English curriculum statement

English

Intent

At Badsworth C of E Junior and Infant school, we believe that broad, balanced and ambitious are key factors that shape our curriculum. English here is rich in substantive and disciplinary knowledge and ignites curiosity within learners which ultimately leads them on a learning journey of independence and discovery whilst creating a positive culture in school where all children are prepared for a bright future.

The aim for our English provision is to provide every pupil with the opportunity to develop a love of literature, writing and language in an environment where all are promoted, enjoyed and consider enjoyable by all. Our children will experience and read a wide variety of literature with confidence and enjoyment in order to develop their imagination, knowledge and grow their understanding of language, structure and meaning. Through their work, they will demonstrate mastery of reading engaging in discussions, making verbal contributions and interacting with others and through their writing. Our children will write with purpose for specific audiences. Their pieces are clear, fluent and accurately constructed demonstrating their individual character, flair and creativity with an increasing awareness of the audience. They will develop ideas in written work across the curriculum, adapting their language deliberately to suit.

Through deliberate choices of vocabulary, tone and structural devices, children will demonstrate their understanding of subjects across the curriculum and produce work they are proud of as well as articulate and express their personal views, thoughts and opinions about a wide range of topics in a respectful and considerate manor;

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 topics and carefully selected books, children will be 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 before leading onto whole class guided and independent reading for meaning and purpose. With a keen focus on developing fluency, choral reading, peer support and a shared culture on the importance of reading, all children engage in daily reading teaching and practise.

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

Teachers modelling 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 mind set practices, it encourages all children to take pride in all they do and allows children to see mistakes and errors as opportunities to learn and grow.

At Badsworth we understand the importance of first-hand experiences. Our English provision incorporates outdoor and active learning, inspirational visitors coming into school and educational visits linked to units of work where appropriate. These elements enrich the learning of our pupils and supports the immersive approach to learning by creating experiences for children to pin their learning on.

Impact

Pupils enjoy reading regularly for both information and pleasure. Pupils participate in book-talk sessions when they share their thoughts on books, language, genres and authors. 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, our pupils will have made at least expected 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 and result of high-quality planning and teaching.

Children show a rich and deep subject knowledge demonstrated in their work across the breadth of the curriculum and have the ability to lead their own learning through use of texts of all kinds across the breadth of learning. All 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.