Subject Overview

AUTHORS OF OUR OWN LEARNING

English at Eldon is outstanding. We teach pupils to sign, speak, read and write fluently so that they are confident communicators and emotionally articulate when sharing their thinking with others, and through their reading and listening, others can communicate with them. Developing childrens' skills in reading will enable them to develop culturally, emotionally, intellectually, socially and spiritually and the literature we immerse children in across all subjects, will play a pivotal role in such development.

INTENT

We consistently promote high standards of language and literacy, reading, spelling, writing, speaking and listening, to equip children with a strong command of the spoken and written word, and to develop their love of literature through widespread reading for enjoyment. We aim to teach our children to read easily, fluently and with good understanding to help them develop the habit of reading widely and often, for both pleasure and information. Through our highly ambitious curriculum, our children will acquire a wide vocabulary, an understanding of grammar and knowledge of linguistic conventions for reading, writing and spoken language, to support children to appreciate our rich and varied literary heritage.

We strive to teach pupils to write clearly, accurately and coherently, adapting their language and style in and for a range of contexts, purposes and audiences. Our belief in the need for discussion in order to learn, ensures speaking and listening permeate the whole Eldon curriculum; children should be able to elaborate and explain clearly their understanding and ideas. We want to grow children who are competent in the arts of speaking and listening, making formal presentations, demonstrating to others and participating in debate.

IMPLEMENTATION

All staff will develop childrens’ spoken language across the whole curriculum. Spoken language will underpin the development of reading and writing. The variety and richness of language that our children hear and speak will be used for developing their vocabulary and grammar and their understanding for reading and writing through our facilities which include: 4D Immersive Room, Eldon Radio Station, Eldon House, Eldon Forest, Eldon T.V and Eldon's 'The Burrow'.

Our highly skilled staff will ensure the continual development of childrens’ confidence and competence in spoken language and listening skills. Children will develop a capacity to explain their understanding of books and other reading, and to prepare their ideas before they write. They will be supported to make their thinking clear to themselves as well as to others and teachers will ensure that our children build secure foundations by using discussion to probe and remedy their misconceptions. Drama, poetry and role play will be used to build pupils confidence and to practice their skills in speaking, listening, reading, writing and performing in front of others.

The teaching of reading will focus on word reading and comprehension and it will be developed across the curriculum and phonics alongside other key strategies, will play an important part in teaching pupils to read and spell. Comprehension skills will be developed through childrens’ experience of high-quality discussion with their teachers, as well as from reading and discussing a range of stories, poems and non-fiction. All children will be encouraged to read widely across both fiction and non-fiction to develop their knowledge of themselves and the world in which they live, to establish an appreciation and love of reading, and to gain knowledge across the breadth of the curriculum. 

Teaching will develop childrens’ competence in transcription and composition and they will be taught how to plan, revise and evaluate their writing. Children will be taught to use the elements of spelling, grammar, punctuation correctly and to understand and use Standard English in their speaking and writing.

LONG TERM TEACHING SEQUENCE

English is concentrically planned with an impressive rich literature spine comprising ambitious texts that inspire and challenge pupils. It is systematically mapped to enable children to experience breadth and depth of social, moral and ethical dimensions as well as a wide range of authors and protagonists. These dimensions explore - Continuity of author, Heritage text, BAME author or protagonist, Strong female role model, Specific social, ethical, moral issue.

Writing draws on taught content from across the curriculum and from the depth study of core texts from the literature spine. Reading is deliberately designed to be ambitious and aspirational, ensuring that every child leaves our school as a competent, confident reader. Children will receive a daily diet of excellent reading teaching and this will be supplemented by regular opportunities to engage with shared reading experiences, promoting the joy of reading with the whole school community.

We teach Reading and Writing through a six phase lesson.

KNOWLEDGE ORGANISER                                                 KNOWLEDGE NOTE

Knowledge Organisers contain core                                     Knowledge Notes are an elaboration in the core

information for children to easily access                               knowledge found in the Knowledge Organisers.

and use as a point of reference and as a                             Knowledge Notes focus childrens' working 

means of retrieval practice.                                                  memory to the key question that will be answered

                                                                                             at the end of the lesson. it reduces cognitive load 

                                                                                             and reduces the split-attention effect.

IMPACT

English is the most important subject taught at Eldon and it receives the primacy it deserves across all subjects. All the skills of English are essential to participating fully as a member of society; children of Eldon Primary School, therefore, will learn to speak, read and write fluently and confidently.