English 

All children will be fluent, effective writers and communicators so they are confident in the literary world.

At Great Wakering Primary Academy we understand a high quality English education will teach pupils to speak, write and read fluently, which is essential to prepare children for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of later life and the society around them.

English teaching is based around Talk for Writing because it enables children to imitate the language they need for a particular topic orally before reading and analysing it and then writing their own.  Alongside this, reading skills are also taught explicitly in whole class reading sessions, to improve both word reading and comprehension.  It is important children are encouraged to read widely across fiction and non-fiction texts to develop a rich vocabulary and feed imaginations.

English Subject Overview

Class Novels

Each year group has a selection of high quality literature that is read to the class by the class teacher. These include books that explore archaic plots, non-linear time sequences, the complexity of the narrator, resistant texts and the complexity of the plot/symbols used.  In Year 1 and 2, a number of books are read each half term from a different author.   From Year 3 onwards, the class novel is an extended chapter book that is read regularly to the class by the class teacher.  Each year group has a different class novel each half term or term depending on the size of the novel.  The sessions encourage ‘book talk’ and allow children to comment on the characters and plot if they wish.  It gives children the opportunity to hear, question and enjoy extended high quality books.

Class Novels Overview

Spoken Language and the Curriculum

Developing spoken language, including vocabulary, is essential for the academic progress of all children and is recognised as an essential part of the foundations of the Curriculum that must be taught explicitly and modelled well.

In Great Wakering Primary Academy we ensure our children are immersed into a literature rich environment upon entry to school and rich communication is seen as an essential skill for all pupils to master and be confident with.  We achieve this by listening to, talking about and learning by heart stories, poems, rhymes and songs through Talk for Writing Texts, story time, reading fluency groups and Little Wandle Rhyme Time program.  All adults in school play an important role in modelling competence as a speaker and listener and understand that all children need to have frequent opportunities to communicate to develop spoken language through high quality interactions with an adult. Children who are not confident to initiate conversation, need to be approached purposefully so high-quality interactions happen with all children and more so with those who need extra support and development in this area.  Key vocabulary is planned for and is modelled by adults during continuous provision.

The curriculum provides planned opportunities for pupils to develop their proficiency in the components of spoken language. This includes the explicit teaching of vocabulary across the curriculum, partner talk as part of our school teaching pedagogy, answering questions in full sentences, class novels, story time, circle time, daily phonics, reading fluency groups, learning Talk for Writing texts and lessons across the curriculum that plan for speaking and listening development such as vocabulary, debate and drama.  All these elements of the curriculum have considered a well sequenced and progressive curriculum that allows spoken language skills to build upon one another.  In order to become better speakers and listeners, pupils have the opportunity to practise, refine and apply this knowledge in a range of different contexts and for a range of different audiences.

NELI and Talk Boost are also offered to children in EYFS and Year One who need extra speech and language development.

Grammar and Spelling 

Children at Great Wakering Academy are encouraged to speak and therefore write using standard English.  A rich vocabulary is discussed through the children’s reading and writing and relationships and meanings between words are investigated.  Spelling and Grammar is planned from a whole school progressive plan so children acquire new knowledge and build upon what they already know so they will be equipped with a strong command of the spoken and written word in the future.  We have developed a whole school vocabulary spine of transferable words that are explicitly taught through vocabulary sessions.  The vocabulary spine is well sequenced to build on prior knowledge.

Grammar Subject Overview

Spelling Objectives

We follow a mastery approach to the teaching of spelling through the programme ‘Pathways to Spell’. It is a programme designed to deliver the statutory content of the Primary National Curriculum for spelling in key stages 1 and 2. Through weekly teaching of spelling objectives and development of a whole school approach to word transcription, vocabulary development and proof-reading, the programme aims to develop children as proficient spellers.

You will find the end of year expectations for spelling for each of our year groups in the attached documents. For further detail on the skills that your children are learning on a weekly basis, please contact your class teacher.

Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 & 4 Year 5 & 6

Handwriting 

Clear handwriting helps with clear and effective communication so at Great Wakering Primary Academy we use the Nelson Handwriting Scheme to help all children develop a confident, legible and personal handwriting style and meet higher curriculum expectations. Teaching includes pattern practice, letter formation, motor skills work and joins as well as fun activities to bring handwriting to life.

Handwriting Subject Overview 

Handwriting in EYFS 

Handwriting Subject Overview EYFS