Here at The Grove we believe that Literacy develops children’s ability to speak and write fluently so that they can communicate their ideas and emotions to others and through their reading and listening, others can communicate with them.
At The Grove Primary children are encouraged to express themselves creatively and imaginatively through both traditional writing but also role playing. As children develop their reading, writing speaking and listening skills they become enthusiastic and critical readers and writers of stories, poetry and drama, as well as of non-fiction and media texts.
Reading
Children begin their reading journey in Early Years where they learn the sounds that each letter makes. They then are shown how to blend these sounds to read words. We use Read Write Inc in Early Years and throughout school to teach children how to read. From first recognising sounds to being able to read fluently. Alongside being shown how to blend, children are also given opportunities to learn high frequency words and common exception words. By the end of Year 2 we hope that children are fluent readers and in Year 2 we begin thinking in greater depth about what they are reading, encouraging children to predict and infer meaning. Reading continues to be promoted throughout school and children are exposed to authors and books that will help develop their imagination and love of reading.
Writing
Again the writing journey for our children begins in Early Years where children develop their fine motor skills in order to hold a pencil correctly. Children are then shown how to form letters using the Read Write Inc way.
Children are given many opportunities to write and as children move through school they gain stamina for writing at length and they are shown what they need to do to make their writing interesting and or informative. Teachers plan interesting and engaging lesson for children using texts that model excellent writing.
The Grove Primary School Reading Programme1
Literacy Long Term Plan Y1-Y3 2022-23
Literacy Long Term Plan Y4-Y6 2022-23
EYFS
In EYFS (Reception) children are given opportunities to:
• speak and listen and represent ideas in their activities;
• use communication, language and literacy in every part of the curriculum;
• become immersed in an environment rich in print and opportunities to communicate.
Early Years continuous provision provides children with opportunities to develop their communication, language and literacy skills on a daily basis with a focus on child initiated activities. As well as a Writing Area, which provides children with a range of materials with which to experiment and practice mark marking/letter formation (and eventually to practice taught skills), other areas are enhanced to provide children with the opportunity to read and write in a range of contexts. A range of resources in the outdoor area, including a mud kitchen, provide valuable opportunities to engage children in writing for pleasure. They also have access to a vast range of texts, including fiction and nonfiction. Children enjoy daily ‘story time’ so they become familiar with stories and authors and begin to develop a love of reading. Adult led activities in EYFS are usually linked to stories, poems or nursery rhymes or to cross curricular Topics. From when they start school, children learn that writing can have a range of purposes and they begin to explore the features of different types of writing. The continuous provision also helps children to develop their fine and gross motor skills which are important for children to be able to write using a pencil. In EYFS, children have daily Read Write Inc sessions to introduce Set 1 and Set 2 sound and to develop their blending and segmenting skills in preparation for early reading and writing.
Key Stage 1 (Year 1 & Year 2)
In Key Stage 1, children learn to speak confidently and listen to what others have to say. They learn to read and write independently, at length. They use language to explore their own experiences and imaginary worlds.
Read Write Inc lessons are continued and are taught in groups according to individual ability, with an increased focus on spelling and spelling rules. In English lessons, children explore a variety of themes such as Stories in Familiar Settings, Instructions, Fantasy Stories or Funny Poems. They study fiction and non-fiction and begin to compare characteristic features of writing. Children learn how to apply these features in their own writing and begin to write at length. In Key Stage 1, children will write for a range of purposes, including (but not limited to):
• Stories
• Diaries
• Newspaper reports
• Instructions – recipes, ‘how to’ guides
• Explanation texts
• Poems
• Letters & postcards
• Labels, lists and captions
• Recounts
• Non chronological reports
Children in Key Stage 1 children focus on Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar objectives from the National Curriculum and learn how to use these taught rules in their own writing. Writing skills are developed across the curriculum and children are given lots of opportunities for cross curricular writing. This may be linked to Topic (for example, Kings & Queens, the Great Fire of London, Lighthouses) or other curriculum areas such as R.E or Science. Children have 1:1 reading sessions as well as guided reading, and weekly reading comprehension. Children are encouraged to develop a love for reading through daily story time.
Key Stage 2 (Years 3 – 6)
In Key Stage 2, children learn to change the way they speak and/or write to fit different situations, purposes and audiences. They encounter a range of fiction, non-fiction and poetry. They explore the use of language in literary and non-literary texts and learn how the structure of language works. Children in Key Stage 2 develop their knowledge and understanding of grammatical terminology.
Children have English lessons in which they focus on a range of text types throughout the year. These may be linked to Topic themes or to a book or poem. During Key Stage 2, children can expect to tackle a range of writing tasks, including (but not limited to):
• Stories (including a variety of genres such as myths & legends, adventure, mystery & suspense)
• Letters
• Play scripts
• Biographies
• Recounts
• Instructions
• Explanations
• Debates Children will also learn to write in a range of styles, including;
• Writing persuasively
• Writing in a journalistic style
• Writing formally/informally
• Writing arguments
Spelling, Punctuation & Grammar is taught discreetly in daily sessions. In Key Stage 2, children continue to have a range of opportunities for cross curricular writing. English skills are developed across the curriculum so children can apply what they know in a variety of contexts.
Please visit our Reading and Phonics page for more information about how we teaching Reading in our school.
