English

At Grafton Primary School, we believe that English is far more than a subject. It is the thread that weaves through every aspect of school life:  it gives children the confidence to think, to communicate, to create and to connect with the world around them.  It empowers them to understand the world and to make themselves understood.

Language is one of humanity's greatest creative tools. As children learn to read, write, speak and listen, they discover not only how language works, but how it can be used to imagine, persuade, question, explain and inspire. Every child develops their own voice, and every voice has value.

Through reading, writing and oracy, children develop the language they need not only to succeed across the curriculum, but to express themselves with confidence, understand others with empathy and become independent, lifelong learners.

Whatever their starting point, every child is encouraged to become a confident reader, an expressive writer and an articulate communicator. Above all, we want children to experience the joy of language – the excitement of a story they can't put down, the pride of writing something that matters to them and the confidence to stand up, speak clearly and share their ideas with others.

Language Across the Curriculum

English is both a subject in its own right and the foundation of learning across every area of the curriculum.

Whether children are investigating scientific ideas, debating historical events, explaining mathematical reasoning or presenting their learning through art, music or geography, language gives them the confidence to think deeply, to ask questions and to communicate with purpose.

Our curriculum develops children's spoken language, vocabulary, reading and writing in every subject because we know that confident communicators become confident learners.

Reading

Every child deserves to see themselves as a reader.

Learning to read is one of the greatest gifts we can give a child.

From the moment children begin their phonics journey, we carefully build the knowledge, confidence and fluency that enable them to become successful readers. We use a rigorous, systematic approach to the teaching of phonics, ensuring that every child develops secure decoding skills while fostering a genuine enjoyment of books and stories from the very beginning.

As children become fluent readers, a whole world of possibility opens before them. Books take them to places they have never visited, introduce them to people they might never meet and encourage them to think deeply about themselves and the world around them. 

From the very beginning of their reading journey, we nurture not only the skills children need to become fluent readers, but a genuine love of books. We want reading to be something children choose to do because it sparks their imagination, answers their questions and brings them joy.

Through carefully chosen texts, shared reading and thoughtful discussion, children develop comprehension, curiosity and empathy.  They meet characters who inspire them, challenge their thinking and, as their confidence grows, so too does their independence.  We want every child to see themselves as a reader and to leave Grafton with a lifelong love of books.   

Reading for Pleasure

Reading is celebrated throughout school life.

Children meet authors and illustrators, take part in World Book Day and National Poetry Day, enjoy our school library, participate in book fairs and book-gifting events, visit the local library and share stories with volunteer readers.  Families are invited into school for ‘Stay and Read’ sessions, helping to nurture a love of reading both at school and at home.

These experiences enrich our curriculum and help children discover that reading is not simply something we learn to do – it is something we can enjoy for the rest of our lives.

Writing

Every child has a story worth telling.

Writing gives children a voice.

It allows them to capture ideas, tell stories, explain their thinking and communicate with confidence. At Grafton, we want children to see themselves not simply as pupils completing a task, but as authors with something meaningful to say.

Children are encouraged to write for a wide range of purposes and audiences, developing the skills to inform, persuade, entertain and inspire. Along the way they learn that excellent writing is a process of thinking, refining and improving. We celebrate creativity while helping children develop the resilience to edit, improve and refine their work, understanding that excellent writing grows through reflection, perseverance and practice.

We use a carefully structured approach to spelling and grammar, giving children the secure foundations they need while encouraging creativity and independence in their writing.  High quality literature and visits from authors inspire children to experiment with language and to discover the pleasure of writing for themselves.

Oracy

Every voice matters.

The ability to communicate clearly and confidently is one of the most valuable skills a child can develop.

Oracy is woven throughout life at Grafton. Children are encouraged to ask thoughtful questions, explain their thinking, listen respectfully to others and contribute confidently in every classroom.

By learning to speak with clarity and listen with empathy, children become better learners, stronger collaborators and more confident individuals. They learn that every voice matters and that respectful discussion helps us all grow in understanding.

These are skills that will support children not only throughout their education, but throughout their lives.

Every Child is Included

Every child learns differently and we believe every child can become a successful reader, writer and communicator.

Through regular assessment, adaptive teaching and carefully targeted support, we ensure that children receive the right help at the right time.  Our aim is always to help children keep up rather than catch up, building confidence alongside knowledge so that every child experiences success.

At the same time, children who are ready for greater challenge are encouraged to deepen their thinking, broaden their vocabulary and develop increasingly sophisticated reading and writing skills.

We also celebrate the rich diversity of languages spoken within our school community.  The home languages of our children are recognised as an important part of who they are and, in valuing every language, we are all enriched.

Working in Partnership with Families

Parents and carers play a vital role in every child’s reading journey.

We work closely with families by providing guidance, resources and practical support to help children develop confidence at home.  Through Oxford Owl resources, phonics videos, reading records, demonstration sessions and regular communication, we aim to make parents active partners in their child’s learning.

Our Intent

We want every child to leave Grafton as a confident reader, an expressive writer and an articulate communicator. Our English curriculum develops not only knowledge and skills, but also curiosity, imagination, empathy and confidence.  We want children to understand that language has the power to inform, inspire, comfort, challenge and connect us.

Implementation

Through skilled teaching that responds to the needs of every child, outstanding literature and meaningful opportunities to read, write, speak and listen every day, children steadily build the knowledge, skills and confidence they need to succeed. While we use high-quality, evidence-informed programmes to teach essential building blocks such as phonics and spelling, reading, writing and oracy are enriched through creativity, discussion, performance and purposeful opportunities to communicate across the curriculum.

Impact

Children leave Grafton with secure literacy skills and, just as importantly, a genuine enjoyment of reading and writing. They have the confidence to express themselves thoughtfully, listen respectfully, think critically and communicate effectively.

They leave knowing that their ideas matter, that their voice matters and that stories have the power to change the way we see ourselves and the world around us.

English through Our Values

Love - We nurture a lifelong love of books, stories and language, helping children discover the joy of reading and the satisfaction of expressing themselves through words.

Creativity - Children are encouraged to imagine, question, create and experiment with language, developing confidence in their own unique ideas and voice.

Kindness - Through literature and discussion, children develop empathy, listen respectfully to different perspectives and learn the importance of communicating with care.

Inclusion - Every child is supported to become a successful reader, writer and speaker. We celebrate every voice and ensure that every child knows their ideas are valued.

Resilience - Children learn that writing is a journey. They embrace challenge, edit thoughtfully, persevere through difficulties and take pride in their progress.

Empowerment - By giving children the confidence to read widely, think critically and communicate effectively, we equip them with skills that will support them throughout their lives.

When a pupil leaves Grafton at the end of Year 6, we hope they remember the excitement of discovering a book they couldn't put down, the pride of producing a piece of writing they never thought they could achieve and the confidence they felt when sharing their ideas with others.

Most of all, we hope they leave believing that they are readers, writers and communicators whose words have meaning and whose ideas deserve to be heard.

At Grafton Primary School, English is about far more than learning language.

• It is about discovering your voice.
• It is about understanding others.
• It is about believing that your story matters.

Documents

English Curriculum Progression – Reading and Oracy

English Curriculum Progression – Writing

Read Write Inc - Parent Booklet 1