting, editing and publishing their own pieces of writing. They learn to write across a wide range of fiction and non-fiction genres. Pupils continue to be exposed to a wide range of texts and books to develop their love of reading.
Phonics and Early Reading
We use the Read, Write Inc. scheme to teach phonics in Nursery, Reception, Year 1 and Year 2. Children are taught sounds and the blending of sounds in a fast paced and systematic manner. Children work in targeted progress groups so they can all participate. No child is ever left behind. They are assessed each half term to ensure the speediest progress. Talking is at the heart of every lesson. Children learn the routines that enable them to explain and practise what they’ve been taught with a partner. One-to-one tutoring provides quick keep up and long-term support for children with SEND. Each week, children take home a book to practise the sounds that they have been learning. Links are also posted on Class Dojo to support with practice at home. Throughout the Read, Write Inc. programme, there is a strong focus on building reading fluency: once children finish learning all their sounds in Year 2, they complete the Read, Write Inc. Comprehension programme before transitioning to our bespoke reading curriculum.
Developing Reading in KS1 and KS2
We have a strong emphasis on reading fluency, with children assessed and supported to progress each half term. We also pay particular attention to vocabulary, which we know offer the key to understanding a text.
We are ambitious in the texts we explore with the children, with carefully chosen and wonderful books to share with the children and for the children to investigate through well planned lessons. We use the Reading Gems as part of each lesson to develop deeper comprehension skills.
Outside Reading lessons, children have access to a range of lovely, motivating texts to read at home. All children at a phonics level have a tailored print book changed at least weekly. All classes visit our lovely library regularly, along with termly visits to Leyton Library, and are able to have free choice of the many books we have there and in our class book corners.
Writing
Spelling, grammar, punctuation and handwriting are embedded into the lessons of every subject area as well as taught explicitly as part of English. Children plan, create, edit, improve and publish their work from Year 1 to Year 6, becoming confident, creative writers of a number of genres.
Spoken Language
We believe that clear, confident communication opens all kinds of doors and we endeavour to ensure our children feel comfortable expressing themselves and their views in a range of social and professional situations. We model and encourage good eye contact, social niceties, coherent speech and good manners.
English as An Additional Language
Many of our children have English as an additional language: we value the wide range of languages spoken throughout our school. For children who are new to English, we provide additional practice and support through Flash Academy, an online programme to help children to achieve fluency in English. The aim of the programme is to give children a quick and solid English and reading foundation to enable them to access the curriculum with their peers in the classroom.
Catch Up and Interventions
We believe in the power of Quality First Teaching – the very first lessons that children receive should be of the highest quality, tailored to the individual needs within the class and with careful modelling, scaffolding and assessment for learning built in. This reduces the need for additional interventions.
We assess rigorously, identifying gaps and children who need additional support and teaching directly to fill those gaps.
Our key interventions are:
- Phonics interventions: we respond to daily teacher assessment phonics assessments to ensure children remain on track with their phonics.
- Reading fluency and comprehension intervention, including regular 1:1 and small group reading with key adults.
- Targeted language and other English interventions, including those tailored for children with SEN.