At St Andrew’s, we believe all children should feel confident to express their ideas through the written and spoken word. We have an engaging curriculum where all children are engaged in writing activities. By focusing on the key areas from the National Curriculum (speaking and listening; writing; spelling, punctuation and grammar), we believe other aspects of learning will be unlocked for children and allow them to achieve their absolute best. Above all else, we want children to enjoy taking part in written and spoken activities and give them the confidence to complete tasks independently.
At St Andrew’s School, English is taught daily from Reception to Year 6. Within these lessons children explore high quality texts in detail, taking part in class discussions to deepen their understanding. Children will be exposed to a range of genres and authors in order to have a broad experience of texts.
Throughout their school career, children have many opportunities to express their ideas in class discussions across the curriculum. Children are also given the opportunity to speak in front of an audience during school performances and church services throughout the year.
From an early age, children are encouraged to proof read their work carefully to check for errors. By the time children get to Key Stage 2, they will plan, draft and edit independently, enabling them to fully take part in the writing process. We believe it is essential that they consolidate these skills so children are given the opportunity to write extended pieces in subjects across the curriculum. This may involve writing a set of instructions for a science experiment or writing a diary entry as Florence Nightingale.
As children move through the school they are exposed to higher level punctuation and grammar in line with the expectations in the National Curriculum. Within planning, teachers ensure there are some discrete grammar lessons where the children learn how different elements of grammar and punctuation are used in writing. Throughout the year, children are given the opportunity to apply and use these features independently.
