Aims 

At Wrestlingworth and Dunton Federation, we aim 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

Intent

At Wrestlingworth and Dunton Federation, our intent for English is to provide a high-quality curriculum that equips our pupils with the necessary skills to become confident and articulate communicators, avid readers, and proficient writers. We aim to foster a love for English, ensuring that all children leave our school with a solid foundation in reading, writing, speaking, and listening.

By being competent in the subject of English, children will be able to engage with the world through listening and reading and communicate creatively and imaginatively with the wider world through speaking and writing; we are preparing our children, our small seeds, to grow and develop into the biggest trees; “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed. A man plants the seed in his field.  That seed is the smallest of all seeds. But when it grows, it is one of the largest garden plants. It becomes a tree, big enough for the wild birds to come and make nests in its branches.” Matthew 13:31-32, International Children’s Bible.

The underpinning belief of our English curriculum at Wrestlingworth and Dunton Federation is to meet the needs of all children within our school community; whoever you are, you are welcome here.

English – Reading

Implementation

“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.”

Dr. Seuss

We endeavour to cultivate a passion and lifelong love of reading. Our aim is that children gain an extensive and rich vocabulary, essential reading skills and the motivation to read for study and pleasure. We work with parents to support children with their reading through: our half-termly Reading Cafés, the Reading Rainbow and by encouraging children to read with a variety of adults in school – we are privileged to have volunteer readers from our local community visit us weekly.

The significance of phonic knowledge for the teaching and learning of both reading and writing is important to us as a school. Phonics teaching begins in EYFS and continues throughout Year 1 and 2 in daily sessions. We use Bug Club as our chosen and validated SSP (Systematic Synthetic Phonics) programme. The children are taught in groups and are assessed regularly; those who we identify as needing additional support with their phonics receive support in smaller groups or individually if required. We have a large amount of phonetically matched books which are used to support the teaching of phonics – children take these books home to read with their families. 

In Year 3 and 4, children are provided with books reflecting their book band colour and we encourage children to become fluent readers with appropriate expression as well as having a good understanding of what they have read. 

In all year groups time is scheduled for teachers to read and share books to demonstrate the importance of reading for pleasure, as well as to model how to read with fluency, expression and passion. Texts are chosen in a variety of ways: they may link to significant dates in the calendar, recommended texts from children through pupil voice or sometimes even through democracy – a vote by the class to choose the next book.

Children are passionate to use the library area or their class bookshelves to choose Reading for Pleasure book to read at home alongside their phonetically matched book or their book reflecting their band colour. 

We celebrate reading through whole school events such as World Book Day, through our half-termly Reading Cafés and Reading Rainbow. 

Impact 

• During assessment weeks attainment in Reading is measured using written assessments.
• Attainment in Phonics is measured by the Phonics Screening Check at the end of Year One.
• Children in EYFS are observed throughout the year and given a final assessment by staff of Emerging or Expected. 
• We also use internal record keeping through the form of Insight.
• Children will develop a lifelong love of reading and will develop their vocabulary through an interest in words and their meanings. 

English – Writing

Implementation 

My heart overflows with a goodly theme; I address my psalm to a King; my tongue is like the pen of a ready writer. 

Psalm 45:1-7

We ensure that children have the opportunity to write for a range of purposes and that they understand the audience for whom they are writing. Writing gives children a way to communicate with others: to share their thoughts, ideas, beliefs, emotions and express who they are.

At Wrestlingworth and Dunton Federation we use Pathways to Write which uses high-quality texts to ensure engaging and purposeful English lessons are delivered to our budding young writers. The scheme provides flexibility to accommodate children in our school community; whoever you are, you are welcome here. Grammar and punctuation teaching is included discretely in order for children to use it accurately and purposefully in their writing tasks. 

Writing units begin with a ‘hook’ session to intrigue and enthuse our young writers. From this, they are introduced to writing skills from their year group which they then practise apply the skills to their short and extended writing tasks, including character descriptions, poetry, dialogue between characters, fact files or diary entries in role. Throughout the sessions children are provided with opportunities to re-cap and apply previously taught skills. 

Impact

• Attainment in Writing is measured using statutory assessments at the end of Key Stage One and will also be used at the end of Key Stage Two when the Federation welcomes children in Year Six. These results are measured against the writing attainment of children nationally.
• Moving forward, we will use the end of KS2 Grammar, Punctuation and Spelling tests when our Federation has children in Year Six.
• Children in EYFS are observed throughout the year and given a final assessment by staff of Emerging or Expected. 
• Writing moderation workshops will be attended with our local schools.
• Each half term children complete independent writing which is marked against the appropriate TAFs the children are meeting (usually within their year group standards but those with additional needs are often marked against the standards of lower year groups).