English

English Lead: Miss Ryan

Phonics Lead: Mrs Brown

In Reception and during Autumn Term in Year 1we follow the Ruth Miskin Read Write Inc Phonics Programme.  

From Year 1 Spring Term we follow the Wordsmith scheme of learning. Wordsmith is a whole-school approach to teaching English that incorprorates the National Curriculum.  

Wordsmith is designed to excite, with reading for pleasure at its core and grammar lessons woven in throughout. The programme was built on research into how children learn best, by educationalist and expert on grammar for writing, Debra Myhill. This research forms the basis for the four principles on which Wordsmith is founded:  

Varied, whole texts 

Wordsmith’s unique use of diverse whole texts enables children to become fully immersed and engaged in a range of great books. Carefully chosen books help to develop children’s reading skills and their knowledge of the world around them, and to build up a store of reading experience on which they can draw later in life. These books both help children to learn how the experts write and act as models for their own writing.  

 

Purpose and audience. 

Writing takes on meaning, and a sense of excitement, when it is composed for a real purpose and a defined audience. Each of the Wordsmith Live units has a performance or publication outcome because knowing who will read a piece of work or watch a performance, and why they will do so, raises motivation and can have a direct impact on raising standards. 

 

Talk for writing. 

Oral rehearsal helps children to develop a sense of what a sentence is and, later, to hear how more complex sentences sound. It also helps them to hear the difference between the way we talk and the way we write. Discussion is where deep learning takes place. Wordsmith provides children with opportunities for oral rehearsal and talking, assisting with evaluation and reflection.  

 

Contextualised grammar. 

To become great writers, children need to understand how great writing is put together. Exploring the grammar choices of authors, how grammar is used in real texts and the terminology to discuss it provides children with a toolkit to use language confidently and effectively in their own writing. 

Long Term Map

Please click on the links below to learn more:

 Hassell Primary School English statement of Intent.

 

Glossary of terminology used in English lessons.pdf

Vocabulary grammar and punctuation information booklet years 1 to 6.pdf