English Curriculum Overview
Reading and Phonics are given the highest priority in our curriculum, as the ability to read and understand opens up learning for all children in all areas. Time within school and at home, with the support of parents and grandparents, high quality texts, reading for pleasure and BugClub support this. We believe that the development of children's vocabulary is a vital tool in learning and understanding the full language.
English
We develop children’s abilities to listen, speak, read and write for a wide range of purposes. Children learn to use language to communicate ideas, views and feelings. This enables children to express themselves creatively and imaginatively both verbally and through the written word. We aim to share with children the joy of reading and to help them to become enthusiastic and critical readers of stories, poetry and drama, as well as non-fiction and media texts.
Reading
Children are given daily opportunities to develop their reading skills.
Visit our Reading at MIS page for more information.
Phonics
We have a whole page dedicated to the teaching and learning of phonics in our school.
Visit our Phonics at MIS page for more information.
Writing
Children are encouraged to write throughout school in many ways: through word and sentence level activities, independently, modelled, shared and paired. Children apply the English skills they have been taught in all areas of the curriculum. Children are taught how to plan, revise and evaluate their writing. Children notice that writing requires an awareness of audience, purpose and context. Technology is used to engage pupils and give a purpose to their writing. There are writing opportunities in all areas of learning.
Handwriting
In the Foundation Stage children develop many pre-writing skills. Correct letter formation is taught in a variety of enjoyable ways using a variety of materials. Children are taught how to hold their pencil and how to sit correctly. Children learn to regulate the size of letters which leads to neatly presented work. Children work very hard to use the correct shape in their writing, using clear ascenders and descenders. When children are ready they are taught the cursive style and how to join letters which leads to fluent, legible and speedy writing.
Spoken language
We know that spoken language skills are crucial and every opportunity is taken to develop good speech and language skills throughout school to enable our children to be confident, creative and successful communicators. We place a strong emphasis on broadening the children’s vocabulary. All year groups encourage finding and displaying ‘Words that we don’t know…yet!’ and the meaning of new words linked to reading and termly topics.