At Hebburn Lakes we believe that a quality English curriculum should develop children’s love of reading, writing and discussion. We aim to inspire an appreciation of our rich and varied literacy and a love for lifelong learning for all our children including SEND and EAL. We recognise the importance  of nurturing a culture where children take pride in their writing, enabling them to write clearly and accurately in a range of contexts through the promotion of a love of reading, through stories, rhymes, songs and poetry.

We want to inspire children to be confident in the art of speaking and listening and who can use discussion to communicate and further their learning across the wider curriculum. We believe that a clear and consistent approach to synthetic phonics, is the route to enabling all children to leave our school being the best readers and writers that they possibly can be. We believe that children need to develop a secure knowledge-base in English, which follows a clear pathway of progression through the primary curriculum and ensures that they are ready for the challenges of the next step of their education.

Rigorous assessment and review will ensure that we are able to provide targeted support so that all children experience success in English; we believe that a secure basis in literacy skills is crucial to a high quality education and will give our children the tools they need to participate fully as a member of society.

These skills are crucial to a high quality education that will give our children the tools they need to participate fully on their journey through education; to become lifelong learners, a valued member of our community and the wider world.

These aims are embedded across our English lessons and the wider curriculum.

Our English curriculum provides many purposeful opportunities for reading, writing and discussion. Our curriculum follows the aims of the National Curriculum for English 2014. Teachers plan and teach lessons to ensure this is covered whilst ensuring that cross curricular links with theme work are woven into the programme of study.

The national curriculum for English aims to ensure that all pupils:

  • read easily, fluently and with good understanding
  • develop the habit of reading widely and often, for both pleasure and information
  • acquire a wide vocabulary, an understanding of grammar and knowledge of linguistic
  • conventions for reading, writing and spoken language
  • appreciate our rich and varied literary heritage
  • write clearly, accurately and coherently, adapting their language and style in and for a range of contexts, purposes and audiences
  • use discussion in order to learn; they should be able to elaborate and explain clearly their understanding and ideas
  • are competent in the arts of speaking and listening, making formal presentations,
  • demonstrating to others and participating in debate.

In addition to daily English lessons, early reading is taught through the use of the Sounds-Write program from Reception through to Year 2 and beyond where needed. Reading books match the phonic ability of each child. All children continue to develop a range of reading and comprehension skills to prepare them for their next stage of learning.  Children have access to a wide and varied range of reading materials from:

  • Sounds-Write books
  • Oxford Reading Scheme
  • Reading Plus program for targeted children from Years 3-6 and Year 2 when it is appropriate
  • Reading area in our classrooms and around the school
  • Our well stocked, stimulating library
  • Reading  around the school, including our outdoor library

We use a wide variety of quality texts and resources to motivate and inspire our children and our English lessons are largely based on these. Whole class guided reading takes place from Year 2. Children are exposed to novels that have been carefully chosen to challenge their thinking, widen their reading repertoire, encourage discussion and to promote a love for reading.

Phonics: Sounds-Write
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