| Purpose | · To equip pupils with secure reading and writing skills in order to successfully access all areas of the curriculum and further learning · To nurture a life-long habit of reading for pleasure · To enable pupils to successfully converse with others through a secure command of the spoken word |
| Process | · Securing speech and language foundations as the basis of all English learning · Extending pupils’ understanding of a range of vocabulary, across all curriculum subjects · Systematic, phonics based reading foundations that ensure that pupils learn to read fluently and quickly in order to access all other learning · Inspiring, high quality texts · Writing, reading and grammatical skills taught explicitly and revisited on a regular basis, and in a variety of contexts, across the curriculum · Scaffolding and modelling · Clear ‘Purpose, Process and Product (polished pieces)’ · Redrafting and editing embedded and taught regularly · Vocabulary emphasis in all subjects · Spoken language and listening skills · Spelling rules and root word derivation explicitly taught |
| Product | · Pupils can effectively communicate their ideas and interpret those of others in a broad range of social situations and curriculum subjects · They are able to select and enjoy a range of reading material for both pleasure and learning · Pupils are prepared for the next transition in their education by possessing the English skills required to access further learning |
How do we teach Writing at Pikemere School?
Writing at Pikemere School links to a ‘quality text’ which facilitates a host of writing, reading and grammar opportunities. Teachers plan a sequence of learning that builds up to a ‘polished’ piece’ end product. Pupils learn about effective writing through studying examples, modelled writing and scaffolding and are guided through the writing process to independence.
How do we teach reading at Pikemere School?
Reading is prioritised at Pikemere from the very beginning of our children’s education in Pre-school. From daily story times to planning provision activities around a quality text, a love of reading is nurtured and shared at every opportunity. This runs alongside our EYFS reading and Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised Phonics curriculum.
As children move into Reception, there is a key focus on using Phonic knowledge to enable them to become competent and secure at the skills of word reading. Practising these early reading skills is prioritised by all EYFS and Key Stage One teachers, as well as support staff. A consistent, directed approach is used by all adults, as modelled in staff training. This includes children at risk of falling behind in all year groups of the school.
We use the Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised Phonics scheme to structure and scaffold children’s reading, in line with the sounds and ‘tricky words’ that they have learned. By using the Collins’ Big Cats Phonics for Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised reading books alongside these lessons, children are able to experience success in the books that they read, applying their knowledge of decoding and word recognition with confidence.
