English at Millbrook
At Millbrook Combined Primary School we believe that Literacy is a fundamental life skill. Literacy develops children’s ability to listen, speak, read and write for a wide range of purposes. Children are enabled to express themselves creatively and imaginatively as they become enthusiastic and critical readers of stories, poetry and drama, as well as of non-fiction and media texts. Children gain an understanding of how language works by looking at its patterns, structures and origins. Children use their knowledge, skills and understanding in speaking and writing across a range of different situations.
Aims
We aim to develop pupils’ abilities within an integrated programme of Spoken Language, Reading & Writing. Pupils will be given opportunities to interrelate the requirements of English within a broad and balanced approach to the teaching of English across the curriculum, with opportunities to consolidate and reinforce taught literacy skills.
At Millbrook Combined Primary School we aim for all children to be able to:
- 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
Reading and Phonics
At school we teach phonics and early reading using the letters and sounds approach. Children are taught how to break down words into their separate sound components known as phonemes; this is called synthetic phonics. We use the Phonics Play website to support the teaching of phonics.
All children in Year 1 in the school will take a phonics screening check in June of each year. Children in Year 2 will also take the check if they did not meet the required standard in Year 1.
Useful Phonics Websites
www.kented.org.uk/ngfl/games/literacy
www.bbc.co.uk/schools/wordsandpictures/cvc/index.shtml
www.bbc.co.uk/schools/ks1bitesize/literacy
www.teachyourmonstertoread.com
www.lesleyclarkesyntheticphonics.co.uk
YouTube Videos
Miss Allen’s phonic recap for parents
Year 1 phonics screening check training video
Guided Reading
Guided reading is taught every day in Reception, KS1 and KS2. During a guided reading session the class teacher and Teaching Assistant will work with a group in order that pupils have two guided reading sessions a week.
Individual Reading
All our reading books are colour banded. Each child will be given a colour band to choose their home reading book from which will help to ensure that the book they select is at about the right reading level for them. Every colour band includes books from a range of reading schemes so that they will experience a range of stories, text types and illustrations.
Foundation Stage
As the nursery and reception classes are part of the Foundation Stage, we relate the development of the children’s Communication and Language and their Literacy to the development matters and Early Learning goals set out in the Early Years Foundation Stage.
National Curriculum
Please find below the National Curriculum (2014) statutory requirements for English.The documents show the statutory areas that the children must be taught in each year group.
The statutory appendices on spelling and on vocabulary, grammar and punctuation give an overview of the specific features that will be taught in each Year Group. All documents are from the National Curriculum (2014) as produced by the DfE.
Please note that Pupils in Y2 and Y6 (2014-15) will still follow the previous National Curriculum for English.
English genres covered in each year group 2014
Phonics Information
Year 1 NC English
NC Year 1 English Planning document
NC Year 1 Vocabulary, Grammar and Punctuation Appendix
Year 2 NC English
NC Year 2 English Planning Document revised
NC Year 2 Vocabulary, Grammar and Punctuation Appendix
Year 3 NC English
NC Year 3 English Planning Document revised
NC Year 3 Vocabulary, Grammar and Punctuation Appendix
Year 4 NC
NC Year 4 English Planning Document revised
NC Year 4 Vocabulary, Grammar and Punctuation Appendix
Year 5 NC English
NC Year 5 English Planning Document revised
NC Year 5 Vocabulary, Grammar and Punctuation Appendix
Year 6 NC English
NC Year 6 English Planning Document revised
NC Year 6 Vocabulary, Grammar and Punctuation Appendix