English
“You can find magic wherever you look. Sit back and relax, all you need is a book."
Dr Seuss
English is at the heart of our curriculum and is integral to every child’s learning journey. Through reading, writing, and discussion, our children learn to express their ideas, thoughts, and feelings, enabling meaningful interactions with others. Proficiency in literacy is crucial for positive societal participation and for children to flourish in their academic potential.
Reading
When children learn to read, they unlock the ability to acquire knowledge and access a world of exploration and imagination. At Michael Faraday, we believe that fostering a lifelong love of reading is essential for every child’s development. Through reading, children can deepen their knowledge on subjects, follow their interests and embark on limitless adventures. We believe that books should serve as both mirrors and windows. As mirrors, books allow children to see themselves and relate to the text, fostering a sense of belonging. As windows, books reflect the rich diversity of our society, helping children learn about the lives and experiences of others. We also have a well-stocked school library as well as classroom book areas where children are encouraged to read for pleasure. Our reading environment provides opportunities for children to explore a wide range of books that cater to their interests and reading levels.
Our reading approach:
- In Key Stage 2, we use a whole class reading approach to maximise the benefits of high-quality texts, expand children's vocabulary and deepen their understanding of the literature they read. The leaders carefully select novels that are diverse and represent a range of high-quality authors, ensuring the children are exposed to a broad spectrum of perspectives and literary excellence.
- In EYFS and Key Stage 1, we use Little Wandle Letters and Sounds approach to teaching reading. This systematic synthetic phonics program is designed to ensure every child becomes a confident and fluent reader. Through engaging and structured lessons, we provide a solid foundation in phonics that supports early reading success.
Writing
Writing is essential for children to express their ideas and develop their thinking processes. We aim for children to understand that all writing serves as a means of communication and to write with an audience in mind. At Michael Faraday, we have implemented the Talk for Writing approach to teach writing across the school.
The philosophy of Talk for Writing is rooted in the belief that children learn best by imitating and internalising the language structures of high-quality texts before innovating and inventing their own. This approach is implemented through three key phases of imitation, innovation and invention.
By following these phases, children gain a deep understanding of the structure and elements of written language, ultimately enhancing their writing skills and fostering a love for writing.
Speaking and listening
Language skills are crucial for improving life chances and social mobility, making speaking and listening a central focus in all we do. By fostering clear self-expression, we aim to equip children with essential communication skills. Language proficiency is also vital for behaviour and well-being, with research indicating that two-thirds of young offenders have significant, previously unidentified speech, language, and communication difficulties.
In our school, we provide children with meaningful opportunities for purposeful talk across the curriculum, ensuring they develop the skills needed to express themselves confidently and effectively.
Phonics
We introduce phonics teaching, starting in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), following the 'Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised' programme. This structured approach guides our teaching of phonics, enabling children to develop essential reading and spelling skills.
The programme outlines the systematic order in which sounds and tricky words are introduced throughout Early Years and Year 1. For detailed information on the order of sounds and tricky words taught, please click on the link below.
Parents: Click on the link below for guidance about how to support your child with saying their sounds and writing letters.
See below the National Curriculum objectives for each year group.
Reception
In Reception, our English curriculum focuses on developing foundational skills through engaging and interactive activities. The key objectives include:
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Listening and Attention: Children will listen attentively to stories, instructions, and conversations, demonstrating an understanding of the spoken word.
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Understanding: Pupils will respond to questions about stories and events, showing comprehension of the main ideas and details.
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Speaking: Children will express themselves clearly using a range of vocabulary. They will engage in discussions, share ideas, and communicate their thoughts effectively.
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Reading: Pupils will explore a variety of books and texts, learning to recognise familiar words and phrases. They will develop an understanding of print concepts, including the direction of text and the role of illustrations.
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Writing: Children will begin to form letters and write their names, progressing to writing simple words and sentences. They will express their ideas through drawings and mark-making.
Year 1
In Year 1, our English curriculum focuses on the following key objectives to develop your child's reading, writing, and communication skills:
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Reading: Children will learn to read and understand a range of texts, including simple stories and non-fiction. They will develop skills in recognising common words and understanding basic sentence structures.
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Writing: Pupils will practise writing simple sentences using correct punctuation and spelling. They will learn to express their ideas clearly and begin to use adjectives and conjunctions to enhance their writing.
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Speaking and Listening: Children will participate in discussions, listen attentively to others, and share their ideas confidently. They will learn to ask questions and respond appropriately to their peers.
Year 2
In Year 2, our English curriculum aims to enhance your child's reading, writing, and communication skills through the following key objectives:
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Reading: Children will progress to reading more complex texts, including stories and informative materials. They will develop the ability to decode unfamiliar words and comprehend the meaning of texts.
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Writing: Pupils will learn to write sentences with greater complexity, using correct punctuation, spelling, and a variety of vocabulary. They will focus on organising their writing into clear paragraphs and using conjunctions to connect ideas.
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Speaking and Listening: Children will engage in discussions, listen to others with respect, and articulate their thoughts clearly. They will practise asking relevant questions and responding thoughtfully to their peers.
Year 3
In Year 3, our English curriculum focuses on developing your child's reading, writing, and speaking skills through the following key objectives:
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Reading: Children will advance their reading abilities by exploring a wider range of texts, including fiction, non-fiction, and poetry. They will enhance their comprehension skills, allowing them to summarise key ideas and infer meanings from context.
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Writing: Pupils will refine their writing skills by composing longer and more complex sentences. They will learn to use paragraphs effectively, incorporate descriptive language, and apply correct punctuation and spelling consistently.
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Speaking and Listening: Children will participate in group discussions, demonstrating active listening and respect for others' viewpoints. They will practice articulating their ideas clearly and confidently, as well as responding to questions with thoughtfulness.
Year 4
In Year 4, our English curriculum aims to further enhance your child's reading, writing, and speaking skills through the following key objectives:
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Reading: Children will deepen their understanding of various texts, including narratives, information texts, and poetry. They will focus on summarising main ideas, making inferences, and identifying the author's intent and viewpoint.
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Writing: Pupils will develop their writing by using a range of sentence structures and vocabulary to convey their thoughts clearly. They will learn to organise their writing into coherent paragraphs and apply correct grammar, punctuation, and spelling rules.
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Speaking and Listening: Children will engage in discussions and presentations, sharing their ideas confidently and respectfully. They will practise listening to others, responding thoughtfully, and asking questions to deepen their understanding of topics.
Year 5
In Year 5, our English curriculum focuses on advancing your child's reading, writing, and speaking abilities through the following key objectives:
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Reading: Children will explore a variety of texts, including fiction, non-fiction, and poetry, enhancing their comprehension skills. They will learn to summarise key points, analyse characters and settings, and evaluate the author's use of language and structure.
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Writing: Pupils will refine their writing skills by experimenting with different genres and styles. They will practise using advanced vocabulary, varied sentence structures, and appropriate punctuation. Emphasis will be placed on planning, drafting, and editing their work to produce clear and engaging texts.
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Speaking and Listening: Children will participate in discussions, debates, and presentations, expressing their ideas clearly and confidently. They will develop active listening skills, respond to others constructively, and ask relevant questions to enhance their understanding.
Year 6
In Year 6, our English curriculum aims to prepare your child for secondary education by focusing on the following key objectives:
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Reading: Pupils will engage with a wide range of texts, including classic and contemporary literature, non-fiction, and poetry. They will enhance their comprehension skills, focusing on summarising main ideas, making inferences, and analysing the author's use of language and literary devices.
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Writing: Children will develop their writing skills across various genres, including narratives, reports, and persuasive texts. They will learn to use advanced vocabulary, complex sentence structures, and a variety of punctuation. Emphasis will be placed on planning, drafting, revising, and presenting polished pieces of writing.
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Speaking and Listening: Pupils will participate in discussions, presentations, and group work, enhancing their ability to express ideas clearly and engage with others. They will develop skills in listening attentively, responding thoughtfully, and asking questions to deepen understanding.