INTENT

At Smallthorne Primary Academy, English lies at the heart of our curriculum. We believe that the ability to read, write, speak and communicate effectively underpins success across the curriculum and enables children to participate confidently in the wider world.

Our English curriculum is designed to develop fluent readers, confident writers and articulate communicators who are able to express their ideas clearly and engage thoughtfully with the ideas of others.

Reading is prioritised across the school because it provides the foundation for all learning. Through carefully chosen, high-quality texts, pupils encounter a wide range of authors, cultures, perspectives and experiences that broaden their understanding of the world and inspire their imagination.

Writing is taught explicitly and purposefully using the PVPG model (Place Value of Punctuation and Grammar). This approach enables pupils to understand the structure and craft of writing, ensuring they develop control over vocabulary, grammar and punctuation while writing for a clear audience and purpose.

Texts are thoughtfully selected to link with themes from the Character & Arts Curriculum, creating meaningful contexts for reading, discussion and writing. Through these connections, pupils develop not only academic knowledge but also key character qualities such as curiosity, empathy, resilience and reflection.

Our English curriculum ensures pupils:

• Become fluent, confident readers who read widely and often for both pleasure and purpose
• Develop strong comprehension skills and the ability to interpret and analyse texts
• Write clearly, creatively and effectively for a range of audiences and purposes
• Use vocabulary, grammar and punctuation accurately and with increasing sophistication
• Develop confidence in speaking and listening through discussion, debate and performance
• Appreciate the richness and diversity of literature
• Understand how language can influence, inform and inspire

We ensure the curriculum is ambitious, inclusive and accessible for all learners, including those with SEND, through adaptive teaching, scaffolded support and carefully sequenced knowledge.

Character & Arts Alignment

English plays a central role within the Smallthorne Character & Arts curriculum, supporting pupils’ intellectual, creative and personal development.

English contributes to the Character & Arts strands by enabling pupils to:

• Heritage – explore stories, authors and voices that reflect local, national and global culture
• History – understand how literature reflects the time and society in which it was written
• Performing & Expressive Arts – develop confidence through storytelling, drama, performance and spoken language
• Sustainability – explore themes such as community, responsibility and care for the environment through literature
• Enterprise – communicate ideas clearly, think critically and present opinions confidently

Through reading and writing, pupils develop empathy, imagination and confidence, enabling them to engage thoughtfully with the world around them.

IMPLEMENTATION

Our English curriculum is carefully sequenced from EYFS through to Year 6, ensuring pupils build knowledge and skills progressively in reading, writing, phonics and spoken language.

Early Reading and Phonics

Early reading is prioritised across the school.

From Nursery to Year 2, pupils participate in daily phonics lessons using the Animaphonics programme. This systematic and structured approach enables children to develop secure phonological awareness, decoding skills and early reading fluency.

Through phonics teaching, pupils learn to:

• recognise and blend phonemes
• decode unfamiliar words accurately
• build confidence and independence in reading

Phonics teaching is supported by:

• regular reading practice using appropriately matched texts
• targeted support for pupils who require additional practice
• consistent assessment to monitor progress and identify next steps

This ensures all pupils develop the secure foundations required to become fluent, confident readers.

Reading

Reading is embedded throughout the curriculum and is prioritised daily.

Pupils develop reading skills through:

• whole-class reading of high-quality texts
• guided and shared reading activities
• regular opportunities for independent reading
• daily story time that promotes reading for pleasure

Texts are carefully chosen to expose pupils to rich vocabulary, diverse authors and a range of genres, enabling them to deepen their understanding of language and develop strong comprehension skills.

Teachers explicitly teach reading strategies including:

• retrieval and inference
• vocabulary development
• summarising and predicting
• analysing authorial choices

These approaches ensure pupils develop both fluency and deep comprehension.

Writing

Writing is taught through carefully structured sequences that allow pupils to explore texts, develop ideas and practise key writing skills.

Using the PVPG model, pupils learn to:

• understand the purpose and audience for their writing
• organise and structure ideas clearly
• develop vocabulary and sentence structure
• apply punctuation and grammar accurately
• edit and improve their writing independently

Pupils are given regular opportunities to write for a range of purposes including narrative, explanation, persuasion and reflection.

Writing is also embedded across the wider curriculum, enabling pupils to apply their skills in meaningful contexts.

Spoken Language

Speaking and listening are essential components of the English curriculum.

Pupils develop confidence through:

• discussion and collaborative learning
• debate and reasoning
• storytelling and performance
• drama and role play

These opportunities strengthen pupils’ communication skills and support their ability to articulate ideas clearly and thoughtfully.

Inclusion and Adaptive Teaching

High expectations for all pupils are central to our approach.

Teachers ensure lessons are accessible through:

• modelling and explicit teaching
• visual scaffolds and vocabulary support
• oral rehearsal and structured talk
• targeted intervention where required

This ensures all pupils, including those with SEND, EAL or additional needs, can access and succeed within the English curriculum.

IMPACT

By the end of each phase, pupils will:

• Be fluent, confident readers who enjoy reading widely
• Demonstrate secure comprehension skills and the ability to interpret texts
• Write clearly and effectively for a range of audiences and purposes
• Use vocabulary, grammar and punctuation with increasing accuracy and sophistication
• Communicate ideas confidently through speaking and writing
• Appreciate a wide range of literature and authors

Measuring Impact

The impact of the English curriculum is monitored through:

• regular assessment of reading fluency and comprehension
• evaluation of writing outcomes across the curriculum
• book scrutiny and curriculum monitoring
• pupil voice reflecting engagement and enjoyment in reading and writing
• phonics assessment to ensure early reading progress

Through this approach, pupils develop the knowledge, skills and confidence to use language effectively, enabling them to communicate ideas clearly, think critically and engage with the world as thoughtful, articulate individuals.