English
What English looks like at St Saviour
Reading
At St Saviour Primary school, we promote a love for reading and equip our children with the skills they need to become confident, independent readers.
How reading is taught
Reading is taught initially through rigorous and systematic phonics. The sessions are lively, often interactive and are ability matched to our pupils using the programme, 'Essential Letters and Sounds’. Essential Letters and Sounds is a validated systematic and synthetic phonic approach. It is designed to be used as part of an early learning environment that is rich in talk and story, where children experience the joy of books and language whilst rapidly acquiring the skills to become fluent independent readers and writers. ELS teaches the children to:
- decode by identifying each sound within a word and blending them together to read fluently.
- encode by segmenting each sound to write words accurately.
Please view the videos below for the accurate pronunciation of the Phase 2 and Phase 3 sounds. There is also a presentation which give much more detail about the delivery and contents of the ELS programme.
All of our Key Stage 1 children have access to a variety of texts and read twice per week to an adult (One 1:1 reading session and 1 guided read). These one-to-one sessions enable teachers to develop pupils’ decoding skills, so they have many strategies at their disposal for if they encounter unfamiliar words. In addition, guided reading sessions take place once per week and these focus mainly on comprehension. These sessions are fun and give children the opportunity to enjoy and discuss texts with their friends.
In Key Stage 2, when basic reading skills have been firmly established, children read more regularly in groups and continue to work on their mastery of skills, such as: vocabulary; prediction, summarising, justifying with evidence and inference.
Reading for Pleasure
Every classroom has an exciting and engaging reading corner designed to promote a love of reading. Children have access to a variety of genres and can use their reading area at different times throughout the day. Reading for pleasure is also promoted through daily story time, which offers children the chance to experience different authors and simply immerse themselves in language.
Writing
Basic writing skills are initially taught through a play-based curriculum in Reception. When these are in place, pupils take part in ‘Wizard Writer’ sessions which…..
In Key stage two, when basic writing skills are established, pupils write very regularly across the whole curriculum. After carefully studying a particular writing genre, pupils have the opportunity to practise their skills in a Big Write session to produce a final piece of writing. They are then expected to proof read and edit their own work. Children are celebrated as writers regularly in our Special Mention assemblies, receiving a certificate from Mr Southern.
How writing is taught
If you click on the link below, you will see an overview of writing that takes place in each year group and the progression documents.
EYFS Literacy Progression Document
Speaking and Listening Progression Document
Policies
Please click on one of the documents below to read the policies:
Enhancing English
We support our lively English curriculum with trips, visitors to school and themed days. These provide us with very valuable writing inspiration.
Have a look what we have been up to:
Year 4 and 5 had the pleasure of attending a Zoom poetry workshop with the wonderful Michael Rosen. He was incredibly funny and gave us some great tips for writing poetry!
Year 5 have been performing the Spider and the Fly in class.
They have also done some hot seating.
Year 5 have been taking part in some drama as part of their History topic on World War Two.
Year 2 have been recommending books to each other, don't they look comfy!
