English at Tiptoe

Our English vision is to foster a love of language and literature through the use of quality texts and books; this inspires, excites and engages our children.

Intent

At Tiptoe Primary School, we aim to foster a love of language and reading and, therefore, attach great importance to enabling our children to become fluent readers. We aim to instil a passion for reading throughout the school and hold regular events throughout the year to promote this. We aim to foster children who have an enjoyment for reading and writing. We ensure that we include a variety of opportunities which are diverse and inspiring to embed the children’s learning. More varied in-school experiences such as book clubs at lunchtime, reading challenges and book swaps have all been introduced to continue this passion for English in our children.

Implementation

The national curriculum for English aims to ensure that all pupils:

• read easily, fluently and with good understanding
• develop the habit of reading widely and often, for both pleasure and information
• acquire a wide vocabulary, an understanding of grammar and knowledge of linguistic conventions for reading, writing and spoken language
• appreciate our rich and varied literary heritage
• write clearly, accurately and coherently, adapting their language and style in and for a range of contexts, purposes and audiences
• use discussion in order to learn; they should be able to elaborate and explain clearly their understanding and ideas
• are competent in the arts of speaking and listening, making formal presentations, demonstrating to others and participating in debate.

At Tiptoe School, we focus on the sequenced and planned nature of our learner’s experience so that they acquire the knowledge and skills they need for every next step within their learning so that they achieve their very best.

In Reception, Key Stage 1 and 2, we follow the Monster Phonics Scheme. This teaches children the sounds and tricky words needed to support them with their reading and writing. From Year Three this is then supplemented by ‘No Nonsense Spelling’ which teaches the children the basic skills needed to read and write words. Grammar and punctuation is taught both explicitly and implicitly within English lessons; grammar skills are effectively embedded into the children’s everyday work.

Children will experience a wide range of authors and text types during their time at Tiptoe Primary School. In each year group, pupils will regularly hear books being read to them, in addition to reading for their own pleasure. The children have access to a range of different reading books, predominantly those within the Oxford Reading scheme. These include phonics books which are linked to the phonemes being taught that week in class. For more information about the Monster Phonics Scheme look under the learning tab.  By providing the children with a range of books it ensures that they not only suit their ability but also allow them to experience a range of writing styles and text types.

Children are encouraged to use their knowledge of texts to write for a variety of purposes such as: explanations, instructions, reports, balanced arguments, stories and poems. They learn to plan, draft, revise, edit and present their work, before evaluating the success of their writing. As they progress through school, the children are encouraged to write in a neat, legible style using a cursive script.

Drama and speaking and listening are an integral part of not only English but also the wider curriculum in order to encourage self-confidence, imagination and empathy. It is used to stimulate, explore and challenge ideas. Communication is a key feature of many aspects of our curriculum. We place great importance on confidently speaking in front of others and promote this at every opportunity, such as during Celebration Assemblies, class assemblies and nativities and productions.

Impact

The impact on our children is clear: progress, sustained learning and transferrable skills.  With the implementation of the writing journey being well established and taught thoroughly in both key stages, children are becoming more confident writers and by the time they are in upper Key Stage 2, most genres of writing are familiar to them and the teaching can focus on creativity, writer’s craft, sustained writing and manipulation of grammar and punctuation skills.

Termly assessment is showing that most children at Tiptoe are achieving in Literacy at age-related expectations.  Each year we have children achieving at a greater depth in reading and writing at the end of KS1 and are working hard to emulate that at the end of KS2. We hope that all the new literacy initiatives outlined above will help to boost children’s learning and progress.

As all aspects of English are an integral part of the curriculum, cross curricular writing standards have also improved and skills taught in the English lesson are transferred into other subjects; this shows consolidation of skills and a deeper understanding of how and when to use specific grammar, punctuation and grammar objectives. 

We hope that as children move on from Tiptoe to further their education and learning, that their creativity, passion for English and high aspirations travel with them and continue to grow and develop as they do.