ENGLISH
Reading
At Shaw Cross, being an infant and nursery school, we are committed to instilling an enjoyment and enthusiasm for books, with a view to children developing a life-long love of reading. We recognise the role we have in laying the foundations for children learning to read, so that children can independently use reading in their everyday lives as a tool for deepening their knowledge across the curriculum and beyond.
We place a strong emphasis on teaching children how to read words through learning how to link letters and sounds, recognising common irregular words and using syntax and context. Alongside this we encourage children to interact with books and interpret meaning whenever we read to or with them. Learning takes place through whole class, small group and 1:1 activities.
We have a number of intervention programmes throughout school aimed at accelerating progress in reading. Through carefully planned use of teaching staff and volunteers we target pupils across a range of abilities in order to provide a high level of support and challenge for all of our children.
We have a huge range of reading materials to motivate and inspire children to develop a life-long love of reading. We have worked hard to provide resources to match the existing interests of our children, but also in providing high quality texts for a range of given purposes. We are continuously enhancing our provision, including the use of ICT resources such as CD Roms and internet sources, which children can access both within school and at home.
Phonics skills are taught discretely throughout school. Within literacy session children are provided with many opportunities to apply what they have learned in order to blend for reading and segment for spelling. As children progress through school the emphasis shifts toward SPaG (spelling, grammar and punctuation) both as discrete teaching and integrated within literacy sessions. By focussing of the structure of language within sentences we are able to empower our children with the tools for enhancing their own reading and writing.
We acknowledge the huge importance of the role of families in supporting children’s reading development either by listening to children read or reading with/to them and are able to provide books and web based resources for use at home. This is actively encouraged through our ‘reading ladder’ reward scheme where pupils receive rewards and privileges for their efforts.
We ensure all children have access to the content of the EYFS curriculum and the National Curriculum for reading.
Click here for the EYFS curriculum.
Click here for the Year 1 curriculum.
Click here for the Year 2 curriculum.
Writing
At Shaw Cross, writing is an integral part of all the curriculum. Children are involved in writing for many purposes and for different audiences. Writing includes many different elements – handwriting, spelling and planning and shaping texts and for this reason is a complex combination of many skills.
Physical development is at the forefront of good handwriting. In the early years we have worked hard to provide many opportunities to develop strong gross and fine motor skills. Resources have been carefully chosen specifically to strengthening core muscles, along with shoulder, arm and hand strength, including the use of a pincer grip. As children move through school they have access to discrete handwriting lessons where they are taught the formation and position of letters, along with the introduction of joined handwriting through the schools adopted ‘Penpals’ scheme.
The ability to use and apply phonics to link letters and sounds, and to recognise and use common irregular words is embedded in teaching and learning throughout school. Initially this stems from our focus on good speaking, on sound talk, and is also supported by the extensive blending work that is undertaken within phonics. Children work on spelling patterns and rules within discrete phonics lessons, but also have the opportunity to apply this across the curriculum in all areas of learning. Children are encouraged to make phonically plausible attempts at spelling, but also to work on spelling irregular common words through strategies such as look, cover, write, check. As children move though school there is an increasing emphasis on SPaG (spelling, grammar and punctuation). By focussing of the structure of language and punctuation within sentences we are able to empower our children with the tools for enhancing their own writing.
The ability to use “book” language is essential if children are to develop into successful writers. To develop compositional skills we place a heavy emphasis on Talk for Writing where children have lots of opportunities to explore language, rehearse their writing orally and draw storyboards to help sequence and develop ideas. This is supported by the high quality reading materials that we provide within school which inspire and motivate our children to become writers across a range of genre, such as stories, instructions, poetry, newspaper reports, persuasive adverts, and non-fiction texts. We are continuously enhancing our provision, including the use of ICT facilities to immersing children in scenarios that go beyond that of their own experiences, e.g. space, the Fire of London.
We ensure all children have access to the content of the EYFS curriculum and the National Curriculum for writing.
Click here for the EYFS curriculum.
Speaking and Listening
At Shaw Cross we have a strong emphasis on developing speaking and listening as this is the foundation to good reading and writing.
From the onset we encourage children to enhance their vocabulary through the provision of a language rich environment. We develop language initially within contexts that are familiar to children, but also extending to new experiences. Children are provided with the opportunities to tell stories, engage in role play and discussions, and present viewpoints and opinions.
Children are taught how they can develop good listening skills and are provided with many opportunities to demonstrate this within their learning. As a good listener, there is an expectation that they will be focussed and attentive, and respond appropriately to what they have heard.
We ensure all children have access to the content of the EYFS curriculum and the National Curriculum for speaking and listening.