Intent
At Culverstone Green Primary School, we aim to inspire a lifelong love of reading and writing in all our children. We want our children to develop confidence and a wide vocabulary. This deepens their knowledge and inspires them to become effective communicators who enjoy reading and writing for pleasure and purpose.
We believe that a high-quality English curriculum is the foundation for academic success and personal growth. It enables our pupils to communicate their thoughts and ideas clearly, both orally and in writing. We seek to develop articulate speakers who can express their opinions with confidence and listen respectfully to others.
Our intent is to provide a broad and balanced English curriculum that fosters reading fluency and comprehension, writing skills, and spoken language development. We aim to develop a rich vocabulary and a strong understanding of grammar and punctuation. Through varied and engaging texts, we help pupils acquire knowledge, explore different genres, and appreciate the power of language.
We want all children to experience success and develop as confident, enthusiastic readers and writers, regardless of their starting points. We are committed to ensuring that disadvantaged pupils and those with SEND receive the support and scaffolding they need to thrive.
We aim to develop:
- A lifelong love of reading and writing.
- Competence and confidence in speaking and listening.
- Fluency and understanding in reading across a range of genres.
- The ability to write clearly and creatively for different audiences and purposes.
- A growing and confident vocabulary.
- Knowledge and application of spelling, punctuation, and grammar.
- Resilience and independence as learners through reading and writing.
Implementation
Our English curriculum is planned and delivered using a range of well-researched approaches and schemes that support our vision.
- Phonics: We use Read Write Inc. to teach systematic phonics in Reception and Key Stage 1, ensuring all pupils develop strong decoding skills and early reading fluency.
- Reading for pleasure and comprehension: From Key Stage 2, pupils continue to develop fluency and comprehension skills through the Accelerated Reader programme. Pupils take quizzes to demonstrate understanding and are encouraged to read widely within their Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD) to promote confidence and challenge.
- Reading skills: Throughout school, we use VIPERS (Vocabulary, Inference, Prediction, Explanation, Retrieval, Summary) to develop key reading comprehension skills. These skills are taught explicitly and revisited regularly to deepen understanding.
- Writing: Writing is taught through a carefully sequenced programme, incorporating modelled, guided, and independent writing. We use high-quality texts to inspire writing for a range of purposes and audiences. Pupils develop their skills in spelling, punctuation, grammar (SPaG), and handwriting systematically.
- Oracy: Speaking and listening activities are integral to our curriculum. Pupils engage in discussions, presentations, debates, and drama to build confidence and articulate expression.
- Assessment and Feedback: Pupils’ progress is assessed regularly using formative assessment and formal assessments at key points. Writing is assessed against age-related criteria, and reading progress is tracked using Read Write Inc. and Accelerated Reader data. Feedback is timely and constructive, supporting pupils to improve and reflect on their learning.
- Support for SEND and Disadvantaged Pupils: We provide targeted support, scaffolding, and interventions to meet individual needs, ensuring all pupils access the curriculum and make progress.
- Celebration of Achievement: Pupils’ writing is published and celebrated through classroom displays, newsletters, and competitions such as the Star Reader awards. This motivates pupils and fosters pride in their work.
Impact
At Culverstone Green, we aim to ensure that:
- All children develop a lifelong love of reading and can confidently read a wide range of texts.
- Pupils comprehend texts deeply, using inference and deduction skills to make meaning.
- All pupils make sustained progress from their varied starting points, with many exceeding age-related expectations.
- Children become confident, articulate writers who can adapt style and tone for different audiences and purposes.
- Pupils develop a rich vocabulary and a solid grasp of spelling, punctuation, and grammar.
- Pupils leave our school as independent, motivated learners, ready for the challenges of secondary education.
- Our inclusive approach ensures all pupils, including those with SEND and from disadvantaged backgrounds, achieve their potential.
