What is English at Westglade?

English is a core subject within the National Curriculum. We aim for our children to become readers, authors and knowledge gatherers throughout their time at Westglade. The school aim is to promote a long-term love of reading and provide opportunities for children to become immersed in a range of texts. Our desire is that children become enthusiastic and critical readers and to understand how language works. In writing, we encourage children to express themselves creatively and imaginatively and to communicate with others effectively. We aim for children to grow, discover and blossom through their comprehensive understanding of the English curriculum.

At Westglade we are keen to promote a love of reading and writing as well as ensuring our children reach the best possible outcomes. We teach English not only during Read, Write Inc., Shared Reading and writing sessions but throughout the curriculum where children are provided with opportunities to apply their literacy skills. 

Reading

In EYFS and Key Stage 1, children follow the Read, Write Inc. programme to develop their phonic knowledge and build the skills required to be able to read fluently. In addition to this, they share and discuss a range of books and non fiction texts as part of their topics to deepen their understanding of what they are reading as well as sparking interesting in their curriculum topics. 

In Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2, children are taught Shared Reading first thing in the morning. In these sessions, children are faced with challenging and exciting texts (linked to their topics where possible) and are taught the skills required to fully understand and comprehend a text. They discuss vocabulary, finding answers using the text and providing evidence to support their answers. 

Writing

At Westglade, we have based the teaching of writing on the Literacy Tree model, which is a book-based model. It focuses on immersing children in a text, with a strong focus on audience and purpose - allowing them to see themselves represented and explore the lives and experiences of others. It provides a range of opportunities to write for different purposes and audiences throughout the unit, with opportunities for drama, discussion and debate included. We use focuses in every lesson to ensure the children know their aims and have adapted the scheme to ensure it meets the needs of all learners.

At the beginning of each English lesson, a grammar flashback is completed. This introduces our ‘Word of the Week’ using Tier 2 vocabulary and allows children time to revisit key grammatical skills. The National Curriculum requirements for writing and grammar are taught through the Literacy Tree model. Across KS1 and KS2, we work to a two to three-week model, ensuring children have the opportunity to be fully immersed in the book and are able to practise and apply their learning to their writing. Throughout this cycle, children have many opportunities to independently write. One independent piece per writing unit is then marked and assessed using the year group’s standards. These assessment grids are used to monitor children’s progress in writing termly.

How is English progressive?

At Westglade, we follow the National Curriculum. We use a reading progression map and a writing progression map (based on the National Curriculum) to ensure our curriculum is progressive. The grammar objectives across the National Curriculum have been mapped out to ensure progression across and within the year groups.