English Intent

Reading

At St John Fisher School, we believe that reading is a key life skill and is one of the main skills that unlocks a remarkable world of learning to our pupils alongside many enchanting and alternative worlds through fiction. We are dedicated to enabling our pupils with sound reading skills so that they can take advantage of opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of their current and later life.

By promoting high standards of reading as a communication tool across the curriculum, children recognise its pivotal place in their successful learning. We develop children with the following essential characteristics to help them become skilful sound and independent readers:

• The ability to read easily, fluently and with good understanding
• To develop the habit of reading widely and often, for both pleasure and information
• To know how to acquire a wide vocabulary, an understanding of grammar and knowledge of language patterns and procedures for reading
• Appreciate our rich and varied literary heritage through resources in school and outside in our community.

English is taught at St John Fisher School following the National Curriculum supported by Herts for Learning materials. Our teaching of English is supported by cross curricular opportunities within other subject areas.

Phonics is taught via the Read Write Inc. programme throughout Reception/Key Stage 1. 

Writing

At St John Fisher School, we believe that being able to communicate appropriately through the written word is a crucial skill in the current and future world of our pupils. We are dedicated to equipping our pupils with the skills of an excellent writer so that they can take advantage of opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of their current and later life.

Written communication is relied upon for academic success. We recognise that writing is underpinned by reading and consequently is taught through a reading stimulus where possible across the curriculum. We develop children with the following essential characteristics to help them become skilful writers:

• The ability to write fluently using a neat and appropriate handwriting style
• To think about the impact they want their writing to have on the reader and how to achieve this through their writing’s structure, organisation and implementation of features suitable to its purpose and audience
• To apply taught grammar and spelling patterns and rules in written work
• To utilise a sophisticated bank of vocabulary and writing techniques to extend details or description appropriate to the purpose of the task
• The opportunity to re-read, edit and improve their writing so every piece of writing they produce is to the best of their ability.
• An understanding of the writing process and resources that aid writers: that the final written product is a result of hard work and editing.

Spelling from Year 2 through Year 6 is taught using the Essential Spelling programme.

Suggested reading lists per class can be found

https://schoolreadinglist.co.uk/