English
Overview
English Overview
Intent, Implementation and Impact
English Intent, Implementation and Impact
Intent
At Summerfield Primary School we believe that a quality English curriculum should develop children’s love of reading, writing and discussion. One of our priorities is helping children read and develop their all-important comprehension skills. We recognise the importance of nurturing a culture where children take pride in their writing, can write clearly and accurately and adapt their language and style for a range of contexts. We want to inspire children to be confident in the art of speaking and listening and who can use discussion to communicate and further their learning. We believe that children need to develop a secure knowledge-base in English, which follows a clear pathway of progression as they advance through the primary curriculum. We believe that a secure basis in literacy skills is crucial to a high quality education and will give our children the tools they need to participate fully as a member of society.
Implementation
The aims outlined in our English curriculum are embedded across both English lessons and the wider curriculum. Summerfield School delivers a rigorous and well-structured English curriculum and framework, centred around our book spine, which provides numerous purposeful opportunities for reading, writing, and discussion. We utilise a wide range of high-quality texts to motivate and inspire our pupils, ensuring that cross-curricular links with concurrent topic work are integrated into the programme of study.
The national curriculum for English seeks to ensure that all pupils:
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Read easily, fluently, and with good understanding.
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Develop the habit of reading widely and often, for both pleasure and information.
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Acquire a broad vocabulary, an understanding of grammar, and knowledge of linguistic conventions for reading, writing, and spoken language.
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Appreciate a rich and varied literary heritage.
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Write clearly, accurately, and coherently, adapting their language and style for a range of contexts, purposes, and audiences.
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Use discussion to enhance learning, being able to elaborate on and explain their understanding and ideas.
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Demonstrate competence in speaking and listening, including formal presentations and participation in debate.
At Summerfield School, we implement Little Wandle for phonics and Century Tech in Key Stage 2 to further develop pupils’ comprehension and inference skills.
By following our book spine, pupils are exposed to a variety of genres. Through the study of textual features and language, children become increasingly confident writers. By upper Key Stage 2, pupils are familiar with most genres, allowing teaching to focus on creativity, writer’s craft, sustained writing, and the manipulation of grammar and punctuation. Pupils requiring additional support are identified promptly, and interventions are delivered efficiently, including reading groups to ensure every child has the opportunity to read with an adult. English lessons are carefully differentiated to meet the needs of individual pupils, supporting them to maximise their potential while fostering independence through the development of confidence, tools, and strategies.
We also engage parents through workshops: phonics sessions for Reception and Year One, reading and SATs for Year Two, and SATs meetings for Year Six. These sessions are consistently well attended, with parents frequently commenting on their usefulness in understanding age-related expectations.
Marking in English and across the curriculum is rigorous. Feedback is provided through symbols, and verbal feedback is given in real time to address misconceptions. Pupils are allocated time daily to correct their work or complete gap tasks, either within the lesson or at the start of the following lesson. English books are monitored regularly, and learning walks and observations ensure that each pupil makes sufficient progress.
At Summerfield, we celebrate the success of all learners and strive to help every child achieve their goals. Reading is promoted both within classrooms and throughout the school, with bright and engaging displays showcasing pupils’ writing and favourite books. The English curriculum is further enriched through events such as World Book Day, author visits, writing competitions, parent workshops, and a range of trips and visits, providing memorable experiences that complement and enhance learning.
Reading - Phonics scheme
At Summerfield we use Little Wandle for our phonics scheme. It supports pupils to enjoy success in early reading with memorable mantras, joyful characters and clear expectations. The phonics programme is sequenced and planned and pupils' reading books are closely matched to the sounds they know. This helps them to practise and improve blending sounds together to decode new words. All staff are well trained in the phonics programme and have strong subject knowledge.
For more information and to view our phonics scheme visit the link below.
