English
Intent
At the Newark Hill Academy, CHILD is at the heart of our enquiry based curriculum.
We challenge our pupils to recognise and achieve their full learning potential. We strive to provide a well-rounded learning experience when reading, writing, speaking, and listening which will equip children with the fundamental tools to achieve in school and beyond.
We ensure happiness and health at the academy by promoting positive learning experiences in English so they are able to feel safe to experiment in speaking, listening, reading and writing.
Our children will be inspired during English by giving our children the opportunity to develop their experience and knowledge of the world through immersing pupils in the wonders of high quality texts and resources to instil a love for reading and writing and a passion for discovery that stimulates thought and imagination in different genres that develop crucial life-skills.
We equip our pupils with lifelong learning by ensuring they are equipped to their highest potential of literacy skills through a challenging English curriculum.
In English we celebrate diversity as we recognise we are all different and all welcome. We understand that everyone learns in different ways and recognising the need to develop pedagogies accordingly. We strive to provide a well-rounded learning experience when reading, writing, speaking, and listening.
Implementation
Our English lessons develop pupils’ spoken language, reading, writing and grammar and vocabulary. English is taught in a cross-curricular way, linking up with other areas of the curriculum. We teach our pupils to speak clearly, to convey their ideas fluently and confidently and to ask questions. Their vocabulary is developed systematically. Our pupils are encouraged to read for pleasure and to read widely.
Reading
Our Reading lessons take place on a daily basis using research to inform the most effective approached for us to teach reading. Strategies we use are: vocabulary exploration; paired reading; repeated reading; independent reading to name a few.
Teaching phonics effectively is key during the early stages of reading. We use Read, Write, Inc resources to teach pupils to recognise graphemes to decode and blend words with confidence through the early stages of reading.
Pupils read widely across the curriculum and it is not uncommon for pupils to read in other subject areas.
Independent Reading
Our Early Reading Library is used for pupils who are at the start of their reading journey. Once pupils can read confidently, pupils select independent reading books to read at school and home from our Enchanted Forest Library and use accelerated reader to track books read and check comprehension through quizzes.
Book corners are in each classroom to encourage pupils to pick up a book for enjoyment.
Other opportunities
We celebrate our Reading Millionaires in our Reward Assemblies: these are pupils who have read at least 1 million words.
To promote the importance of reading we host a range of events to celebrate World Book Day; have visiting authors and take part in sponsored read events.
To delete reading
Reading is a priority as it is vital for all children to access the curriculum. Frequent reading is a high priority and this happens across all subjects as well as English lessons. Parents are given clear expectations about reading at home.There is a consistent approach to reading across school and teaching across the week is both rigorous and sequential: we use the Read, Write, Inc materials to develop early reading strategies moving to whole class guided reading lessons following research strategies from the Education Endowment Foundation. Lessons give children opportunities to build fluency by reading alone, to an adult, peer or to the class. Pupils enjoy reading and understand the importance of reading and this is shown through the Pupil Voice survey. Reading book are closely matched to the child’s ability: for early readers books match the phonics knowledge pupils are taught. Regular assessments in reading identifies strengths and gaps: learning is adapted quickly and effectively to address these.
Using the Read, Write, Inc materials to develop early reading strategies, there is a sharp focus on pupils gaining phonics knowledge and language comprehension necessary to read. This is evident through teachers’ daily assessments and summative assessments through the phonics tracker. Through assessment, we swiftly identify pupils who are falling behind with language development then deliver the research-based Nuffield Early Language Intervention to develop effective communication. Children who have not passed the KS1 Phonics Screening continue the the phonics programme in Year 3 if required.
English
We develop writing skills so that our pupils have the stamina and ability to write at the age expected standard. To support children in moving towards independent writing we provide a wide range of activities including use of film and imagery, modelled, shared and guided writing, peer editing and discussion. We use talk for writing to encourage pupils to express their ideas, exchange ideas and to develop more sophisticated vocabulary. We provide opportunities for writing for purpose and we encourage pupils to see themselves as authors. We promote the status of written work by providing opportunities for children’s writing to be published and read by real audiences.
We have a Writing Champions board to celebrate the high standard of writing across the academy.
Handwriting sessions are incorporated into the English lessons. A range of extra activities are used to promote literacy within the school including an annual focus week, World Book Day and author visits.
National Curriculum English Programmes of Study:
Our English Lead is Miss Griffin
Drama
Drama is used as a key tool in developing oral skills, vocabulary development, building confidence and self- esteem, and as an essential tool in developing imaginative, expressive, and persuasive spoken and written language. ‘Hot seating’, and ‘response in role’ drama techniques are used in literacy lessons aid the development of speaking and listening, reading and writing skills. Imaginative role play is fundamental to developing the whole child, not just in Early Years and KS1 education, but also as they children develop, and our curriculum provides opportunities to perform to wider audiences through assemblies and events around key festivals. There are increasing opportunities for our pupils to perform as they progress through the school.
Tips for Writing
At the Newark Hill Academy, we use catchy sentence types to help children vary their sentence structures in writing. This runs alongside our grammar teaching so the parts are clearly understood. Here are the sentence types we refer to in order of complexity. Click on the name to watch a video to explain how to build each one.
Noun Phrase
Simile
De:de