English
We aim to develop pupils’ skills within an integrated programme of speaking and listening, reading and writing, extended through all areas of the curriculum.
Each half term the class teacher choose a selection of high quality texts and themes and then deliver lessons based around these. The children are exposed to many different genres of writing and skills are developed in order to write independently at length. Alongside this, basic skills lessons are taught every Monday which focus on the key skills for writing - vocabulary, conjunctions, openers and punctuation. Children also regularily publish their work and are given opportunities for extended writing as part of our Big Write every two weeks.
Cross-Curricular Literacy Opportunities
The skills that children are taught in English underpin all other subjects. They enable pupils to communicate and express themselves in all areas of their work. Teachers will always make cross-curricular links wherever appropriate and will plan for pupils to apply the skills, knowledge and understanding that they have acquired during English lessons to other areas of the curriculum.
Reading
Whole class reading sessions take place for 30-40 minutes each day. Pupils read with the teacher and TA during these sessions to support their reading fluency and comprehension skills. Children who require additional support with reading will receive more regular opportunities to read with an adult.
As part of home reading, children should be selecting and reading a book appropriate to their level 3 times a week. We encourage parents/carers to hear their child read unless they are at a level where the pupils can assess their own reading. Feedback on home reading is made by parents/carers or pupils within the Home Reading Records. It is important that children are encouraged and supported with their reading and are choosing books that are age appropriate.
Drama and Role Play
At Belvedere Junior School we strongly believe that the more experiences children have the better writers they become. We therefore place a strong emphasis on bringing drama and role play into our lessons, allowing the children to recreate those fantasy worlds that they so often read about. Hotseating, teacher in role and freeze frames are just some examples of the types of activities your children will experience through our diverse English curriculum.
Spelling
Research shows that teaching spelling and phonics in a structured and systematic way is the most effective way of teaching children to read and write. Spelling is taught discretely three times a week following the Letters and Sounds programme. Intervention groups are set up for those children requiring additional support with their spelling and phonics learning.
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