At St Peter’s primary school, we recognise the crucial importance reading, writing and spoken language has in the development of the English Language. Pupils are given the opportunities to engage with a wide range of fiction, non-fiction and poetry. We offer a broad and balanced approach to the teaching of English across the curriculum, with opportunities to consolidate and reinforce skills taught. Statutory requirements for the teaching and learning of English are laid out in the National Curriculum English Document (2014) and in the Communication and Language and Literacy section of the Statutory Framework for EYFS. The National Curriculum for English is used to plan for the delivery of English to ensure continuity and progression.

Children who are good at reading do more of it: they learn more, about all sorts of things, and their expanded vocabulary, gained from their reading, increases their ease of access to more reading. Conversely, those for whom reading is difficult fall behind, not just in their reading but in all subjects and a vicious circle develops.

This is why the national curriculum says: It is essential that, by the end of their primary education, all pupils are able to read fluently, and with confidence, in any subject in their forthcoming secondary education. (The Reading Framework 2023)

Phonics

At St Peter’s we use the Read, Write Inc (RWI) programme to get children off to a flying start with their English. 

 

RWI is a method of learning based upon letter sounds and phonics, and we use it to support children in their reading and writing. Reading opens the door to learning. A child who reads a lot will become a good reader. A good reader will be able to read more challenging material. A child who can read more challenging material is a child who will learn. The more a child learns, the more he or she will want to find out.

 

Using RWI, the children learn to read effortlessly so they can put all their energy into comprehending what they read. It also allows them to spell effortlessly so they can put all their energy into composing what they write. The children are assessed regularly and grouped according to their ability. They will work with a RWI trained teacher or teaching assistant. In addition to the RWI, children will also be working on writing skills in their classes with their own teacher.

Phonics session