Close
Close

Goodrich Community Primary School

English 

Reading

 Subject Vision

Reading across Goodrich Primary is a top priority for all children, regardless of their age, backgrounds, needs or abilities. 

Fostering a love of reading and sharing stories, poems and rhymes are paramount in developing children's vocabulary and comprehension. 

All staff work hard to embed a culture where books, vocabulary and reading take top priority.  Short focused, daily phonics sessions are crucial in developing early reading skills but supporting children to become independent readers who love reading is undoubtedly our ultimate goal. 

We believe that becoming a fluent, skilled and attentive reader starts at the earliest stages.  We value the importance of oracy, using spoken language to develop children's communication skills and broaden their vocabulary. 

 Intent, Implementation and Impact

Writing

Subject Vision

At Goodrich we are inclusive and believe that our writing curriculum should prepare all children for the next stage of learning, whether this be to a new year group, a new key stage or when they transition into secondary school. Our curriculum is constructed to be ambitious and designed to give all learners, no matter the individual need, ability or background, the knowledge and skills they require to succeed in life; it is coherently planned and sequenced in order to fulfil this aim.

We have high expectations of all children and intend for them to leave Year 6 as confident, fluent, independent writers who not only understand the purpose and importance of writing within the wider society but that they positively engage in the process; taking pride and personal responsibility for their part in this.

We intend for our children to be able to communicate effectively through their writing across a range of fiction, non-fiction, poetry, genres and themes, including being able to write for different levels of formality, purpose and audience - this applies to all writing opportunities, including when writing across the wider curriculum where the children are expected to apply the written and spoken language skills they have acquired from the English curriculum. We intend to immerse the children in a range of quality texts and media; exposing them to a wealth of rich vocabulary and grammatical structures that enable them to be creative and risk-takers, while maintaining a critical and reflective approach.

We intend for our curriculum to be reflective of the school community and wider world; enabling our children to not only see themselves but to develop culturally, emotionally, socially and spiritually.

Intent, Implementation and Impact

Writing at Goodrich

 

Speaking and Listening

Intent

Speaking and listening is vital within the Goodrich curriculum and is developed from EYFS.  We believe spoken language underpins the development of reading and writing and understanding across the curriculum. The quality and variety of language that pupils hear and speak are vital for developing their vocabulary and grammar and their understanding for reading and writing. Through developing their skills and ability in spoken language and listening, pupils are enabled to communicate their understanding and clarify their thinking.

Implementation

 ​Through our curriculum, the learner as a speaker & listener is taught to:

  • listen carefully and attentively in a range of contexts
  • speak clearly and convey ideas confidently using Standard English including reading aloud
  • justify ideas with reasons
  • ask questions to check understanding;
  • develop vocabulary and build knowledge across the curriculum
  • negotiate; evaluate and build on the ideas of others
  • select the appropriate register for effective communication.
  • give well-structured descriptions and explanations
  • develop their understanding through speculating, hypothesising and exploring ideas.
  • use and explore the spoken word in a range of contexts, including presentations, debates and drama
  • speak audibly and confidently before an audience

Impact

Children will leave Goodrich able to listen carefully and attentively and speak clearly. They will be able to ask deep and meaningful questions to improve their understanding and take part in collaborative discussions. They will be confident in speaking in a range of situations, in front of a range of audiences and be able to express their ideas clearly. Children will demonstrate the ability to use a range of vocabulary, which will mean they can fully understand what they are hearing and they are able to articulate what they want to say. They will be equipped, not only with the skills to speak and listen effectively using standard English but to be able to apply these in their everyday lives and in their next stages of education- for research, information and to explore the world.

Spelling

In Early Years and KS1, spelling is embedded within phonics lessons, as well as taught discretely in three Spelling & Handwriting lessons per week. Additionally, the children learn spelling patterns and rules through high quality texts during their English lessons. In KS2 we have introduced 'Spelling Pathways’ where the children are taught different spelling patterns and rules weekly. These are modelled through common words related to each spelling pattern, with the children then having to apply the spelling rules to known words. These words are sent home as homework each week. The following Friday, we practise the week's words in a collaborative spelling quiz in small groups. Common exception words are also identified and explored.

 

 

↑