We use a variety of approaches in order to teach English effectively. The Early Years Foundation Stage Statutory Framework is followed to ensure continuity and progression from the Foundation Stage into the National Curriculum in Key Stage One and through into Key Stage Two. The aim is to develop children’s knowledge, skills and understanding in English.

In the Foundation Stage and Key Stage One, the children are taught to read and write using Ruth Miskin’s ‘Read, Write Inc.’ programme. The Nursery children (FS1) and the Reception (FS2) children are taught Read, Write Inc in separate groups as the nursery scheme of work is obviously very different to the Reception scheme. 

Approaches to writing at St. Peter's 

Alongside the Read, Write Inc scheme, writing skills are also developed through the use of a ‘Talk for Writing’ approach in the Foundation Stage. This approach involves becoming ‘immersed’ in a text, creating story maps and re-telling the story using standard actions; producing examples of shared writing through modelling by the class teacher and class discussions, and independent writing using the familiar structure of the story to provide a framework. 

Read, Write Inc takes place throughout Key Stage One. The children also have a daily English lesson that uses the Talk for Writing approach for fiction themes, alongside grammar and vocabulary lessons.

At Key Stage Two, English is taught through a daily English lesson. In lower Key Stage Two, the Talk for Writing approach is used for fiction themes. Any child who is working significantly below the Age Related Expectations in English, may return to the Yellow Stage Read, Write Inc group in order to develop basic reading and writing skills until Christmas.

In the upper Key Stage Two class, English lessons are based upon high quality texts for both fiction and non-fiction learning. 

In April 2016, we introduced the Read Write Inc (RWI) programme to get children off to a flying start with their Reading and Writing. Read, Write Inc is a method of learning centred round letter sounds and phonics, and we use it to aid children in their reading and writing.

Reading opens the door to learning. A child who reads a lot will become a good reader. A good reader will be able to read more challenging material. A child who reads challenging material is a child who will learn. The more a child learns, the more he or she will want to find out.

Using RWI, the children learn to read effortlessly so that they can put all their energy into comprehending what they read. It also allows them to spell effortlessly so that they can put all their energy into composing what they write.

When using RWI to read the children will:

• learn 44 sounds and the corresponding letter/letter groups using simple picture prompts
• learn to read words using Fred Talk
• read lively stories featuring words they have learned to sound out
• show that they comprehend the stories by answering questions.
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When using RWI to write the children will:

• learn to write the letters/letter groups which represent 44 sounds.
• learn to write words by saying the sounds in Fred Talk
• write simple sentences

The story of our Read, Write Inc success:

Year 1 Phonics Screening Check results

2015: 50%

2016: 57%    Read, Write Inc introduced 6 weeks before check

2017: 84%    Read Write Inc in place for 13 months

2018: 100%

2019: 87%

2020: 87%  (13 out of 15 pupils)

2021: 80%   (8 out of 10 pupils)

2022: 90.9% (10 out of 11 pupils)

2023: 100% (11 out of 11 pupils)

* Those children who did not pass the Phonics Screening Check at Year 1, did so at year 2.

CLICK ON THE LINKS BELOW FOR  OFFICIAL 'PARENT READ, WRITE INC FILMS' TO HELP YOUR CHILD WITH THEIR READING AT HOME.