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English

Aims and Objectives

  • To be able to listen, speak, read and write at age appropriate levels and to meet age-related expectations.
  • To become confident communicators, listening and responding appropriately to others.
  • To read fluently and with good understanding.
  • To have a positive attitude towards reading through the promotion of reading for pleasure and reading for information.
  • To read and listen to a variety of texts from a range of authors.
  • To acquire a wide vocabulary for use in speaking and writing.
  • To write clearly, accurately and coherently, adapting language and style for a range of contexts, purposes and audiences.
  • To spell accurately, use punctuation appropriately, and speak and write using the grammatical conventions of Standard English.
  • To use the school handwriting font, developing a fully cursive style from Y2.

Pathways to Write documents are used.  These can be discussed with Philippa Dunkin, English Lead but cannot be shared. Documents include:- Feature Keys Progression Document / Key Skills Progression Document

Phonics

Our aims: 

  • To teach children to learn to read and write effectively and quickly.
  • To provide consistent, high quality phonics teaching that ensures all children have a strong foundation upon which to tackle the complex processes of reading and writing.
  • To ensure that the teaching of synthetic phonics is systematic and progressive throughout the foundation stage, key stage one and key stage two (for those children needing interventions to support phonetic knowledge and understanding), using the Read Write Inc. Phonics programme.

Teach children to:

  • Decode letter-sound correspondences quickly and effortlessly, using their phonic knowledge and skills
  • Read common exception words on sight
  • Understand what they read
  • Read aloud with fluency and expression
  • Write confidently, with a strong focus on vocabulary and grammar
  • Spell quickly and easily by segmenting the sounds in words
  • Acquire good handwriting


Teaching Phonics – Read Write Inc.

At Holy Trinity, we use Read Write Inc. (RWI) to get children off to a flying start with their reading and writing. Read Write Inc Phonics is a method of teaching reading and writing, which is centred on learning the sounds of the letters (phonics) and then blending them together to read words.  The children also learn to break down words into individual sounds in order to write them.

How does RWI work at Holy Trinity?

All children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2, plus some children in Y3 and Y4 who have not yet passed their phonics screening are assessed by the RWI lead (Mrs Doughty) and grouped according to their ability.

They work in small groups with teachers and teaching assistants every day from 9.00am. At the end of each half term the children will be assessed again to check they have made progress and will be grouped again.  In addition to Read Write Inc., children will also be working on writing skills and storytelling in their classes with their own class teacher.

When using RWI to read the children will:

  • Learn to read effortlessly so that they can put all their energy into understanding what they read.
  • Learn 44 sounds and the corresponding letter/letter groups using simple picture prompts.
  • Learn to read words using Fred Talk.
  • Learn to read words by blending the sounds together.
  • Read lively stories featuring words they have learnt to sound out.
  • Show that they understand the stories by answering discussion questions.


When using RWI to write the children will:

  • Spell effortlessly so that they can put their energy into working out what they want to write.
  • Learn to write the letters/letter groups, which represent the 44 sounds (graphemes).
  • Learn to write words by saying the sounds in Fred Talk.
  • Learn to write simple and then increasingly complex sentences.
  • Compose a range of texts using discussion prompts.
  • Compose stories based on picture strips.
  • Write simple sentences

Reading

We love reading at our school. We believe it is the core of children’s learning and well being.  At Holy Trinity CE Primary, reading is taught discreetly and applies every day across all subjects.

  • Guided Reading
  • Phonics
  • Literacy Lessons
  • Home reading books
  • Cross Curricular (All subjects)

Guided reading

In Key Stage 2 children have access Reading Plus on a daily basis.  Children have a personalised programme and are able to select their own choice of text at the appropriate level.

Reading for Pleasure

Reading for pleasure is also an important part of our school as this gives children an opportunity to experience the joy of reading. The children also have opportunities to visit the school library and take books out. Children enjoy this as it gives them an opportunity to read stories to each other and discuss their favourite authors.

Library

Children visit the library regularly to choose books that they enjoy. There is a range of fantastic fiction and non-fiction books to choose from. We have been focusing on developing the children’s knowledge of authors and creating a reading environment for all children to enjoy.

Reading across the Curriculum

We enjoy using our reading skills in every lesson and teachers provide opportunities for children to do so in all subjects.  In every class there is a book corner filled with books to support curriculum topics and for children to enjoy.

If you would like to know more about reading at Holy Trinity CE primary School, feel free to contact us and we will be able to give you more information.

English Policy and Curriculum

Phonics

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