English Curriculum Overview
Our English Intent is based upon our Curriculum Intent. This closely follows our vision and aims for our school – Pride – Respect – Success. As an Infant School, we believe it is our responsibility to develop the core literacy skills of all our pupils as they are the basis for all future learning and development. Using the Early Years Foundation Stage Strategy and National Curriculum as a basis, age appropriate progression for each core subject has been identified. This has been mapped out to ensure that coverage of identified knowledge is secured across EYFS and KS1. We carefully select the sequence of when, what and how knowledge is taught, revised and embedded and subject leaders review this regularly. Our curriculum is firmly based upon the development of key literacy as dictated by the needs of our children. As part of this, links between phonics, reading and writing are explored and developed on a daily basis.
Phonics Information
In Phonics, we follow Twinkl Phonics to deliver high quality Phonics lessons, it is a programme which has been validated by the DFE. Please see the Phonics Intent, Implementation and Impact below which outlines this further.
Each lesson follows a key process to ensure children are successful in their learning. The lesson begins with a revision session (to revise pervious learning) and then new learning is introduced. The children are then given opportunities to read and write words linked to the new learning and then read a sentence where this learning is applied. Throughout the day, they are then provided with opportunities in all areas to 'bump' into their learning. This includes opportunities in Guided Reading, Provision and Adult Led Activities.
Here are some useful resources you can use at home with your child. If you require anything else, please speak to your child's teacher and they will be able to support your further.
Sound Mats
Phonics Flashcards
Rhino Readers
As part of our Twinkl Phonics provision, your child will also receive a digital book each week. This will be a Rhino Reader book and this will directly link to the sounds they have learnt in the week. You will receive a sticker with an access code on it. If you are having issues accessing the book, please speak with your child's teacher - thank you.
Phonics Websites
Here are some websites you may wish to use at home with your child. Please be aware that some of the links may take you to Youtube which has some adverts on it. Some of the websites have free activities but they also have options for paid subscriptions if you would like.
Reading at Clarendon Infants School
We are passionate about creating a love for reading for all children and provide opportunities for children to develop this.
Each week, your child will receive a mini book (this links directly to the sounds they will have learnt in the week) and a reading for pleasure book. The mini book is a paper book which you can keep and use at home to support your child. Your child will also have the reading for pleasure book for the week (it will be returned to school and changed on a Friday). This is because rereading a text can allow your child to become familiar with new vocabulary, develop their fluency and support reading confidence. You should aim to read this book with your child regularly throughout the week.
In your child’s reading record, there will also be a sticker with the information about the sounds your child has learnt this week. There will be a code on the sticker so you can access a digital book at home linked to your child's learning. This is a fantastic resource called rhino readers and there is an information leaflet attached to explain how you access this. When you access this, it will also bring up videos which explain the sounds to help your child at home.
Love of Reading
At Clarendon Infants School, we believe in sharing a love of reading for all children. To inspire this, we use the Pie Corbett Reading Spine to develop children's exposure to different texts. Throughout the day, the children are given opportunities to explore, discuss and immerse themselves in different books. All children are given the opportunity to visit the library and see new books they might not have discovered before. Also, we hold regular reading days where the children can explore and share their new favourite books!
The children are encouraged to become passionate readers who have a life long love of reading. We believe every child is a reader and should be given opportunities to show this.
Reading Spine
At Clarendon Infants School and Clarendon Junior School, we have developed a ‘Reading Spine’ of core, high quality texts for each year group from EYFS to Year 6. It consists of wide range of books to inspire and enthuse children’s reading. We are incredibly passionate about providing children with high quality texts to help them become confident, lifelong readers. They are shared with all the children in different ways – they may be read to the children, used a stimulus for writing in English lessons or during Reading celebration days.
The books on the spine are a range of fiction, non-fiction and poetry to ensure children explore a breadth of text types and genres to help them find their favourite. This spine has been inspired by the 5 plagues of reading which ensures children are exposed to different text types such as: archaic language, non-linear narrative, symbolism, complexity of narrator and resistant texts. We have also included texts which are diverse, encourage oral storytelling and promote wellbeing.
Reading Area and Reading Trees
At Clarendon Infants school, each classroom has their own well stocked reading area. This is for children to explore and enjoy different books in a safe environment. The reading areas have been developed to inspire a love of reading and each area has a wide range of text rich books to help children find their new favourite book. We strongly believe that every child should have access to high quality texts to help their grow their love for reading and respect for books. In the recommended reads section, there are books children have enjoyed reading in the reading area and recommended to other children.
Every classroom has a reading tree which is used as a visual aid to track children's reading. Each child has their own named apple which is put on the tree once they have read fro the first 25 days. Once a child has read for 50 days, the apple moves further up the tree. This continues until a child reads for 250 days and reaches the special golden apple! They will then be congratulated by the head of school and earn their own golden apple! The children enjoy moving their apple around the tree and receiving a certificate for every 25 days they have read. In every reading record, there is a tracker so you can monitor how many days your child has read and where they are on the tree. We look forward to seeing lots of children read for 250 days and earn the golden apple!
KS1 Vipers Information
This is an information booklet linked to the KS1 Reading Skill Vipers. These are the types of questions which your child will be asked during their reading. We have provided it here for you to use at home as well. If you have any questions or queries about this, please email your class teacher - thank you!
Reading Websites
Here are some websites you may wish to use at home with your child. Please be aware that some of the links may take you to Youtube which has some adverts on it. Some of the websites have free activities but they also have options for paid subscriptions if you would like.
Writing
In our Writing, we currently use Talk For Writing. This is a scheme written by Pie Corbett to encourage every child to become a writer. It is based on the principles of how children learn. It enables children to imitate the language they need for a particular topic orally, before reading and analysing it, and then writing their own version. It provides children with model texts to explore before using the three principles of Talk for Writing (Immersion, Imitation and Innovation) to develop their own texts.
Handwriting
For our handwriting, we follow the Nelson Handwriting Scheme. Throughout the children's learning journey, they will be given opportunities to develop their fine motor skills and gross motor skills. In Early Years, all children are able to mark make and develop their letter formation with a range of resources. As they move into KS1, the children will explore letter formation further and begin to join their letters. They will also be taught horizontal joins, diagonal joins and break letters (these are letters which do not join).
Curriculum Documents
Useful Information
Below, there are resources and information for all areas of the English Curriculum. There are also links to the National Curriculum for KS1 in English and any related information.
National Curriculum in England: English Programmes of Study
