“Reading is like breathing in, and writing is like breathing out." (Pam Allyn)

Reading Intent: Develop a love of reading by interacting with and enjoying a variety of fiction, non-fiction and poetry. Provide children with the necessary skills to read fluently, confidently and with a secure understanding. Create engaged readers whose knowledge of carefully chosen texts enriches their understanding and appreciation of the world they live in. Develop a consistent approach to teaching reading across the school, ensuring that our children continue to secure excellent levels of attainment. Provide a range of opportunities to read for pleasure and engage in discussion about books.

“When I read great literature, great drama, speeches, or sermons, I feel that the human mind has not achieved anything greater than the ability to share feelings and thoughts through language.” (James Earl Jones)

Writing Intent: We believe English lies at the heart of all learning. We want all children to be able to confidently communicate their knowledge, ideas and emotions through their writing and reach their full potential. This starts with a systematic synthetic phonics programme which gives our children essential decoding and encoding skills. To ensure that our children are confident in the art of speaking and listening, we use discussion to communicate and further their learning in all areas of the curriculum. We want to create a culture where children take pride in their writing, can write clearly and accurately and are able to adapt their language and style for a range of contexts, purposes and audiences. We want our children to acquire a wide vocabulary, a solid understanding of grammar and be able to spell new words by effectively applying their knowledge of spelling patterns and rules. All good writers refine and edit their writing over time, so we encourage our children to identify their own areas for improvement at an age-appropriate level. Our broad and balanced curriculum, underpinned by inclusive practice, aims to provide our children with the skills they need for life and to participate fully as a member of society.