English Policy Document

English Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 National Curriculum in England

Whole School Reading Overview and Progression

Phonics and Reading, Books and Resources

Classroom Secrets Grammar Overview

Spelling Overview Years 2-6

English Curriculum Statement

At Harewood Primary we believe all children, whatever their starting point, deserve the opportunity to reach their full potential. Underpinning and essential to this are our aspirations for children to become effective communicators. We aim for them to achieve high standards in speaking and listening, reading and writing to enable them to excel and overcome barriers to their future as successful members who contribute to the British community.

To achieve these aims:

• We provide a rich and exciting English curriculum designed to encourage a love of language:

Reading is the one ability that once set in motion has the ability to feed itself, grow exponentially and provide a basis from which possibilities are limitless.

Michael Morpurgo

• From the early years onwards, we offer an inclusive, supportive environment which provides many and varied contexts for talk.
• We respect and build upon children’s varied experiences of language at home and the vital role of parents and carers as our partners in their children’s learning.
• Skills are taught rigorously and sequentially. Attainment is regularly assessed and gaps addressed quickly.
• We encourage pupils to have a voice in their learning. They are encouraged to share their views on books and writing.
• We recognise the importance of a wide vocabulary and strive to expand children’s vocabulary through experiences across the curriculum.
• English underpins our wider curriculum. We therefore, utilise opportunities to develop English skills within other subjects and also bring other subjects to life in our English lessons.
• Stories are valued and well-chosen. We share stories with children that we enjoy as adults and that challenge and broaden children’s minds.
• We aim to ensure children are taught by staff who are experts and offer teams of adults who are supportive of each other.

English at Harewood Primary School

A reader, writer and speaker at Harewood can do the following things. We share this with the children at the beginning of English lessons.

Phonics

We enjoy daily phonics lessons with Essential letters and Sounds.  

Writing Progression across school

Nursery

Reception

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Year 1

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Year 2

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Year 3

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Year 4

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Year 5

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Year 6

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Examples of English Displays

World Book Day

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Extreme Reading Challenge

Staff and children find some unusual places to enjoy books, in our holiday extreme reading challenge!

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Read2Dogs

Here is Sarah with Molly the dog. Molly is a registered Pets as Therapy dog, who visits school each week as part of Read2Dogs. This is a scheme developed to help children gain confidence in reading. PAT Dogs enhance self-esteem, motivate speech and inspire young people to have fun. It has been proven to help children gain confidence and they enjoy and benefit greatly from the reading experience.

Stockton’s Children Book of the Year

Each year we take part in Stockton Children’s Book of the Year. We read and review 5 exciting new books and vote on our favourite. Last Year we met the winning author of Escape Room – Christopher Edge. This Year we met Alastair Humphreys, the author of The Girl Who Rode the Ocean, who told us all about the adventures that inspired his writing.

Two children are selected to attend a glittering awards ceremony at Stockton Central Library where the winning author is chosen. They also receive awards for their amazing book reviews and involvement in the project.

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This year’s winning book was… Wildsmith by Liz Flannagan

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Reading Assembly

Every Wednesday, each class holds a reading assembly. We discuss our author of the half term. Share the reading scrapbook and announce the winner of the book hut prize. One child, who has worked hard with their reading, is chosen to select a book to keep from the book hut.

Reading Scrapbooks

Each week, a child from each class takes home the reading scrap book and complete a page about a book they have been enjoying.

Reading Ambassadors

Our Year 6 reading ambassadors support our younger children with their reading and help our lucky winners choose a book award from our book hut.