Lumley Primary Federation

Curriculum – English

In this section of the website, you will find information about our approach to teaching English at Lumley Junior School.

Intent

In Key Stage Two, we use the National Curriculum and Read Write Inc Literacy and Language as a basis for our English lessons. The National Curriculum ensures to promote high standards of language and literacy by equipping pupils with a strong command of the spoken and written word, and to develop their love of literature through widespread reading for enjoyment.

The national curriculum for English aims to ensure that all pupils:

• read easily, fluently and with good understanding
• develop the habit of reading widely and often, for both pleasure and information
• acquire a wide vocabulary, an understanding of grammar and knowledge of linguistic conventions for reading, writing and spoken language
• appreciate our rich and varied literary heritage
• write clearly, accurately and coherently, adapting their language and style in and for a range of contexts, purposes and audiences
• use discussion in order to learn; they should be able to elaborate and explain clearly their understanding and ideas
• are competent in the arts of speaking and listening, making formal presentations, demonstrating to others and participating in debate.

Knowledge and Key Skills Progression Grids:

READING – KS2 Knowledge and Key Skills – updated September 2022

WRITING – KS2 Knowledge and Key Skills Progression Grid – updated Dec 2023

Implementation

Within Key Stage 2, we follow the Read Write Inc. Literacy and Language for Years 2 to 6. We aim to develop children’s comprehension, writing and spoken language. We use a unique step-by-step approach through whole class shared reading to give your child the skills to comprehend every text and the confidence to write ambitiously and accurately. We teach grammar in context, with a comprehensive grammar bank to build their knowledge and engage children and develop their vocabulary using drama and discussion. Literacy and Language contains lots of opportunities to develop learners’ cultural capital by extending their knowledge of the world and introducing them to the works of well-known authors and poets. Literacy and Language matches the requirements of the National Curriculum for reading, writing, grammar, and vocabulary development. Activities are clearly matched to the National Curriculum. In addition, many of the texts in the Anthologies focus on positive moral values and developing empathy. The Literacy and Language Anthologies contain a range of stories, non-fiction texts and poems by well-known authors and poets.

Impact

By the end of Key Stage 2 most children will write for a range of purposes and audiences in an appropriate form

• in narratives, describe characters and atmosphere
• use dialogue to advance the story
• choose and use appropriate grammatical structures, depending on the type of text
• write cohesively
• use verb tenses correctly and consistently
• use largely accurate punctuation and spelling

Composition

• Choose the appropriate form for their writing
• Plan using a brief
• Apply their knowledge of text conventions
• Draft their work
• Write accurately and with precision
• Evaluate against success criteria
• Edit for impact
• Proof read and correct simple errors

Grammar

• Understand and use formal and informal structures
• Use the perfect, progressive and simple forms of verbs
• Use a variety of grammatical structures to vary sentences
• Recognise and use a range of grammatical terms and word classes

Grammar Coverage - Updated Dec 2023

Punctuation

• Use basic punctuation consistently and accurately (e.g. full stop, capital letter, comma for list and to separate clauses and ! ? () – – “ ”)
• Begin to secure the use of hyphen to avoid ambiguity, bullet points and : ;.
• Recognise and correct simple errors in their own writing

Fresh Start

Some children may take part in Read Write Inc. Fresh Start. This is  a catch-up and intervention programme with proven results, for 9 to 11-year-olds still learning to read. It offers a simple but powerful solution to accelerate reading progress. Students are taught at their challenge point, so they learn to read accurately and fluently. They will also develop good comprehension, spelling and punctuation skills through targeted activities. Your child will bring home an anthology to read that is matched to their reading ability.

Spelling

Children learn to spell with Read Write Inc Spelling. It is a systematic spelling programme for children in Years 2 – 6. Each week your child will be given spellings to learn which follow a spelling rule along with 4 – 6 jumping red or orange words (These are national curriculum statutory spelling words.) You can find which spelling rule and words your child needs to learn below along with an information booklet that shows how you can help your child at home and access spelling games.