English

Our English Subject Leader

is Miss Way

Our Phonics Subject Leader

is Ms Firman

Our Link Governor

is Mrs Lore

Our Lower School Reading Champion

is Mrs Cotton

Our Upper School Reading Champion

is Mrs Thomas

Phonics in EYFS

Phonics involves learning letter sounds and how to use the letter sounds to read and write words. I am given the opportunity to learn letter sounds in a fun, multisensory way. I am given lots of opportunities to practice forming each letter the correct way.

Using the sounds I have been taught I will be able to blend them together to make words and spell words by segmenting and listen for the sounds in that word. This helps me to read and write independently and develop a love of reading.

Phonics in Key Stage 1

Phonics teaching involves the revision and extension of phonics knowledge. I have the opportunity to learn in an active and multisensory way.

I will be exploring a wide range of spelling concepts and patterns, enabling me to consolidate and extend my knowledge. This supports me to spell and punctuate more accurately, use a wide vocabulary and have a clear understanding of how language works. This enables me to express myself more accurately, in speech as well as in writing.

English in Lower School

In English I will learn to develop a love of language and will learn new vocabulary from my reading and in my topic work. I will start to use these confidently and accurately when speaking and writing. Speaking and listening underpins both my reading and writing, and I will have the opportunity to prepare, gather ideas and make my thinking clear orally before I write.

My love of language and books will grow through the rich and varied texts shared with me by my teachers. I will develop my understanding of stories, poems and non-fictions texts and be able to speak about and discuss them coherently. These texts will influence and positively impact my writing. I will be able to organise and communicate my ideas showing awareness of audience, purpose and contexts. My handwriting will be correctly formed and I will learn to join letters accurately. I will be taught how to use my phonic knowledge to spell new and unfamiliar words, and I will also become competent in spelling the high frequency and tricky words. I will make sure that I include the punctuation that I have been taught in my writing. I will be proud of the work that I create and complete.

English in Upper School

In English I will learn to develop a love of language and be able to use an interesting and varied vocabulary, confidently and accurately when speaking and writing. Speaking and listening underpins both my reading and writing, and I will have the opportunity to prepare, gather ideas and make my thinking clear orally before I write.

My love of language and literature will grow through the rich and varied texts shared with me by my teachers. I will develop my understanding of stories, poems and non-fictions texts and be able to speak about and discuss them coherently. These texts will influence and positively impact my writing. I will be able to organise and communicate my ideas showing awareness of audience, purpose and contexts. My handwriting will be clear, fluent and legible, and I will remain focused on the elements of spelling, punctuation and grammar that I have been taught. I will revise and edit my writing and be proud of the work that I create and complete.

Intent, Implementation & Impact Statement

Below is a link to our Intent, Implementation and Impact Statement for Phonics. This document outlines, for Phonics at Great Finborough Church Primary School, our aims and vision (Intent), our approach to planning, delivery, assessment and enrichment (Implementation) and what we want our children to have achieved and experienced by the time they leave us in Year 6 (Impact).

Intent, Implementation & Impact Statement (Phonics)

Breadth of Study Maps

Below are links to our breadth of study maps for English.

The breadth of study maps ensure that every child receives their full curriculum entitlement as they progress through the school.

We plan and deliver most of our curriculum on a one year cycle.

Breadth of Study Map - Phonics

Breadth of Study Map - Reading

Breadth of Study Map - Writing - Key Stage 1

Breadth of Study Map - Writing - Key Stage 2

Breadth of Study Map - Handwriting

Breadth of Study Map - Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar (SPaG)

Key Skills Progression Plan

As part of our ongoing curriculum development work, our subject leaders are preparing detailed skills development documents for every subject. This term (Autumn 2021), as part of our school development work, the subject leaders are developing and trialling these skills progression documents for the subjects and topics being delivered this term. These will be published soon.

Our curriculum begins in the Early Years Foundation Stage. As part of the process of developing the skills progression documents, we have met as a staff team and carefully considered the prerequisite skills required for our EYFS (Early Years Foundation Stage) children to be ready to access the National Curriculum at the beginning of Year 1. These prerequisite skills can be found by clicking on the link below.

Learning Links in the EYFS (Reading)

Learning Links in the EYFS (Writing)

Learning Links in the EYFS (Speaking and Listening)

Curriculum Milestones and Assesssments

Below are the links to our Curriculum Milestones for each year group. These documents outline what we expect our children to achieve in English at the end of each year.

Each area of the Curriculum Milestones links to the English curriculum which develops the ‘Oracy’ and ‘Literacy’ of the children.

These areas of the curriculum repeat, adding to the skills and knowledge of the children, every year as the children progress through the curriculum.

Children achieve at a ‘Basic Level’, the Expected Level’, or a ‘Deep Level’. Curriculum Milestones are used as our assessment and tracking tool in English.

Phonics Milestones EYFS
Phonics Milestones Year 1

Reading Milestones Year 1
Reading Milestones Year 2
Reading Milestones Years 3 & 4
Reading Milestones Years 5 & 6

Writing Milestones Year 1
Writing Milestones Year 2
Writing Milestones Year 3
Writing Milestones Year 4
Writing Milestones Year 5
Writing Milestones Year 6

Living & Fulfilling our Christian Vision in English

Rooted in Faith; Enriching Young Minds

‘Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop- a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.’

(Matthew 13 Verse 8)

Our parents and carers entrust us with the most precious of gifts in their lives- their children. It is our responsibility to take this most precious of seed and provide them with the best opportunity to grow as individuals and to learn how to contribute to the wider communities they belong to.

We believe that a broad and balanced curriculum, and the daily life and work of our school, provides the deep and fertile soil. This is needed by our pupils, the seeds, to enable them to put down roots for stability, warmth for support and nutrients (knowledge and skills) to flourish.

As the early shoots of growth begin to appear, the individuals in our care not only need a fertile soil but also need the right additional conditions to truly reach their full potential and to prepare them to fulfill their life in the wider world to which they belong. This enrichment is provided through a curriculum where first-hand and real life experiences and opportunities are at its heart. This enrichment enables our children to learn, develop, retain and apply their newly learned knowledge and skills from, and to, the world around them.

By the end of their journey with us, if we have been successful, our seeds will have grown in to strong, flourishing and caring individuals ready for their next stage of learning and will increasingly use their strength, knowledge, skills and love to support and benefit others to flourish- If achieved, this will in time produces a crop greater than that which was originally sown.

Christian Vision in English