English
Intent
At Priors Wood Primary School, we believe literacy and communication are vital life skills. Our English curriculum helps students develop the ability to communicate effectively through both spoken and written language, preparing them to be confident lifelong learners. Literacy is central to all learning, enabling students to express and explore their experiences, emotions, and ideas. It supports intellectual, emotional, and social growth and enriches the entire curriculum. Our goal is to nurture confident communicators, critical thinkers, and enthusiastic readers and writers, equipping students for future success.
Aims
- Engage and Inspire: To create a love for reading and writing by immersing students in high-quality texts and engaging them with dynamic phonics and literacy activities.
- Develop Literacy Skills: To ensure all students systematically develop strong reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills, regardless of their starting points.
- Promote Inclusivity and Excellence: To support all learners, providing appropriate interventions where necessary, while challenging all students to achieve their best.
- Consistency Across the School: To implement a unified approach to teaching English, ensuring continuity and progression across all year groups.
At Priors Wood, we believe that spelling is an essential skill which underpins confident writing and communication. To support our children in developing accuracy and independence in spelling, we use Emile Spelling across the school.
Emile Spelling provides an engaging, interactive way for pupils to practise their spelling patterns and rules, both in school and at home. Through a range of fun, game-based activities, children are motivated to revisit and consolidate their learning, helping them to build long-term retention of key words. The programme is carefully aligned with the National Curriculum and allows teachers to track progress, identify areas for support, and celebrate success.
We value the way Emile Spelling enables every child to learn at their own pace while enjoying the process. Whether reinforcing weekly spelling lists, revisiting previous learning, or stretching themselves with new challenges, our pupils are developing both their confidence and enthusiasm for spelling.
Medium Term Planning Mapping to the National Curriculum
At Priors Wood, we recognise the importance of clear, fluent and confident handwriting as a vital skill for every child. Handwriting is not only a tool for communication but also plays a vital skill in supporting children's spelling, reading and overall confidence in writing.
To support the development of handwriting across the school, we use Letter-Join, a comprehensive handwriting programme. Letter-Join provides pupils with consistent, high-quality practice through interactive online resources and engaging classroom activities. It supports the progression from early mark-making and letter formation in the younger years to joined, fluent and legible handwriting by the time children leave Year 6. Pupils and families can also access Letter-Join at home, which means children can continue practising their handwriting beyond the classroom, reinforcing the skills they learn in school.
