English
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Our Rakegate Vision for English
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As a school, we recognise that sound Literacy skills are essential for progress across all areas of the curriculum and to enable students to achieve their potential.
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The impact of our English curriculum aims to ensure that pupils will leave Rakegate Primary school in year 6:
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reading and writing with confidence, fluency and understanding, using a range of independent strategies to take responsibility for their own learning including self-monitoring and correcting their own errors;
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with a love of reading and a desire to read for both enjoyment and information;
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with an interest in words and their meanings; developing a growing vocabulary in relation to grammatical terminology;
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understanding a range of text types, media types and genres;
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able to write in a variety of styles and forms appropriate to the situation;
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using their developing creativity, imagination, inventiveness and critical awareness;
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having a suitable technical vocabulary to respectfully articulate their responses in any discussion.
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At Rakegate Primary school we believe that:
‘All children can reach their full potential by equipping them with the skills and knowledge required for a rapidly changing world.’
We recognise the importance of English, as a subject in its own right, and as the most cohesive area of learning. Gaining and using skills in language not only affects our children’s progress in school, but will have a profound influence upon the course of his or her later life. We aim to offer high quality teaching and learning experiences where children can “work together to achieve their best” and reach high standards in the core subject area of English and in their use of literacy across the curriculum.
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Our Rakegate English Curriculum
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The overarching intent of English in the National Curriculum is to promote high standards of Literacy, equipping pupils with a strong command of the written and spoken word and developing their love of literature through widespread reading for enjoyment.
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All teachers at Rakegate have a responsibility to develop pupils’ competence in reading, writing and speaking and listening to ensure that pupils become competent users of language and can achieve their potential.
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The development of literacy skills and knowledge will be implemented according to the following guidelines;
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Pupils will receive daily English lessons following National Curriculum guidelines.
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Staff will follow whole school policies on English and marking.
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Pupils highlighted as not making sufficient progress will be highlighted and receive appropriate intervention support as highlighted within school provision map.
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Opportunities will be given across a broad and balanced curriculum to allow for opportunities to consolidate and reinforce taught literacy skills in all curriculum areas.
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We use a variety of contexts for learning as appropriate;
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Whole-class/group shared and guided writing
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Whole-class/group reading skills lessons
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Phonics lessons
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Targeted intervention for children within sets and class-based groups.
Teaching approaches, whilst being referenced to the National Curriculum, are developed by individuals to suit their own classes’ needs and abilities. The following generic strategies are seen as particularly effective;
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Sharing lesson objectives, success criteria, targets and outcomes with children during lessons.
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Demonstrating and modelling
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Explanation
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Questioning
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Discussion – (Talk partners, group activities)
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Taking roles, including “teacher in role”
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Encouraging review through read and respond and self-assessment and peer marking.
At Rakegate, our aim is to ensure that learners are most engaged in their English lessons with activities that are:
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Interactive and interesting
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Appropriate and differentiated according to ability/age related expectations
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Planned with purpose and audience in mind
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Varied and tightly timed and include opportunities for thinking and discussing.
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Planned and developed over a number of sessions, so that the issue/text is explored well and built upon progressively.
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Based around a whole ‘good quality’ text as well as model extracts.
Talk for Writing
At Rakegate, we develop our reading, writing, grammar and punctuation skills through a 'Talk for Writing' approach in English lessons. Children are exposed to a range of good quality texts throughout each year group, which are included in our school reading spine, and help to support their development as both readers and writers.
Please take a look at the information provided below for further information.
RWI
To support early development of reading, children in Early years and Key Stage 1 take part in the RWI programme. The Government strongly recommend the use of synthetic phonics when teaching early literacy skills to children.
Here at the Rakegate, we use the structured and systematic approach of the Read Write Inc (RWI) programme to get children off to a flying start with their English. RWI is a method of learning based upon letter sounds and phonics, and we use it to aid children in their reading and writing. The children are assessed regularly and grouped according to their ability.
Please read the parents' information booklet for further details.
Reading
We recognise the importance of reading for enjoyment and understand the need for children to read a variety of texts regularly - both at home and school. Listening to your child read regularly and questioning them about their understanding of the text can be instrumental in their progression.
Below are some documents to support you with their reading.
