English

English Curriculum Intent Statement

Across the Hub of All Saints, Sharnford and Ullesthorpe CE Primary Schools we believe that Literacy
is a fundamental life skill. Literacy develops children’s ability to listen, speak, read, write and
communicate for a wide range of purposes. Therefore children are enabled to express themselves
effectively: using the English language clearly and precisely, creatively and with imagination - both
orally and within their written work.

Inclusion is at the heart of our oracy intention. All children are given the support and opportunities
they need to be able to speak eloquently, articulate ideas and thoughts, collaborate with peers and
have the confidence to express their views. By embedding oracy in all aspects of the school’s culture
and weaving it through the curriculum with our verbal feedback policy, children are able to respond
to high expectations and explicit teaching and modelling of speaking and listening. We aim to
celebrate the diversity of languages, dialects and accents in the school and appreciate the
experience and value the contributions of children with a wide variety of linguistic abilities.
Within reading, we aim for children to become enthusiastic, reflective and critical readers of stories,
poetry and drama, as well as non-fiction and media texts; establishing a life-long love of reading for
pleasure and for learning. Reading to learn includes reading for information, inspiration and
imagination. This is done initially by introducing children to a systematic and synthetic phonics
system, which enables their confidence to grow as they rapidly acquire new sounds and words. As
children move through the school, they gain an understanding of how language works by looking at
its patterns, structures and origins and confidently use their knowledge in speaking and writing
across a range of different situations.

Our belief is that all pupils should be able to confidently communicate their knowledge, ideas and
emotions through their writing. We want pupils to acquire a wide vocabulary, a solid understanding
of grammar and be able to spell new words. By writing clearly, accurately and coherently, by
adapting their language and style in and for a range of contexts, purposes and audiences, children
will grow to see themselves as skillful writers. We do not put ceilings on what pupils can achieve in
writing and we do not hold pre-conceptions about any pupils’ ability to make progress.
We understand the importance of parents and carers in supporting their children to develop their
literacy abilities and enthusiasm, and so we want to encourage a home-school partnership which
enables parents and carers to understand how to enhance and enrich the skills being taught in
school.