English
"Reading and writing float on a sea of talk."
– James Britton
We believe that language is the foundation of learning. Our English curriculum is designed to nurture confident communicators, thoughtful readers, and expressive writers. From the earliest stages in EYFS through to the end of Key Stage 1, we focus on building strong foundations in writing, supported by high-quality texts and rich opportunities for oracy.
We follow the principles of the new Writing Framework and the Strong Foundations in the Early Years of School guidance, ensuring that every child develops the essential skills needed to become a successful writer. Our approach is rooted in the belief that writing is a complex process that grows from meaningful experiences with language, story, and talk.
Our Approach
We provide a language-rich environment where children are immersed in storytelling, poetry, and non-fiction texts. Through daily opportunities for speaking and listening, children develop the vocabulary, sentence structure, and confidence needed to express themselves clearly and creatively.
Writing is taught through a carefully sequenced approach that builds stamina, fluency, and independence. Children learn to write for a range of purposes and audiences, drawing inspiration from the texts they read and the conversations they have.
We prioritise:
- Oracy as the foundation for writing development
- Foundational skills and key writing indicators
- High-quality texts that inspire and model language
- Explicit teaching of transcription and composition
- Opportunities for purposeful writing across the curriculum
Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)
In EYFS, children begin their journey as writers through mark-making, storytelling, and shared writing experiences. We focus on developing fine motor skills, phonics knowledge, and oral language, laying the groundwork for confident writing.
Children are encouraged to express their ideas through drawing, talk, and early writing, supported by adult modelling and rich vocabulary. Our provision ensures that every child has the opportunity to build the physical, cognitive, and linguistic skills needed for writing.
Key Stage 1
In KS1, children build on their early experiences to become independent writers. We teach writing through a structured approach that includes modelled, shared, guided, and independent writing. Children learn to plan, draft, revise, and edit their work, developing a sense of ownership and pride in their writing.
Our curriculum is informed by the new Writing Framework, which emphasises the importance of transcriptional fluency, sentence construction, and purposeful composition. We ensure that children write daily, across a range of genres, and for real audiences.
