In English we use the programmes of study for key stages 1 and 2 for the National Curriculum in England. For a complete overview please click HERE to open a new window with the whole document from the Department for Education.
Where relevant we teach English through the IPC units.
Children will be given the opportunity to develop to the full, their abilities in:
- Spoken language
- Reading – Word reading
- Reading – Comprehension
- Writing – Transcription
- Writing – Composition
- Writing – Vocabulary, grammar and punctuation
- Handwriting and presentation
- Spelling
English is taught every day from Year 1 to Year 6 at Beck Row Primary Academy.
Our English work is built around quality texts, which where possible are linked to our half termly topic themes. Using these books we encourage writing across a range of genres and for different purposes.
Please click the link below to see our comprehensive literacy curriculum strategy which includes a comprehensive list of texts used:
Beck Row Literacy Curriculum Strategy
In addition to this, we also have a daily Guided Reading session, which enables us to use books to develop understanding including inferential and deductive questioning to deepen their understanding of a text. Where possible the books chosen for our guided reading are linked to the half termly topics. In addition to the in school Guided Reading sessions, children throughout the school are encouraged to borrow ‘home readers’ which they can read with parents. At first children will use the Phonics Bug books, which are linked to the phonics teaching happening in school. Once they are beyond phase 3 however, children use a mixture of Phonics Bug and Oxford Reading Tree books.
In Key Stage 1 and Early Years we also have a 20 minute phonics session. Our phonics is based on letters and sounds and uses the LCP phonics scheme.
Children start direct teaching of sounds when they join their Reception class. Children are sent home the phonemes (the sound a letter makes) along with words to blend (say the sounds then the word) that uses those phonemes. Children are expected to be reading simple sentences by the end of Reception. A parents role in reading for 5 minutes four times a week at home is crucial for children to reach this level. Phases 2 and 3 are taught in Reception then Phases 4 and 5 are taught in Year One. At the end of Year One the children take a Phonics Screen test that has both real and alien words. Booklets are sent home to help your child to practice new phonemes and words ready for reading books and to complete the test. It is important that these booklets and your child’s reading book are practiced at home. Any child who does not pass the Screen will continue with phonics into Year 2. If you have any questions about phonics then please come and ask your child’s class teacher.