English
English has a pre-eminent place in education and in society. A high-quality education in English will teach pupils 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. Through reading in particular, pupils have a chance to develop culturally, emotionally, intellectually, socially and spiritually. Literature, especially, plays a key role in such development. Reading also enables pupils both to acquire knowledge and to build on what they already know. All the skills of language are essential to participating fully as a member of society; pupils, therefore, who do not learn to speak, read and write fluently and confidently are effectively disenfranchised.
Purpose of Study, English National Curriculum, 2014
Literacy is defined as the united skills and knowledge of reading, writing and oral language. As it is the foundation of all learning, success in literacy is vital for educational progression. Literacy not only empowers the learner, but is essential for independent learning and most aspects of everyday life. It should, therefore, be at the heart of our teaching and learning.
Phonics
At Christchurch Junior school we are passionate about ensuring all children become confident and enthusiastic readers and writers. We teach early reading through the synthetic phonics scheme ‘Little Wandle Rapid Catch Up’, which is a complete catch-up programme that mirrors the core Little Wandle phonics programme, but has a faster pace. Children who have yet to meet the required standard for phonics when they start Year 3, and those with less secure phonic understanding, continue to receive phonics teaching. This takes place regularly as targeted, adult led intervention sessions throughout the afternoons. During these sessions, the children take part in activities and games which are planned to meet individual needs in order to close the gaps in their phonics knowledge. Children take fully decodable books home on a weekly basis to share with parents and read at home. The books ensure older children can grow their language and become fluent readers, using texts which appeal to their growing understanding. After graduating from the Little Wandle scheme, children no longer need to read fully decodable books.
Reading
Our Vision
At Twynham Learning, excellence in Reading is a priority. Reading is highly valued, actively promoted and forms part of the dynamic culture for learning across our family of schools. Passion and a love of reading is at the heart of our curriculum. Our Reading philosophy is intrinsic to our aim to prepare all our young learners for the next stage of their education journey or work place.
Enjoyment
We firmly believe that Reading ignites the imagination and opens new worlds beyond the classroom. Twynham Learning values the importance of daily reading aloud to pupils of all ages to foster reading for pleasure. Reading improves communication, inspires imagination and allows children to empathise, share opinions and debate topics. We particularly emphasise the importance of books and literature in enabling children to become confident, happy and enthusiastic readers and writers.
At Twynham learning we believe the use of high quality texts within the reading curriculum is at the heart of our successful approach to engage and support children to become motivated and independent readers. Texts and stories are central to our curriculum and help pupils to understand the ‘big picture’, convey intellectual and emotional issues and expand vocabulary. Through our carefully selected texts, from a range of genres, pupils’ experiences reflect and celebrate diversity and inclusivity.
Engagement
All our pupils have access to an ambitious, progressive, ‘reading rich’ curriculum during their time at Twynham Learning.
Our Reading strategy provides whole class reading sessions, appropriate to age and stage. Our approach develops fluency, expression and pace. From the Early Years, children are immersed in ‘language rich’ experiences and environments. All pupils are encouraged to use strategies independently to understand, enjoy and learn from a range of texts. They become fluent, skillful, expressive readers with the stamina to enjoy challenging texts as lifelong readers.
Engagement and support from home is crucial and we aim to extend our Reading culture beyond the school gates. We recognise the importance of empowering parents and carers to be active in their child’s Reading journey.
Achievement
Reading is central to all aspects of learning across the curriculum, in all subjects. Using their knowledge and expertise, teachers promote the best literature that their subject has to offer.
Progression is assured at every stage, through carefully selected texts that deliberately build towards challenging, complex academic literature. Across all subjects of the curriculum, staff present themselves as role models in order to reflect the excellence required of pupils in fiction, as well as non-fiction genres.
Twynham Learning pupils are supported to reach their full potential. We use evidence-based research, which explores the best ways of teaching and assessing Reading. We ensure that every child makes progress in Reading, swiftly identifying any gaps or barriers and putting in place effective interventions. These are reviewed regularly; ensuring every child becomes a confident, independent reader.
Writing
Our lives can be filled and fulfilled by writing. That story begins with our birth certificate and ends with our epitaph. In between, each day, we use writing to learn, to love, to remember, to console, to entertain, to imagine, to argue and to simply be.
Alex Quigley (2022)
Twynham Learning’s ambition is for children’s writing to attain - in both composition and transcription - a standard of excellence. We aim for children to experience the kinds of pleasure available to writers through personal growth and artistic expression and effective communication of knowledge. Our intention is to promote curiosity, passion and enjoyment by using a wide range of stimuli to engage children.
The Twynham Learning writing curriculum promotes reading proficiency and critical thinking through use of high-quality texts; is enhanced by exploring and celebrating the locality and community in which we live and provides regular opportunities to explore different cultures and perspectives.
Our writing curriculum enables pupils to becomes fluent in key transcriptional components and grammar so that they become increasingly accurate writers. Older pupils compose their writing in different forms and styles, for a range of purpose and audiences, with an appropriate balance between narrative and non-fiction writing.
Twynham Learning teachers help children perceive themselves as writers, albeit apprentice ones. Research shows that children who enjoy writing and are motivated to write, are eight times more likely to achieve well academically. We foster this through enthusiasm and interest in literacy and dramatic arts, including pupils’ own creative writing. Where appropriate, children are given the opportunity to generate their own context and purpose and with a clear sense of a real reader. Finally, children are given the fora to meaningfully publish their written work.
1 Quigley, A. (2022), Closing the Writing Gap, A David Fulton Book
2 Sherrington, T. (2019), Rosenshine’s Principles in Action, John Catt
