English Intent Statement
It is our intent at the Griffin Federation to provide pupils with a high-quality education in English that will teach them to speak, read and write fluently so that they can communicate their ideas and emotions to others effectively. As a federation, we are very aware that some of our pupils’ early language acquisition is limited and this is why we believe that providing a language rich environment, with a strong focus on oracy, is essential to the success across the curriculum.
Writing
Writing is taught through a range of exciting stimuli which includes: books, film clips, artefacts, visitors and real-life experiences, all of which are very often lacking in our pupil’s lives. We strive to equip children to develop a rich vocabulary which can help them bring their writing to life. Basic skills and non-negotiables underpin writing in all areas of the curriculum. Throughout carefully planned teaching sequences, teachers model the writing process and demonstrate the ambitious high standards expected of all children. Every child is encouraged to let their imagination and personality shine through in their writing.
Reading
Reading is a fundamental part of everything we do across the federation. Some of our pupils come from homes where there are very few books, magazines or newspapers available, so the children are exposed to high quality texts across the curriculum and reading skills are taught explicitly in all year groups. Alongside the skills of decoding and comprehension, book talk encourages children to think as a reader and discuss their preferences, likes and dislikes. Reading for pleasure is a cornerstone of our approach, with well-stocked book corners which children access both within the timetable and in their own time.
Oracy
Oracy is an area of weakness across the federation, so it is a key curriculum driver for our three schools. All teachers have a speaking and listening progression document, to ensure that all staff know the expectations for our children. We ensure that they we provide opportunities for children to explore language in a variety of contexts. We are also taking part in an oracy project within our local network of schools.
KS2 reading meeting for parents
RWI phonics information for parents
Top tips for hearing your child read
