We aim to introduce a broad range of texts to students to develop key critical and communicative skills that contribute to their social and spiritual development, provide them with vital cultural capital to approach the world as young adults, and to inspire them to find their passions. In addition, we offer myriad opportunities for students to understand and become confident in presenting their ideas in a variety of ways. As a school, we recognise the importance of students being able to place texts within their historical and cultural context and to recognise their cultural value within an enriching and balanced curriculum. We recognise our vital role in developing our students’ vocabulary and ensure that they leave us with a sound knowledge of grammar and spelling as important tools for communication.
The importance of confident and fluent transciption skills underpins our approach to the teaching of writing. Handwriting is taught discretely from Reception all the way up to Year 6, beginning with accurate and consistent letter formation and working towards mastering a fluent, joined style that allows children to write their ideas with ease and confidence. Spelling is taught consistently in all year groups, building on the Phonic knowledge from Reception and Year 1/2 to identify spelling patterns, prefixes and suffixes, morphology and etymology. This enables children to select their words with ease when writing so that accurate spelling becomes natural and does not add to the congnitive load of writing. Dictation is also used to support with fluent, confident transcription.
From Early Years to Year 6, our English curriculum is organised to challenge all of our children and to ensure that learning is revisited and retained over time. Individual lessons cumulatively build towards children building their substantive and disciplinary knowledge to learn more, remember and apply learning, and develop competency and fluency across all disciplines within English (speaking and listening, reading and writing).
English is a core subject of the National Curriculum and a prerequisite for educational and social progress as it underpins the work undertaken in all other areas of the curriculum. The acquisition of language skills is of the utmost importance to us here at King Street and therefore the teaching of all aspects English is given a high priority within school. Confidence in basic language skills enables children to communicate creatively and imaginatively, preparing them for their future journey through education and beyond.