Our approach to English (including Phonics)
ENGLISH
All areas of the curriculum involve both teachers and pupils in using English. It is the most important means by which we communicate with others. Therefore it is our aim to ensure that we enable all of our pupils to develop the use and understanding of Standard English to their full potential in all aspects of speaking, listening, reading and writing, including spelling and handwriting.
Phonics (EYFS and Key Stage 1)
At our school, Phonics is taught daily throughout Foundation and Key Stage 1. We use a structured approach to systematic synthetic phonics, following 'Little Wandle Letters and Sounds'.
Our approach to phonics uses an integrated synthetic phonics programme to teach both reading and writing. Progress is assessed every half term and children are grouped accordingly.
Details of the results of the Year 1 Phonics Screening Check can be found on the 'School Performance' tab.
Key Stage 2
Through a variety of text based units, children are taught the fundamental skills of reading, writing and speaking and listening. Units are based on both fiction and non-fiction writing and high quality children's literature is used as a context for a whole unit.
Reading
At Myland, we believe that Reading is the single most important transferable skill that we can equip our pupils with. Consequently, reading has both high priority and a high profile at our school.
Reading takes place throughout the school day and learning outcomes linked to reading are taught in English lessons, as well as in other areas of the curriculum, where appropriate. During this time children are taught through the use of whole novels, where teachers and TAs model the reading process. Higher order reading skills, such as inference and deduction are taught, as well as grammatical and punctuation conventions. Poetry and play reading are taught with an awareness of final performance. Analysis and comprehension activities involving “real” texts are used to develop skills in these areas.
Children also take part in 'Mini Missions' in Reading sessions, where the development of specific reading skills is the main focus.
At Myland, children are read to by an adult every day and encouraging reading for pleasure is central to the high value we place on books.
Writing
A major focus at Myland Primary is on grammatically accurate and fluent writing. Teachers model the writing and planning process through writing sessions in English, where ideas are collected and developed. Children work in groups, pairs or individually to write narrative and non-narrative texts based on a range of appropriate genres. Grammar and punctuation are contextually taught in English lessons.
Objectives taught in English sessions are also used to develop writing across the curriculum and we use a well developed and researched approach which encourages oracy alongside writing development. This is called 'Talk4Writing'.