At Hurst Green Primary School and Nursery we endeavour to provide an engaging and stimulating curriculum for English, thus enabling pupils to reach their optimum potential, both in attainment and development.

The English programme of study includes continued emphasis on phonics, which is taught through a high quality systematic approach. Through a solid underpinning of phonics, pupils are able to access all areas of the curriculum, involving reading and writing.

Throughout EYFS and Key Stage One, every child will be taught phonics daily. In Key Stage Two, they will have further phonics teaching and interventions as are necessary.

At Hurst Green Primary School and Nursery, we believe that reading for pleasure is vitally important to develop a lifelong appreciation and love of literature. Here, we have high expectations that pupils will be encouraged to read at home on a daily basis. Quality and choice of texts are important to promote enjoyment. Pupils are taught and encouraged to develop comprehension skills, to explore different times and cultures and a variety of genres.

The new curriculum guidelines emphasise the importance of pupils’ having a sound knowledge of grammar throughout the different Key Stages. From Key Stage One onwards, pupils are taught the grammatical terms and will develop correct grammatical vocabulary.

High expectations are shared with children so that they become really confident in the use of grammar, punctuation and spelling.

We use the Power of Reading in our English teaching, ensuring that all lessons are inspired by a quality and supporting text. This gives pupils opportunity to engage in depth with literature and raise their aspirations for reading and writing. Sustained writing is promoted through Target Write, and through other areas of the curriculum such as R.E., Geography, History and Science. Pupils will be given opportunities to explore and develop different styles of writing, thus enabling them to have an enriched sense of the written word.