English curriculum statement

Intent

At Badsworth C of E Junior and Infant school, we believe that broad, balanced and ambitious are key factors that influence and shape our curriculum provision. English here is rich with quality texts and experiences which ignites curiosity within learners, ultimately leading them on a learning journey of independence and discovery whilst creating a positive reading and learning culture in school. 

The aim for our English provision is to provide every pupil with the opportunity to develop a love of literature, language and writing in an environment where all aspects of English are promoted, enjoyed and valued by all. Our children will experience and read a wide variety of literature with confidence, efficacy and enjoyment in order to develop their understanding of language and meaning whilst broadening their perspective through a diverse mix of literature. Through their work, they will demonstrate mastery of reading through their discussions, verbal contributions and writing. 

In writing, our children will write with purpose, clarity, fluency and accuracy, demonstrating their individual character, flair and creativity. Learners will enjoy developing ideas in written work across the curriculum and be able to adapt their language to suit the purpose and intended audience.

Through deliberate choices of vocabulary, tone and structural devices, children will write and demonstrate their understanding of subjects across the curriculum and produce work they are proud of. They will articulate and express their personal views, thoughts and opinions about a wide range of topics in a respectful and considerate manner with their peers and adults alike.

Through our holistic approach to English, children will also develop and shape their character through challenging and ambitious tasks so that they can positively contribute to our school, their home and their local and wider communities both now and in the future.

Implementation

Through text-rich provision; a rich learning environment; a series of inspiring cross-curricular units of work and carefully selected texts, children are immersed in a curriculum that is designed to intrigue and inspire.

Every learning opportunity is underpinned by a rigorous and systematic approach to reading, beginning with Floppy’s Sounds and Letters (See Phonics and Early Reading Curriculum Statement) before leading onto whole class guided and independent reading for meaning, purpose and prosody. 

‘Reading Gems’ allow children to become familiar with reading skills. These ‘Gems’ are used to develop the comprehension of texts and lead aspects of learning through independent inquiry.

With reading being at the centre of our provision, a class text approach is used to shape our teaching of reading and writing. 

Teachers’ modelling of reading and writing is an important part of the session sequence which ensures learners get to see the skills in action. This sets high standards and expectations through school, and combined with growth mindset practices, it encourages children to take pride in the work they produce and allows children to see mistakes and errors as opportunities to learn and grow.

At Badsworth we understand the importance of first-hand experiences and their importance in enriching the Cultural Capital of every child. Our English provision incorporates outdoor and active learning opportunities, inspirational visitors coming into school and educational visits linked to units of work  where appropriate. These elements enrich the learning of our pupils and support the immersive approach to learning by creating experiences for children during which they can apply and deepen their understanding. 

Impact

Pupils enjoy reading regularly for both information retrieval and pleasure. Pupils are able to discuss books and genres and authors, and regularly recommend books to peers. Children confidently write for different purposes and audiences, and develop a good understanding of the features of the different genres covered in classes. Through carefully planned and resourced learning sequences and lessons, pupils make at least good progress within the curriculum framework. The development of new and transferable skills through a variety of interesting learning opportunities will also be a key feature as a result of high quality teaching.

Children show a rich and deep subject knowledge demonstrated in their work across the breadth of the curriculum. They have the ability to lead their own learning through use of texts of all kinds across the breadth of learning. Learners have an understanding of what they are doing well and how they can continue to improve and look to continually build on their understanding of the importance of British values through respectful and meaningful discussions and debates, including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and tolerance and respect. Through their application of speaking and listening skills, children have an excellent understanding of their own and others’ spiritual, emotional and cultural needs, and have autonomy around their own reading choices and their writing style. As a result of acquiring these skills, Children are equipped with lifelong skills that they are able to transfer into other educational and social settings and build upon existing skills and knowledge in order to continue their learning journey.