English Curriculum

English English is one of the National Curriculum Core subjects and has a key position in the school curriculum. The ability to develop the use of the English language is crucial for each child’s education. It is the main medium through which the rest of the curriculum is learned and taught and the major means by which children interpret the world around them and communicate with other people.

We believe that it is vital that we not only teach children to read and to write with competence and confidence, but that we inspire and stimulate them so that they want to read and write, and so that both activities bring them happiness and fulfilment. We are also aware that children can all too often learn to ‘bark at print’ and yet are unable to share and create meaning from a text. They may be able to write and spell correctly, but unable to use high-level skills to enable them to produce content which is elaborated or interesting.

All classes have a minimum of 1 hour per day focussed English teaching as well as discrete Guided/’Talk For Reading’ and phonics sessions.

AIMS  To enable each individual child to develop higher linguistic skills, in order that the child may understand and play a full part in society.  To maximise the child’s potential to have confidence in their own abilities, to form opinions and to express them logically & coherently both written and spoken.  To foster a love of the English language and to stimulate that interest through reading, writing and speaking.  To develop an understanding of the rules of language and to develop the skills needed to comprehend the spoken & written word  To develop articulate children who are able to express their thoughts and feelings both orally and in the written form  To enable children to become fluent readers with a love of literature and an ability to use books well  To develop the children’s knowledge of spelling rules

How We Teach English English skills are central to all learning whether through speaking and listening, reading or writing and this is reflected in our teaching across the school.

Reading We believe that it is every child’s right to learn to read and we hope that our children go beyond this and develop a love and pleasure for reading during these formative years. Reading is taught through phonics sessions, one-to-one with the teacher, teaching assistant or volunteer, guided group reading and by teachers reading high quality, stimulating texts aloud to the children.

Every member of staff is a reading role model who demonstrates and encourages a love for reading. Children have access to a wide variety of age and ability appropriate reading materials: 

Each year has selected books in the classroom



There is an extensive, well organised school library



The school reading scheme provides structured progression at school and home



Teachers choose challenging guided reading texts to be studied in small groups



Teachers carefully select core texts to be used in lessons



External visits from authors, poets and dramatists



Visiting book fairs

Staff track the progress of children throughout the year ensuring that each child is supported and challenged at their appropriate level.

Writing At St. Stephen’s we believe that development in writing follows naturally from the enjoyment and inspiration provided by high quality texts as well as the systematic teaching of handwriting, spelling and grammar. In addition, children are given a purpose for writing with experiential opportunities for creating poetry, story-writing, reports and explanations.

Children are encouraged to develop a joy in communicating through writing from the emergent writing in the Foundation Stage to the accomplished and confident writers who leave our school. We recognise the value of ‘Talk for Writing’ and children are given opportunities for speaking and listening in all writing units taught. Storytelling plays an important role throughout the school allowing children to internalise writing patterns in order for them to imitate, innovate and invent their own. Children are given regular opportunities for extended creative writing in Big Writing sessions.

Phonics, spelling and grammar are taught systematically through the school and reinforced and applied during writing sessions, including shared writing and guided writing. Teachers use feedback marking to inform pupils of their next steps and to inform future planning for individuals and groups. Children are encouraged to reflect on their own learning and that of their peers, and to draft, edit and improve their writing.