English sits at the heart of the curriculum and we value our children’s right to be literate and to enjoy literature. At Discovery Multi-Discovery Trust, we recognise the central importance of English. Gaining and using skills in language not only affects the child’s progress in school, but also has a profound influence upon the course of his or her whole life.
We aim to develop pupils’ abilities in speaking, listening, and writing. Pupils will be given opportunities to develop their use, knowledge and understanding of spoken and written English within a broad and balanced curriculum.
Our English Writing curriculum ensures that our English teaching and learning provides many purposeful opportunities for reading, writing and discussion. We use a wide variety of experiences, quality texts and resources to motivate and inspire our children. All pupils receive a daily English lesson. Teachers also ensure that cross curricular links with concurrent topic work are woven into the programme of study.
- Teachers create a positive writing culture in school, where it is promoted, enjoyed and considered ‘a pleasure’ for all pupils.
- Pupils in EYFS and KS1 to have daily RWInc sessions.
- Weekly Spelling lesson to teach the children the necessary skills to learn and understanding their spelling rules. Age appropriate spellings sent home weekly for pupils to practise their words at home and tested weekly in school.
- Pupils are being adventurous with vocabulary choices.
- Pupils to acquire strategies to enable them to become independent learners in English (spelling rules and patterns and how to tackle unfamiliar words when reading).
- Pupils to discuss and to present their ideas to each other by talking, being able to elaborate and explain themselves clearly, make presentations and participate in debates.
- Working Walls – all classes aiding pupils and guiding them through the process of Writing and Analysing, Gathering Content, Planning and Writing.
- Vocabulary promoted through displays in class, all curriculum areas, enhancing and encouraging a wider use of vocabulary.
- Vocabulary mats to be used where needed and thesauruses and dictionaries which are easily accessible for pupils to use.
- Teaching a range of genres across the school (progressing in difficulty) both in English and other curriculum areas; resulting in pupils being exposed to, and knowledgeable about, literary styles, authors and genres. They can express preferences and give opinions, supported by evidence, about different texts.