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English

Intent

At Ben Jonson Primary School, our English curriculum is designed to foster a love of reading, writing, and communication from the very beginning. Reading is at the heart of our curriculum, enabling all children to become skilled, confident, and passionate readers. Our aim is for every child to develop fluency in reading, articulate communication, and the ability to write effectively for a range of purposes and audiences. We are passionate about fostering a love for literature, celebrating its rich diversity and inspiring children to explore its endless possibilities.

We strive to:

  • Equip children with strong phonics foundations through the Read Write Inc programme. Develop comprehensive reading skills (outlined in the National Curriculum and the KS1 and KS2 test domains) through the use of VIPERS which were created by Rob Smith (The Literacy Shed).
  • Encourage a rich and diverse love for literature through high-quality texts, our school library, Reading Canons, and regular reading events.
  • Cultivate expressive writing, supported by meaningful links across the curriculum and enriched vocabulary.
  • Build neat and fluent handwriting skills through the Penpals for Handwriting programme.
  • Empower pupils with strong oracy skills to articulate ideas confidently and communicate effectively.

Our curriculum aims to inspire curiosity, celebrate diversity, and enable pupils to understand and make meaningful contributions to the world.

Implementation

Our English curriculum is carefully structured to ensure consistent progression across all year groups.

Reading:

Early reading begins with systematic daily phonics lessons using Read Write Inc, ensuring fluency in decoding and spelling by the end of Key Stage 1.

At our school, comprehension skills are explicitly developed through whole-class reading sessions, one-to-one reading, and dedicated story time. As part of the UK’s reading curriculum, we focus on teaching the six key reading domains that are essential for enhancing children’s understanding of texts.

We use the acronym VIPERS to help children recall these crucial skills:

  • Vocabulary
  • Inference
  • Prediction
  • Explanation
  • Retrieval
  • Sequence (or Summarise)

These areas represent the core skills we believe every child needs to master in order to become confident and capable readers.

Pupils read daily at home, supported by our extensive library and reading records. Our Reading Canons inspire a love of high-quality literature.

Writing:

Writing is driven by exposure to rich and diverse texts, providing a foundation for vocabulary and technical skill development.

Pupils write for varied purposes and audiences, with clear links to other curriculum areas to enhance meaning and context.

The writing process—planning, drafting, editing, and publishing—is explicitly taught.

Handwriting:

The Penpals for Handwriting programme ensures children develop neat and fluent handwriting, with pen licenses awarded for excellence in Key Stage 2.

Oracy:

Speaking and listening skills are integrated across English lessons, supported by speaking frames, drama activities, and consistent opportunities for discussion.

What Will Our Children Be Able to Do When They Leave Us?

When children leave Ben Jonson Primary School, they will be happy, confident learners with a deep appreciation for reading and writing. They will possess the key skills and knowledge needed to thrive in the next phase of their education. Through the power of reading, our pupils will have grown culturally, emotionally, intellectually, socially, and spiritually.

Equipped with the ability to express their ideas and emotions clearly, our children will have high aspirations and a profound understanding of the world around them. Our English curriculum not only develops their proficiency as readers and writers but also nurtures them to become articulate, confident, and inspired individuals, ready to succeed and excel in their future endeavours.

Curriculum Overview

English Curriculum Overview

Useful Information:

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