English
"If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot." ~ Stephen King
Reading
At Radstock, we promote high quality texts by a range of diverse and inspirational authors. Many of these texts are taken from the recommendations of The Power of Reading. Children fully immerse themselves in each text for a full half term as this sets them up to write with a depth of understanding throughout the unit of work.
Children in EYFS and Key Stage 1 are taught reading skills through the highly structured and effective phonics programme, Read, Write Inc. Year 2 spend 40 minutes each day on the comprehension element of the programme.
Handwriting
A continuous cursive style is used at Radstock. Children in EYFS learn how to form individual letters. From Year 1, the expectation is that the children will begin to join letters together. As they do so, their writing becomes more fluent and supports them when writing at greater length as they move through the school.
Spelling
Once children complete the Read, Write Inc programme, they follow the National Curriculum spelling programme which follows a clear progression. This includes Common Exception Words for Year 1, Year 2, Years 3-4 and Years 5-6 and spelling rules. Children receive spelling homework from the end of Year 1. From Year 2, homework includes words with specific spelling rules and patterns, words an individual needs to practise and Learning Project vocabulary linked to our work in the wider curriculum.
Writing
Much of the inspiration for writing comes from the texts that the children immerse themselves in, each half term. We discuss what we are going to write, the purpose (to persuade, inform, persuade or discuss) and the audience. Also, before writing, decisions are made about the purpose and effect that we want to create and the elements we will need to include to achieve this. Series of lessons are planned which support the children to achieve this end goal.
Curriculum Leaders: Mrs Lee and Miss Dickson