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Calder Vale St John C of E Primary School
Grow, Achieve, Explore
English
At Calder Vale St John's Primary School, English lies at the heart of all learning across the curriculum. We believe every child should take pleasure in reading and writing across a range of genres and for a variety of purposes. Our ambitious curriculum is sequenced to build on the prior knowledge of each child. We enable our children to remember more by the provision of opportunities for ‘sticky learning’ Our children become skilled communicators through the provision of engaging and enjoyable experiences.
Key Learning in Reading
Key Learning in Writing
At Calder Vale St John’s Primary School we believe becoming fluent and comprehensive readers is the key to accessing learning across the whole curriculum. Phonics lessons are taught from EYFS, throughout KS1 and conclude when the children are confident, fluent and skilful readers and writers. Teachers plan using a rigorous assessment and progression of phonics and deliver discrete daily sessions that are multisensory and engaging. Opportunities to apply their knowledge of phonics is evident in all aspects of our curriculum.
Our pupils will experience;
- A discrete daily phonics session
- Focused directed teaching involving oral and written practice of letters and sounds;
- A variety of teaching methods, including demonstration, modelling, games, singing and other practical activities.
- Repetition and teaching of ‘tricky’ words.
What does a phonics session look like in our school?
Part 1: Revisit
Part 2: Teach
Part 3: Practise
Part 4: Apply ( This might take place in provision for EYFS or as an introduction to a phonics session for Year 1/2 due to our mixed age context.)
We noticed that our children made superb progress in phonics when we added story, music and rhyme. As a school and with the children, we created pictures and rhymes to help us read. Sometimes we add pop music and disco lights too!
Pre-School Phonics Overview
All of our Reception children complete a phonics session daily. We begin reading and writing graphemes at Phase 2 and work through Phase 3 and 4 by the end of Reception! Click below to see when we learn sounds and tricky words throughout the year.
Reception Phonics Trajectory
Phonics PowerPoints
All of our Year 1 children complete a phonics session daily! In Year 1 we consolidate Phase 3, 4 and progress to reading in Phase 5. Click below to see when we learn to read "special friends" or graphemes.
Year 1 Trajectory
Phonics PowerPoints
Year 2 Spelling Overview
In Year 2 we consolidate our reading of Phase 5 graphemes and build up our reading fluency/ stamina. As spellers, we learn to spell Phase 5 graphemes. See our Spelling Overview below.
How do we assess phonics?
Some children continue their phonics journey into KS2. Our staff have received up to date training to enable them to deliver effective phonics sessions. We use a bespoke programme to address the needs of our learners. Gaps in children's reading and spelling are identified and targeted in English lessons as part of their reading and spelling development.
Our aim at Calder Vale St John's Primary School is to teach the children to develop a range of personal strategies for learning spellings, and for checking and proofreading spellings in their own writing. We build on the phonics teaching and learning. Spelling is taught using the 'Revise, Teach, Learn, Practise, Apply and Assess' sequence. Each child has a personal spelling journal.
By the time children leave Calder Vale St John’s Primary School they need to be able to write legibly, neatly, comfortably and quickly.
When we introduce letter formation in Reception we use visual images and a verbal description to help each child remember the movements necessary to form letters.
Once a child can confidently form the letters they can begin to join them. Each letter join is accompanied by ‘patter’ to help each child remember the correct formation.