English

“Blessed is he who reads”

Revelation 1:3

Our Literacy curriculum has been carefully crafted to cultivate avid and curious readers, instil confidence in articulate speakers who have a rich vocabulary, and to foster creativity in imaginative and skilled writers.

English Curriculum Intent & Guiding Principles

Creating a culture of joy around reading: We believe that children learn best when they are inspired and motivated to read. Therefore, we aim to create a joyful culture around reading in our school, where children have access to a variety of books and are encouraged to read for pleasure.

Supporting staff with the necessary knowledge, skills, and professional development: We recognise that effective teaching of English and literacy requires continuous learning and professional development. We aim to provide all staff members with the knowledge, skills, and professional support they need to deliver high-quality teaching of English and literacy.

Ongoing assessment to monitor pupil progress: We believe in the importance of monitoring and assessing pupil progress on an ongoing basis. We will use detailed and frequent assessments to identify where pupils have learning gaps or are not making the expected progress, and make sure that interventions target these areas.

Providing a rich and diverse range of reading materials: We aim to expose pupils to different types of reading material, including stimulating, high-quality, and curiosity-inspiring classroom displays. We believe that a rich and diverse range of reading materials helps to develop children's literacy skills and fosters a love of reading.

Involving families in supporting their child's reading and writing: We believe that parents and families play an important role in supporting their child's literacy development. We will involve families in supporting their child's reading and writing by providing guidance on how to support literacy development at home and by regularly communicating with parents about their child's progress.

Coherently planned and sequenced curriculum: We believe that a well-planned and sequenced curriculum is essential for effective teaching of English and literacy. We will ensure that our English curriculum is coherently planned and sequenced, with a focus on building foundational skills and knowledge.

Providing up-to-date and varied teaching resources: We aim to provide a range of up-to-date and varied teaching resources that match pupil and curriculum needs. We believe that high-quality resources support effective teaching and learning of English and literacy.

Encouraging high-quality interactions: We believe that high-quality interactions between teachers and pupils are essential for effective teaching of English and literacy. We will engage pupils in high-quality back-and-forth interactions that promote the development of their literacy skills.

Modelling new language and accurate vocabulary & grammar: We believe that modelling new language and accurate grammar is essential for developing children's literacy skills. We will model new language and accurate grammar to pupils in order to support their language development and improve their writing.

Supporting pupils with speech, language, and communication needs: We believe that all pupils should have access to high-quality teaching of English and literacy, regardless of their individual needs. We will support pupils with speech, language, and communication needs by providing extra small-group story times and other interventions as necessary.

Our English Curriculum Approach

english curriculum map 2025 2026.pdf

literacy implementation overview.pdf

Early Reading (Phonics)

Creating a culture of reading at home.

Stoke Tips for Primary Parents

Reading to your Child

RWI Reading at Home

Read and Write inc Information for Parents

Set 1 Sound Letter Formation

Why Oracy Matters at Our School

At our school, we believe that being able to talk and listen well—what we call oracy—is just as important as reading and writing. Good communication skills help children share their ideas with confidence, understand others, and make the most of their learning.

Research from the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) shows that when schools focus on speaking and listening, children can make up to six months of extra progress—especially in reading and writing. This is because talk helps children to explore new vocabulary, organise their thoughts, and deepen their understanding.

The national We Need to Talk report (Oracy Education Commission, 2024) also highlights that oracy should be seen as a core part of education—essential for learning in school and for success in life.

That’s why we make oracy a priority across all subjects. Whether it’s debating, storytelling, problem-solving, or everyday classroom discussions, we give children regular opportunities to practise their speaking and listening. This builds not only their academic skills, but also their confidence, wellbeing, and ability to get along with others.

Impact of our curriculum

At our school, we are committed to ensuring every child makes strong progress in English. From their first steps in phonics to developing as confident readers, writers and speakers, pupils build on their skills year by year. We carefully track progress across the key stages, celebrating both individual achievements and the collective growth of our classes.

The impact of our approach can be seen not only in assessment outcomes, but also in the enthusiasm pupils show, the increasing sophistication of their work, and their ability to use English across the curriculum. Pupil voice, photographs and examples of writing shared here demonstrate the journey our children make and the pride they take in their learning.